Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday we celebrate today, had far more than just a dream for America. And every part of his life and legacy are essential to understand the depth of his courage, the essence of his activism and his message that knows no borders.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” This is probably one of my favorite quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK), a quote that may be a paraphrase, because I’ve been unable to find its exact source. But even if he never said it word for word, his actions proved that this is what he meant, what he believed in and what he did until the day he died.
So long as there is injustice and inequality in the world, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy – and that of many other activists, men and women of courage before and after him – must be remembered and given life. If only in America, this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has a special significance in light of the recent explosion in racial tensions in New York and Ferguson, Missouri. MLK surely must have been proud to see the U.S. elect a black president in less than 50 years after he spoke about his dream. At the same time, it must be painful to see that on the grassroots level, between neighbors and perhaps even friends, racial relations in some areas in the U.S. have not succeeded to improve as they were meant to, even after 50 years…
And that’s why, when it comes to injustice and inequality, wherever in the world it may exist, his dream continues to be a dream, our dream…
Eye on the East 