On the evening of April 4, 1968, James Earl Ray shot and killed the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
Fifty-six years after the assassination, Americans in general, and Black Americans in particular, all have a responsibility to do what we can to keep achieving King’s “dream.”
In the historic 1963 March on Washington and beyond, the celebrated leader and civil rights martyr outlined his vision of a society where we are judged not by the color of our skin, but rather the content of our character.
Throughout his life, King inspired others through his work with disenfranchised communities across the United States.
The legacy of King is especially relevant in these trying political times. It must be all hands on deck as the legacies of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 are under assault from not only former President Donald Trump and the GOP, but also the U.S. Supreme Court as well as numerous state legislatures across the country.
The greatest tribute in 2024 in keeping the legacy of King alive is for everyone to exercise their right to vote in November. American Democracy is at stake. If Trump returns to office, his record and past assertions show he will overturn much of what King stood and fought for.
King believed in the principles of freedom and rights to liberty and justice found in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence. He not only fought for Black people, but stood for what America could be. He dedicated his life to confronting America to live up to its full potential as a beautiful, harmonious melting pot that embraced diversity and emphasized freedom for all.
King often called people like Ray, his murderer “our sick White brothers.” While Ray was a petty racist criminal, his bullet altered the course of world history.
The night before his death, King ended his last speech with these words: “So I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”
King’s vision of a better society is part of “the glory,” he talked about in his final message on April 3, 1968. Post Easter Sunday, we must resurrect King’s “dream,” and help continue his legacy.
May we each not only reflect on, but rededicate ourselves to the life and teachings of King, not only as we remember his martyrdom, but as we push for a more equitable nation and world.