I have a dream that one day current college students will know more about Martin Luther King Jr. than just his name. We know he was, and still is, the most celebrated civil rights activist in American history, but do we know what exactly he has accomplished?
On several occasions, my sports management and leadership course professors begin class by asking, “Who do you think is a great leader?” Almost every time, one student inevitably yells “Martin Luther King!” The teacher proceeds to ask why the student’s selection is as such. Many times, the student responds with something like “he helped black people out of oppression,” or “he eliminated segregation.” While those types of answers are correct and dandy, I began to wonder if people my age really understand what King did to elevate himself to the place he holds in history.
Not possessing as much knowledge as I had hoped, I set out to learn more about King’s life. King received the Nobel Peace Prize. His famous dream speech led to President Johnson passing a law prohibiting racial discrimination the following year. He was doubted by the FBI and placed under surveillance under the suspicion of being a communist. He organized a 382 day bus boycott as a form of peaceful protest. All of these tidbits represent pieces of the leadership spectrum. Why don’t people my age know this information and much, much more?
During my time at the NAACP sponsored Peace and Justice Tribute, I realized the flaw might be of my own thinking. Maybe the cold, hard facts school seems to stress aren’t as important as they appear. People old and young took the microphone to share their thoughts and the influence King has had on their lives.
One Huntington woman, who I estimate to be 80 years old, remembers the times when African Americans were allowed in Camden Park one day a year. Colored Day. She remembers when she only saw white actors and actresses on her tv screen. She remembers having to stand at a restaurant in downtown Huntington while white people had a booth next to her. This woman experienced these trials and tribulations. She didn’t just see pictures of them online or watch a documentary. She was there. This showed the college students and youth in attendance that activities they enjoy everyday are luxuries to her. The work of King is not as far removed as we may think.
The 19 year old who spoke next drove home the importance of carrying on the legacy. King sure set a foundation for the lives of black people everywhere, but fate is ultimately in the individual’s hands. She said that while so many African Americans are exercising their rights to education, voting, and extra-curricular activities, others are not. They are letting life pass them by without utilizing the tools for which King fought. The identification of this responsibility speaks to me just as loudly as the rattling off of specific accomplishments. The modern-day connection this young lady feels with King’s work proves his leadership is still valid and often referenced.
After the tribute, I spoke to Marshall student Daniels Pinckney. He believes he can see King at work today. “Now, there are a lot of interracial relationships going on,” Pinckney said. “Of course there is still racism going on, but I feel there are a lot of blacks and whites that are getting along with each other. That’s how I see it.”
Maybe the acknowledgement of King’s work and real world application are more important for students to understand than a resumé of accomplishments. Maybe the education needed is not what is in our textbooks, but rather what we see everyday. Maybe King does not want to be recognized for personal awards, but rather for the changes that he invoked in the lives of people across America. While descriptors such as preacher, teacher, organizer, visionary, father, and American are synonymous with King, and rightfully so, it us up to people our age to put current meaning behind those words.
The youth council of NAACP presented at the ceremony and communicated their main idea of “courage did not skip our generation.” Rather than memorizing King’s achievements, it is more worthwhile for students to discover King’s reach for themselves by examining the world around them and making goals to ensure King’s successes continue to be advanced.
No comments:
Post a Comment