Legacy has often been shaped in the pages of history, between the columns of books authored by great men and women, passed down ideologies from grandparents, and iconic speeches that shape the narrative of future events. Such is the case when studying the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was more than a prolific speaker and social justice advocate; he was a prophet who spoke about the possibility of equality at a time when it didn’t seem possible.
In my work with the Middlesex NAACP, I find the legacy of Dr. King lived out every time I hear the word: first. Whether it be the first student of color to go to college in the family, the first to buy a home, start a business, or vote in an election, there is the startling reality that we as a people are still unpacking what it means to experience the equality that Dr. King fought valiantly for as a civil rights leader. We are still exploring what it means to have a role as thought leaders, educators, politicians, and businesspeople in a world dominated by systems where barriers still prevent us from reaching the highest levels of success.
As a modern-day freedom fighter, I find solace and relevance in the words of Dr. King when he states: "We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." As we gaze at the climate of injustice juxtaposed with the successes achieved by people of color in America, we can see that the arc of justice is slowly bending toward equality. Where we once had impenetrable blockades, we now have barriers that are being moved because of the work of forerunners.
The relevance of Dr. King’s legacy is breathed out daily through the impartation of leaders in Middlesex County, namely by people like Rev. Debra Hopkins, Anita Saunders, Grady Faulkner, Patti Vassia, Moses Harvill, Paul Hylton, Barbara Holloman, and William Mckissick. It is traversed by Millennial and Gen Z freedom fighters who decided to pick up the mantle and run forward, like Ed Ford Jr., Sacha Crockett, Sana and Josh Cotten, Precious Price, Parrish Holloman, and many others. While the names mentioned capture only a snippet of our community, they tell the story of a man who once had a dream. A dream that we are still aspiring to fulfill in our lifetime.
Enjoy the videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
No comments:
Post a Comment