It goes without saying that life brings many struggles for all of us in different ways. Granted we don't live in the 1960's and deal with the racial inequalities that Martin Luther King fought to end but we can all learn lessons from him long after he inspired so many. As a white man I will not attempt to say that I understand the African American experience to the fullest extent but I can say that if we don't listen to Dr. King and live the examples he tried to teach we will all be doomed to struggle.
Two lines that he spoke have always made my mind become stronger around my own struggles. In "A Letter from a Birmingham Jail" he writes that a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. He went on to explain that his actions were not just on behalf of those in Birmingham but for all that experience this injustice. I often look at my own efforts in education and when I need to strengthen why I decide to make a decision or make policy for the school, I think of this approach. If I set a good example in my own backyard, I hope to set a good example for all and strengthen every school. This unselfishness is a worthy example for all of us.
One line he spoke that always chokes me up was spoken in his last speech. He said very clearly that "I just want to do God's will". Now I'm not going religious on you readers, I just feel the words speak to something different than just religion. I feel that he was also saying that he belongs to a much larger enterprise that was in need of special leadership and devotion. We are all a part of something bigger and think that gets lost on us too much. I was disappointed a couple of weeks ago when two of my students found themselves in a sticky situation, the electronic rumor mill did nothing to volunteer solutions but did everything to devalue the kids and the school. The development of our kids is OUR responsibility. Their development is a much larger responsibility that families or schools can take on alone. We have to understand that this endeavor is bigger than us and requires special leadership and devotion.
Please visit the sites below and be inspired as I have.
http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/Letter_Birmingham_Jail.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0FiCxZKuv8
