Like many of you, I slept in today and enjoyed a lazy morning, a relaxed breakfast, watching a few minutes of Golden Globe highlights, and checking facebook. It’s obvious from status updates that many are enjoying a day off from school, or, in a few cases, work.
I fear though that as we enjoy this time off, we sometimes forget why today is considered a holiday. Today, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rather than fill this blog with my own words, I figured his words ring truer. I hope you’ll take a few minutes today and listen to some excerpts from his amazing speeches.
One quick note before I list a series of YouTube clips, I’m struck by King’s drive and determination. I’m struck by his optimism in the face of adversity I will never experience. I’m struck by poetry in the midst of a life filled with bitter prose. I’m struck by his adherence to nonviolence even when those opposing him turn to violence far too readily.
Dr. King is a man who faced daily death threats.
Who spent time in a jail he never deserved.
And yet, he doesn’t turn to pity himself. I hate to address it on such an important day, but some of the facebook status updates I read today still included my least favorite phrase, “FML.” It was posted in relationship to finals, bad weather, or movie sell-outs. We need to remove this from our vocabulary, and find the way to approach our lives with more purpose and more poetry.
Dr. King was effective not because he complained, but because he found a way to dream. He didn’t “wallow in the valley of despair,” he found a way to not only change his reality, but empower and serve those around him in the process–making them stronger and making their lives better.
Now to Dr. King.
If you’ve never heard the entire, “I Have a Dream Speech,” take the 18 minutes and watch it.
Dr. King’s final speech, delivered on the eve before his assassination is perhaps the most haunting. Still, there is something amazing about his ability to inspire others to pursue action after his death, making a cause bigger than him. He leaves a beautiful legacy. The backstory of this speech is also amazing. He spoke at this rally for Sanitation Workers. Dr. King spoke not just for civil rights, but he also spoke for peace and against poverty. He truly did believe in the brotherhood of mankind. Even though he felt sick this evening, even though he had a fever, even though he was tired, he rose and delivered the “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop Speech.” Here is an excerpt. The full text and longer video is available here.
Finally, something a little bit different. I’ve mentioned many times that I’m a big fan of This American Life. If you have 4 minutes, please listen to this incredible audio from the Kid Logic episode. It’s a beautiful story of a child learning about Christmas and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Enjoy the rest of your day.