January 18, 2020 – Click here to listen
So today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He was a pivotal advocate for African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. King experienced racism from an early age, and those events stayed with him and eventually led him to dedicate his life to bring about change. I remember the days when signs directed “colored” to drink from separate water fountains and blacks had to ride in the back of the bus with whites riding in the front. They were barred from restaurants and bars and we were totally segregated. Their schools were inferior to white schools and I do not recall ever attending a school with black kids.
After graduating college with a doctorate degree in theology, King became a pastor in Alabama. He began a series of peaceful non-violent protests in the south that eventually changed many laws dealing with the equality of African Americans. King gave hundreds of moving speeches across the country, and in 1964 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
On April 4th, 1968, at the young age of 39 Dr. King was shot and killed while in Memphis, Tennessee. I was in Memphis when he was assassinated there. I was staying in an apartment that sat high atop a hill and could see the downtown area emitting huge plumes of smoke as rioters took to the streets. I admired his courage and his belief of non-violent demonstrations to bring about change. I always thought it was ironic that the demonstrators around the country were doing just the opposite of what he preached in participating in violent riots and burning inner cities down.
Although his life ended that day, the work that he accomplished changed the nation. King will be remembered not only for his commitment to the cause of equality for African Americans but also for his profound speeches that moved so many and certainly for his courage.
I would imagine Twitter and the cancel culture would ban him for life for some of his quotes but here are ten of his finest:
1.”If we are not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded, unscientific, illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts. Be careful, ‘brethren!’ Be careful, teachers!”
2.”True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”
3 Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
4. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
5.”The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
6.”Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”
7. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question, ‘What are you doing for others?'”
8. “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. Indeed it is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and enables the man who wields it.”
9. Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.
10. “You can kill the dreamer, but you can’t kill the dream.”
11. Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty we are free at last.
Martin Luther King Jr was as brave and courageous a man as you will likely ever find and though he had faults like the rest of us, he rose above them and preached brotherly love and non-violence in solving problems. As I look around today at the mean-spirited activists who only want violence and chaos I wonder if MLK could see it now, if he would be flipping in his grave. He risked his life many times for his belief in equality and his efforts eventually took his life. He is with Jesus now and he is no doubt trying to intercede for those who have come after him who still don’t get it some 50 plus years later . . .
Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul . . .