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This weekend, America takes a day off of work to celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Yet if he were alive today, he would have us do anything but rest when it comes to carrying on the fight against social and economic injustice.
Though he was far from the only star of the civil rights movement, there is no doubt that Rev. King was its brightest guiding light. He translated the non-violent teachings of Ghandi and tailored them to directly attack Jim Crow in his own backyard. He inspired the best in us not just with his words, but also with his courageous actions. There was no march that he was unwilling to lead, no jail that could confine his spirits, no billyclubs or hoses that could break his faith in non-violence.
The legacy of his ministry and of the civil rights movement can be seen all around. More African Americans are starting their own businesses, breaking career glass ceilings and reaching positions never imagined. Black households have a combined earning power of over $631 billion. Colleges are graduating more black students, including twice the number of black women since the 1970s.
Still, though America has moved away from institutional racism, we would be hard pressed to raise our glasses up in total celebration. Far too many of our young are in failing schools, segregated from the tools they need to thrive. Far too many of our neighbors are living check to check without health insurance and without any guarantee that economic development will not price them out of their homes. Far too many in our community are staring at the future without hope that a helping hand is available from anyone -- be it government, the private sector or their neighbors.
These are not days to take it easy. Dr. King would have us on the frontlines of the anti-war movement, questioning whether our actions in Iraq and around the world were doing more than just create more chaos and violence. He would ask us to attack the root causes of poverty, building bridges between the private sector and non-profits to provide educational and work opportunities to everyone. He would challenge us to put the fate of our brothers and sisters ahead of property and profit, to invest in people and ideas, not guns and violence.
Now is the time to grab a comfortable pair of shoes for a new journey of activism. If we truly want to honor our king, we must renew our commitment to the world congregation that he loved. To follow footsteps as large as his is definitely difficult, but not beyond our hearts and minds. The task may well prove to be an easier one if more of us can take them together.
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