Benjamin Rose Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Monday, January 15, 2024, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose perseverance for justice have echoed through history. Many remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his famous “I Have a Dream” speech where he challenged every person to join in the movement for racial equality and civil rights. But Dr. King’s contributions for civil rights extend far beyond his words on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. He was a person who led through is actions. 

Examples of advocacy in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: 

• King entered Morehouse College at age 15 where he participated in the debate team, student council, glee club, and the minister’s union. He also wrote an article for the school newspaper, Maroon Tiger, discussing the importance of education. 
• In 1955, King would join in organizing boycotts of bus segregation after the arrest of Rosa Parks on December 1.
• In 1961, King would begin making frequent visits to Cleveland, OH to meet with pastors and community leaders at Antioch Baptist Church, St. Paul Episcopal Church, Cory United Methodist Church, and Olivet International Church to address issues on tenets’ rights, Black employment, and voter registration. King’s work would be instrumental in facilitating the election of Carl Stokes, the first African American mayor of a major American city.
• In January 1966, King moved into a slum tenement in Chicago to bring attention to the living conditions of the poor. In July of that same year, King initiated a campaign to end the discrimination in the housing, employment, and education systems in Chicago.
• In 1967, King organized the Poor People’s Campaign to focus on employment equality for people of all races. He marched in support of sanitation workers on strike in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dr. King was an ordinary man who asked people to join him in taking extraordinary action in service of others. He showed us that everyone is capable of being an advocate because every person has the power to choose how to respond to adversity. When faced with violence and prejudice, Dr. King chose civil resistance. When faced with uncertainty, Dr. King chose determination. When faced with criticism for his beliefs about the Vietnam War, he chose to respond with conviction. 

Although there has been progress in the struggle for equality and justice for the most vulnerable populations in our society- the work must continue. We must continue to choose the path towards justice at every opportunity. 

On this day, let us not only remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his words, but also continue in the legacy by following in his example with action. What keeps you motivated in difficult times? What would you like your legacy to be? What are actions you can take to serve your community and those most impacted by unjust systems?

Reference: Encyclopedia of Cleveland History (https://case.edu/ech/articles/m/martin-luther-king-jr-visits-cleveland); Martin Luther King, Jr. – Research Guides at Louisiana State University (https://guides.lib.lsu.edu/c.php?g=353667&p=2385247); “13 things you probably never knew about Martin Luther King’s college years. (https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2017/01/13/13-things-you-probably-never-knew-about-martin-luther-kings-college-years/37426027/)