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Learned. Charismatic. Thoughtful. Task-Committed. Everlasting.
When I think of Martin Luther King, Jr., these words immediately come to mind. Although he was assassinated 44 years ago today, his legacy--which professed a love for every human being, an end to inequality in American society and universal peace is alive.
One of my favorite quotes from King can be found in Letter From a Birmingham Jail, a note written to eight white clergyman in response to their argument that the fight to end racial segregation should be fought through the legal system and not in the streets. In his letter, King writes, "shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute understanding from people of ill will," showing everyone--in 1963 and in 2012, the power and honesty of his words.
King's assassination took all but a minute--a few bullets from a man who was symbolic of so many people who were afraid of change. But King's candor, strength and perseverance lives on through his words, his images and in the hearts of all Americans who want to create change in society.
Suggested Reading
The History of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
A Look at Martin Luther King's Speeches
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