Reflections on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy
On Jan.18, the nation celebrates the birthday of civil-rights activist, religious leader, famous orator and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Despite his untimely death 42 years ago, Americans still look to his message for inspiration and guidance to confront today's struggles. DiversityInc asked Black leaders to share their thoughts on King's body of work and how it resonates in modern-day society.
Leaders' Reflections
King's work had historic implications for our country, but it also affected individuals in a very personal way.
For Beverly Robertson, president of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, what resonated most about Dr. King was his selflessness:
"He sacrificed the needs of his own family for the movement. In some ways, I think that was the supreme sacrifice. And what I also realize is that his legacy has allowed me as a Black American, as a woman, as a mother to realize much of what this country's promise is, while really reinforcing values of the needs for all of us no matter where we are to work and fight for people who are disenfranchised. Those struggles still exist and that battle is waged everyday. And those of us who have been beneficiaries of the work that King has done, our job now is to pick up that baton and move it forward."John Robinson, chief diversity officer and director of Civil Rights for the State Department was also struck by Dr. King's strength of character:
"I think he's a pivotal and inspirational figure, primarily because of his bravery, because of his courage. Plenty of people have pointed out inconsistencies, difficulties and injustices, but very few were willing to put themselves at risk and motivate others to join them in a convincing public display. His ability to engage other people in it was most effective."
He adds, "Lots of people talk about what's wrong, but very few people are willing to risk their personal safety, willing to risk embarrassment, going to jail, being publicly disapproved of. If you think about what happens in minority dynamics very often, minorities want to be approved of by the establishment. But he was saying, I'm not asking for you to approve of what I do, I'm asking you to look at the rightness of what I'm advocating."
For Bill Wells, chairman of The National Black MBA Association, it is King's "I Have a Dream" speech that stays with him:
"I believe that Dr. King provided a gift to everyone with his speech in Washington. That was a phenomenal body of work. And if anybody hears it, even today, and you don't get chills, I'm just not sure if there's blood running through your veins or if there is, it's not 98.6. That speech included all of the aspects of where his belief system really was. It's probably something that more of us should put on our radios in the morning as you're starting to leave your home. Because I think we're all struggling with—where's the moral compass in this country? And Dr. King's messaging provided that compass."
King's Influence on Diversity Work
King could be considered not only a pioneer in civil rights, but in diversity and inclusion. His message is woven into the foundation of that work.
Wells uses King's philosophy as a guide in his professional life, "I've found myself embracing deep down within me his legacy more as I became more mature and spent more time in the workplace—and clearly, as I started doing work in human resources and in the area of diversity and inclusion that I currently work in," he says. "I feel his message and I try to live his message. He was a visionary and he was a person who embraced inclusion at all levels. Across economic lines, across racial lines, gender lines, he was a person for all people. So I've tried to view those principles as my guiding principles."
Robinson's approach to his work is reminiscent of the religious roots of the civil-rights movement, "People who do what we do in the EEO community in government, there may be some minority of us for whom this is just a job, but for most of us, it's a kind of calling. People approach their work with a religious dedication."
King's Message in the Obama Era
The election of Barack Obama is the realization of some of King's dreams and a profound moment in history.
"Many people of color would say, we're probably all profoundly surprised, shocked that we have an African-American, a man of color, in the White House today as the President of the United States. Many of us would not have felt that would have occurred in our lifetime. So that gives me hope as well that perhaps Dr. King's message was truly not only visionary, but insightful," says Wells.
Robinson sees a clear demonstration of King's message in the 2008 election, "People looked at the candidate and for the first time in American history, millions of white voters looked past the color of someone's skin in order for Barack Obama to be elected. And they elected him because of the content of his character and his confidence," he says.
Robertson sees King's ideas coming full circle, "As I think about King's philosophy, I realize that Barack is really one of the manifestations of King's dream. His desire would be that people of all races, colors and creeds would be able to sit at the same table, drink from the same water fountains, go through the same college doors, sit in the halls of Congress and really be able to have access to lead in the White House," she says.
The Strength Behind the Holiday
But what is the true message of Martin Luther King Day?
"The thing about the King holiday and the King message is that it gives schools something to help socialize people into fairness. You've increased the number of people who speak about it in a positive way, even if some of it is lip service," says Robinson.
He recalls, "There was a time when I was a kid, George Wallace was saying 'segregation now and segregation forever' and he could say it in public and people would cheer. Now he can't do that. It still may go on in some back rooms, but we have at least declared the right of way for socializing children into equity, fairness and inclusion. The King legacy leaves a body of work, it's left video footage, it's left a holiday when we can help socialize young people and remind old people about equity, fairness and inclusion and justice."
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