MLK Jr.

On Monday, our country will pause to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. He is most commonly celebrated as a civil rights leader and rightly so. Lest we forget, he was also an amazing preacher. At a time where Christians are increasingly concerned with the troubles in our world (and rightly so), let's not forget our hope of eternal life. Martin Luther King Jr. expressed the Christian motto that to live is Christ in a sermon at the funeral of the four young girls killed by a racist's bomb in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963:

“I hope you can find some consolation from Christianity’s affirmation that death is not the end. Death is not a period that ends the great sentence of life, but a comma that punctuates it to more lofty significance. Death is not a blind alley that leads the human race into a state of nothingness, but an open door which leads man into life eternal. Let this daring faith, this great invincible surmise, be your sustaining power during these trying days.”

MLK was a great spiritual voice. Recently for the speech class that I teach I re-read some of his sermons and speeches. One of his most overlooked speeches regarded Vietnam was given April 4, 1967 at New York City Riverside Church. You can read the amazing speech here.

Parents: I encourage every family to take the time to talk about this great American spiritual leader and hero of the Civil Rights Movement. There are many outstanding films for all ages.
Every family should watch the magnificent movie Boycott, starring Jeffrey Wright as Dr. King, and should study the history of the Montgomery bus boycott that changed the world. This website has video interviews with the people who were there. This newspaper article describes Dr. King's meeting with the bus line officials. It is important to note that he was not asking for complete desegregation; that seemed too unrealistic a goal. And this website has assembled teaching materials, including the modest reminder to the boycotters once segregation had been ruled unconsitutional that they should "demonstrate calm dignity," "pray for guidance," and refrain from boasting or bragging. Families should also read They Walked To Freedom 1955-1956: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The Rosa Parks Story stars Angela Bassett as the woman who would not give up her seat on the bus. Contrary to the "Rosa was tired" legends of a woman who just decided on the spot not to give up her seat, the story is much more interesting. Ms. Parks was a leader in the still-young Civil Rights movement, and her arrest was anticipated and strategic. The Long Walk Home, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Sissy Spacek, makes clear that the boycott was a reminder to black and white women of their rights and opportunities -- and risk of change. Citizen King is a PBS documentary with archival footage of Dr. King and his colleagues. For children, Our Friend, Martin and Martin's Big Words are a good introduction to Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement.