WE REMEMBER the Dream that Martin Luther King Jr had 58 short years ago, as it continues to live on today. That dream further intensified the race to tear down the oppressive system that bounded the African American community in chains for hundreds of years
Born Michael King Jr., Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was more than a civil rights activ- ist. Dr. King was a Minister, husband, father, and leader recognized for leading America through the civil rights movement from the mid-1950s up until he was assassinated in 1968. Dr. King was a driving force for the African American communi- ty. Conducting hundreds of Civil Rights marches in the south, King would later champion peace and courage. King’s efforts extended far beyond America’s scope. In 1966, the government of In- dia awarded him the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding.
From leading campaigns in India to deseg- regating the most racially segregated city in the U.S., Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. King was a trailblazer for his people. In 1946, while King was a junior at Morehouse College, he published a letter called “Kick Up Dust” to the editor of the Atlanta Constitution in response to the mur- ders of two African American couples in Walton County, Georgia. In the letter, Dr. King stated that black people are entitled to fundamental rights and opportunities for American citizens. The letter propelled him forward in helping to resolve some of the most prevalent and oppres- sive civil rights issues in America and was later published by the company.
After graduating as valedictorian of his class, King pursued his graduate degree at Boston Uni- versity. Shortly after receiving his degree, King resolved Rosa Park’s issue that consisted of the requirement for African Americans to sit in the back of the bus. In 1956, the lower court opinion in the Browder v. Gayle case declared Montgom- ery bus segregation laws unconstitutional.
On March 21, 1965, King and many other Civil Rights leaders led a march in the city of Montgomery that would later be known as the largest, most influential Civil Rights march of the 20th century. King and 25,000 other activists led a peaceful protest through Selma that would later lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, giving African American people their 15th Amendment right to vote the same way a white person was allowed to. Before the passage, obsta- cles to voting including poll taxes and literacy tests were used to prevent African Americans from voting in elections. Harassment, intimidation, economic reprisals, and physical violence were common when they tried to register or vote. As a result, very few African Americans were registered voters. They had very little, if any, political power.
Despite his six speeches’ accolades and his honorable Nobel Peace Prize, King never forgot his mission. The American people will never for- get his courage to finish the fight and his faith to continue onward in the face of adversity. We must never forget ‘The Dream’ that rescued millions of people from systemic bondage.
What we call “MLK Day” was recognized as a federal holiday by former President Ronald Rea- gan in 1983, then a government holiday in 2000. To celebrate this national holiday, which is also Dr. King’s birthday, Bedford County’s Gilliland Historical Resource Center will be planning a vir- tual ‘MLK Day’ event on January 17, 2022. Min- ister Jason Scales will deliver a speech to com- memorate Dr. King in celebration of how far the African American community has come in rais- ing their voices against racial oppression. If you’re interested in joining the event, email gaunty@ bellsouth.net. for an invitation. -GN