On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill to declare the third Monday of January, Martin Luther King Jr Holiday. The civil rights leader is well-known for his non-violent approach for bringing racial equality in America. Today, this national holiday is observed across the nation, but what does it mean today, and why is it important?
The observance of this day is not just to honor a great man and his legacy, but it rings out a reminder of where we have been, where we are, and how far we have to go. The observance of the holiday didn’t come easy, and the process and events involved had its challenges that helped crossed some of the barriers that MLK had advocated himself.
Challenges in the House
What many may not know is that the passing of this bill didn’t come easy. The House of Representatives debated over the holiday, and many didn’t want the holiday because it would have given another annual paid holiday for federal workers, resulting in additional government expenses. Some even wanted it combined with another holiday. While other politicians tried to get it called another name. However, three years later, after the bill was passed, it was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, and even then, not many political officials were willing to comply.
Message of Love
Today, many of what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Visioned and advocated for has come to pass. Though his message has reached political heights and changed many governing policies, there are still many needing to grasp the message in its entirety. He once said that “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” And if you sit back and bonder all he did and why. You would come to the conclusion that his primary message is love.
MLK Today
MLK today is not about the past, but our future, and the future of our children, grandchildren, and generations to come. It’s about doing what is right today so that it will impact our tomorrow. It’s about taking time to reflect on the past, and learn from it, and to do our part in making the world a better place for this generation and those to come, this is MLK Today; it’s taking action today, to impact tomorrow. Dr. Martin Luther King saw this, and this is why he stated: “He have a dream.” Not he had a dream.
The message of Love and Forgiveness
Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “ The time is always right to do what is right… and that a man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.” Today is the time to do what is right. Today is the day we take a stand for what is right and let our voices be heard. He said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends,” let not remain silent, but speak out. Let’s lay aside our prejudices, evaluate our biases, and embrace our differences, because it’s not about black or white, democrat or republican, rich or poor, it’s about loving your neighbor as yourself. Love is the greatest power on earth, it caused kingdoms to fall, nations to rise, and brought many to their knees, but the most significant influence is its power to forgive.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr once stated that “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” There is a lot of love in this world if you know where to look, and I say to the man who claims he has nothing to give, he need only to look inside himself to find love. We all can give this most precious gift that benefits all.
People of MLK Today
My friend Robert O’Sullivan has the unique ability to reflect his love for others as I have never seen, and when you meet him; you are no stranger, but a friend. He has the unique ability to embrace the differences of others and use them to build them up. Some have found him to be strange, but I found him to be a gift to this world. He may not be a Dr. King, but he is a strong representation of his vision. Some may classify him as a people person, but I say he’s a people lover, to meet him is never to forget him, because, in the short time of meeting him, he would have tagged your heart with the words “Robert was here.” He is MLK Today.
Years ago, I coached at a gymnastics facility at a small town in Nevada. And one of my classes was a Kinder-Gym class for 3 to 5-year-olds. There was this little girl in my class named (Kayla*), whom I will never forget. She walked into my class for the first time and took a look at me and would scream at the top of her lungs, and I asked the parents if she was okay. They told me about Kayla’s home environment, the location of their home far from town, and because she hasn’t yet attended school, she had never interacted with someone of another race or color before.
I tell you, the screaming would go on for weeks, and then one day, I notice little Kayla no longer screamed or cried, in fact, she even began holding my hand as we danced around the gym floor in circles and tumbling to children nursery songs. I asked the parents what happened, and they said that one night driving back from class, she repeatedly would say “I like Mr. Fred, he’s funny, he makes me laugh, and have fun.” and then she would sing the butterfly song (a song I made up during class).
In two months, this little girl who was so afraid of me was now jumping on my back, grabbing my hand to play and sing. In fact, every time she saw me, she would run as fast as she can into my arms and give me a big hug. She overcame her innocence just by interacting with me. I eventually moved on and left that small town. Unfortunately, I got word a few years after I moved, that little Kayla passed away from leukemia and that even as she was lying sick, the parents told me that she remembered me and the joy I brought into her life. She was MLK today.
I’ve learned that the innocence of a child, can bring hope to the hearts of many. We all can learn so much from this little child, who learned to overcome her fears and embrace those things that make us different. In the heart of the innocent, there is the wisdom of love.
This article inspired by Robert O’Sullivan
Kayla* not the child’s real name; changed to protect and respect the family’s privacy.
Historical Source: Politico, 2009, King Holiday Established, Nov. 2, 1983