Today, the third Monday of January, is a federal holiday in the United States in recognition of the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was born on January 15, 1929. Dr. King was the leader of the modern Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until 1968. The King Center (here) established in 1968 is a rich source of information on his life and notes that “Dr. King is widely regarded as American’s preeminent advocate of nonviolence and one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history.”
Also from this site:
“Drawing inspiration from both his Christian faith and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King led a nonviolent movement in the late 1950’s and ‘60s to achieve legal equality for African-Americans in the United States. While others were advocating for freedom by ‘any means necessary,’ including violence, Martin Luther King, Jr. used the power of words and acts of nonviolent resistance, such as protests, grassroots organizing, and civil disobedience to achieve seemingly-impossible goals. He went on to lead similar campaigns against poverty and international conflict, always maintaining fidelity to his principles that men and women everywhere, regardless of color or creed, are equal members of the human family.
Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, Nobel Peace Prize lecture and ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail‘ are among the most revered orations and writings in the English language. His accomplishments are now taught to American children of all races, and his teachings are studied by scholars and students worldwide. He is the only non-president to have a national holiday dedicated in his honor, and is the only non-president memorialized on the Great Mall in the nation’s capitol.”
Dr. King’s words and teachings continue to inspire those who seek justice around the world. A short sampling of his teachings are shared here in tribute today…
“The arc of the Moral Universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
“I have decided to stick to love…Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.
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