Honoring the legacy of Dr. King : The agenda must continue

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Founder of Unheard Voices Magazine discusses why it is important Dr. King’s legacy and agenda must be continued.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of character and dignity who had a dream that one day we would all be equal. He’s known as one of the most influential figures in American history and a leader in initiating change during the Civil Rights Movement. Today, we celebrate the life and legacy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left.

Dr. King’s legacy is honored nationwide as streets, schools, and many other accolades are celebrated in his honor.

More recently, his legacy was celebrated as a monument was revealed at the National Mall in Washington, DC. The new monument, which was revealed in August, celebrates the ideals King imposed.

Quotations from his speech display the memory of his message and a 30-foot sculpture called the “stone of hope” designed by Martin’s famous line “I have a dream”. King is also the subject of a great powerful play entitled “On The Mountaintop” featuring Samuel L. Jackson, who plays King, and Angela Bassett.

The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., at the Lorriane Motel where Dr. King was assassinated, has made over its campaign.

It is evident we proudly celebrate the life and the legacy of Dr. King and recognize we have come a long way since the civil rights era.

But one of the most important things I believe King would never want to happen is the letting the dream become deferred.

The untimely death of Dr. King made it clear that the agenda must be continued. The fight for justice and freedom still continues today.

Impacting future generations

We must teach the younger generation about Dr. King legacy’s and the civil rights era beyond what is taught in the schools. Besides growing up in a socially conscious household, it was because of Dr. King and other African Americans leaders, that I knew what it meant to be black and the importance of not letting King’s dream being deferred.

For one, that meant getting an education. Unfortunately, economic and educational disparity still exists within the African American community.

I knew in order for me to even compete, I needed an education. Because I was well-versed and educated in my history, I knew the importance of continuing the dream. Our kids should understand the importance of Dr. King’s legacy and not think it’s another day off from school.

Knowing Dr. King’s legacy is knowing your history

If our younger brothas and sistas really knew their history, would there be less African American’s sitting in jail? More African American ivy league graduates? The agenda must be continued.

Secondly, I continue to the dream by service to my community. Nothing brings me greater joy than lending a helping hand in my community. One of my favorite quotes by Dr. King is “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”

Around this time last year, Unheard Voices won the NAACP Unsung Hero Award for community service. After that day, the message became even clearer to me that the agenda must continue. We must do better for ourselves and better for those around us. What does it mean to be economically empowered but not helping others? Many may think the fight is now over because we have overcome many disparities and even have a Black president. However the fight stills continues, and it starts within us.

As we celebrate Dr. King’s legacy today, reflect on his dream. Are you living up to it or letting it become deferred?