Many are familiar with Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most famous speech, “I Have a Dream”, delivered by the empathetic orator on the Lincoln Memorial during August 1963. Often hailed as a hallmark of the Civil Rights Movement, the speech has inspired many around the country, and the world, to more critically investigate their own values, thoughts, and opinions on equality, racism, and civil and economic rights. I sometimes wonder how Dr. King must have felt on that summer day, remaining hopeful in the face of considerable opposition while also unapologetically and passionately defending what we have now come to view as basic human rights. I wonder if I would have had the courage that he had. Whether I could risk my credibility, career, safety, and even life, to bring about change in a country that wasn’t quite ready to let go of its curious history with race.
However, despite the obviously widespread and critical success of this speech, it is not my favorite piece from Dr. King. While I hold this speech in great esteem, two of my favorite quotes from Dr. King come from his 1965 “Bloody Sunday” sermon and the words of his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (1963):
“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” (Dr. Martin Luther King, March 8, 1965)
This quote is often paraphrased as “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter,” which apparently is a platitude that Dr. King never actually said. The original wording lends gravity to the importance of ensuring both our words and actions (“standing up”) are heard and seen in relation to injustices both small and large. As a Millennial and digital native, I have grown up with boundless access to platforms and opportunities to share my thoughts and opinions, to include this blog. Today’s technologies allow for more critical coverage of current events and trends, and offer the opportunity for an unprecedented level of dialogue and engagement. It is my hope that we will each take heed to Dr. King’s words and remember that silence can be construed as a form of consent to injustice if we lack the courageous to speak and act.
In his “Letter for Birmingham Jail” (1963), Dr. King writes of his choice of nonviolent resistance, remarking, “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.”
As global citizens of a world with rapidly shifting demographics, we must not be afraid to encounter the difficult or uncomfortable things. Instead, we should always be in a cycle of learning and growing, choosing to interact with those who are different than us, and exploring opportunities to truly understand the bigger picture that diversity provides. As a mentor once shared with me, when it comes to diversity and inclusion, it can often be better to say the “wrong” thing than to say nothing at all.
As we reflect on Dr. King’s legacy during the week of his birthday, I am proud of how far we have come as a country over the last fifty years, and grateful for the opportunity to think about how his words have impacted my life both professionally and personally. Thank you, Dr. King – for your dream, your legacy, and the hope you continue to bring for a better tomorrow.
