Martin Luther King Junior - My Tribute On The Anniversary Of His Death

A Forty Year Anniversary of Infamy!

“At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love. “ Martin Luther King, Jr.

On April 4^th (the day of my writing of this hub) people the world over watch the 40th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr.. I feel it fitting to take a moment of positive reflection of one of America’s best patriots during a time which is remembered in infamy; a time where a revolution, a movement of nonviolent ideals, has continued till the present.

Where Were You Forty Years Ago?

I remember that day. I was 18, and I did not consider myself racist. However, I was caught by the sweep of change as this dirty chapter of our nation’s prejudice, which had continually laid waste to a nation of people, was about to be exposed by a gunshot of anarchy against a brave soul who preached non violence. Dr. King had been shot!

Such prejudice was antichristian and was never good. On the other hand it could not be easily seen by most Americans because it was veiled by masks of heritage, civil war scars, white pulpits and the fear of shared power with a group of culturally “inferior” people who were only here by the “grace” (actually “greed”) of others. There was the widespread belief that “these people” were lucky to be here, and it should have been enough for them simply to enjoy being in America! Why do they now want to rock our boats from our sea to shining sea of tranquility?

I was not prejudiced, of course! All you had to do was ask me! I remember well when we were told that “they” must ride the school bus with us. I was about 14 and I was not racist, but I argued red faced because it was the thing to do; because every other white kid around me did the same, because my mom and dad did; because in East Tennessee it was the expected mantra.

I remember well that first integrated ride from school to home; I recall the segregation inside the bus; it was far from the theme of separate but equal! I bear in my memory the looks, then the words, then the crimson-faced juvenile insults hurled like gun shots to the opposite end of the vehicle; then one from my side rose and with sniper’s accuracy buried his fist into the black flesh of some kid I did not know; but he was obviously my enemy. There we were fighting a war we knew nothing about.

Clint looked into his immense rear view mirror, that dreaded looking glass I had always feared because from it came a capital reprimand from the bus and from the school and, even worse, from home (Discipline was a little different back then.) Our bus driver hurled his big right foot with importance to the brake, and that yellow train began its screech as its speed descended rapidly; Clint slanted to a stop, moving from our sparsely driven country road to the inside of a little Baptist church parking lot. With the gruffness of a full-sized bear he bellowed. That howl still registers in my mind; seldom had I heard Clint holler like this. He grabbed the boys by the nap of the neck in a way that would have made Star trek’s Spock envious. It was all over.

Advancements Have Been Made!

That was that time; this is today! What great advancements we have made. Maybe our nation still has a way to go. However, our prejudices were exposed as this tsunami of change was ushered and enhanced by this man, Martin Luther King Jr... When I explore Dr King's life, I see a man whose zeal, trust and conviction are testaments that he was a gentleman who gave his life to the kingdom of God. He totally committed to doing what was right. In the spirit of a great prophet he preached the equality of all men.

King drew his motivation from people like Gandhi, as well as from Jesus Himself. His conviction was that redemptive non-violence that would save our nation and bring impartiality to people. That conviction and his faith in the supremacy of love would give Dr King the strength to say, after constant persecution:

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

King was without a doubt a forecaster to his generation; he was without question a man called by God to search for liberty, not only for his people, but for America as a nation. Dr King made Jesus more attractive to us all.

His Final Sermon

His final sermon, a message echoing his legacy, about having been to the summit and seeing the Promised Land gave a taste of his own destiny, for it was on this night that he told us that he may not get to the promised land with them. How prophetic; the next day he would be dead, shot down by an assassin's bullet! There is something profound here; like Jesus Christ 2000 years removed who gave his life that I might have the hope I live with today, the Reverend King’s death ushers hope to a whole nation trying to find the meaning to those word, “all men are created equal” in the sight of God.