Today, Martin Luther King, Jr. would be 95.
You’ve repeatedly heard the line “I have a dream” in many arenas. The working title of that famous speech was “Normalcy, Never Again.”
If we quote him, we should also know his stance. In addition to being a great orator, he spoke up for voting rights, universal basic income, education, and healthcare.
He spoke against the Vietnam War (saying the funding could go to war on poverty instead). He spoke against police brutality.
In addition, he believed that the Black press, the Black church, the sororities/fraternities, and Black professional associations were integral parts of stabilizing community and moving the Black agenda forward.
The Black Freedom/Civil Rights movement was responsible for the Poor People’s Campaign (rights for the poor and low wealth) and Operation Breadbasket (promoting Black businesses, Black products, and Black banks).
When Dr. King accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, he did so on behalf of the movement and spread the money received across various organizations.
As early as 1969, individuals chose not to work on Dr. King’s birthday in his honor after his assassination.
1971, Dr. King’s birthday became a paid holiday for Atlanta city employees.
Over the years, several individuals and organizations, including Stevie Wonder and Gil Scott Heron, pushed for Dr. King’s birthday to be a holiday on a larger scale.
Though President Clinton enacted King’s birthday as a Day of Service, the authenticity of reflection and continuing with the baton on the issues Dr. King and the movement promulgated is still prevalent in many African American communities.
P.S. I heard from the elders here in North Richmond that Dr. King came here. When I learn more, I’ll share.