I was 13 years old when America lost its greatest civil rights leader. I was watching television at home when a news bulletin came on announcing Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. As a white boy of tender age, I didn’t really know who Dr. King was or what to make of his killing. It was only afterwards that I began to learn about the greatness of the man and how much we lost when he was taken from us.
I wonder how many Americans are hungry for a leader like Dr. King today. How many support the continued struggle for racial and other forms of justice? How many believe that the most legitimate and effective instruments of social change are peaceful political engagement and nonviolent resistance? At a time when politicians seeking unprecedented power exploit fear, hate and violence to achieve it, how hungry are Americans for a different voice, one that inspires with wisdom, courage and compassion? And where should we look to find another Dr. King who can lead us on a better path?
I don’t have the answers, but I expect we’ll learn more this election year. In the meantime, I’ve decided to learn more about Dr. King, as I still know too little. To that end, I’m committing in 2024 to read Jonathan Eig’s new critically acclaimed book, King: A Life. And today I will listen to King-related podcasts, like today’s episode of Preet Bharara’s podcast, “Stay Tuned with Preet.” The episode is called “The Legacy and Lyricism of Dr. King,” and features Dr. Clayborne Carson, an expert on Dr. King’s writings and legacy. They discuss King’s famous 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” It’s a short conversation but one well worth a listen. You can find it here.
I wish I had more wisdom to offer and more time to offer it, but nothing I say can match what others have said and are saying already. I encourage you to look for it in news publications, books, podcasts, and radio and television broadcasts. As James Taylor wrote in his song, “Shed a Little Light,”
Oh, let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women living on the Earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood