His Inspiration Lives On

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed this day in 1968. 

I remember hearing of his murder on that day. 

I was shocked in a resigned sort of way.  Dr. King was constantly under threat of death; had spoken of anticipating an early death.  In Harlem (NY) one late summer afternoon he was critically stabbed.  It was in Memphis, Tennessee that he was shot and killed.  I was miserably sad.  I was angry.

Actually, these forty-five years since Dr. King’s assassination, the anger I felt then is the emotion I remember most now when I think of that day.  In no way did I express my anger at the time.  In cities across this nation, unfortunately, many others did.   (Internet search ‘1968 Dr. King Riots’)

Dr. King was important to me.  He was a learned, reasonable, passionate, brave, and an articulate leader who ‘had my back’.  I always knew my father ‘had my back’.  For many years I knew my husband ‘had my back’ (a reason why our divorce was so painful).   My father, husband, and Dr. King cared about the quality of my life.  Quite honestly, I haven’t felt any single living individual has had my back in any fashion since Dr. King was taken from us.

I was born when discrimination, segregation and injustice against black people was a crucial topic of discussion and political discourse in America.  Such was the case even into my adulthood.  “Segregation’s wrong/It’s not wrong.”  “It’s time for a change/Not yet – separate but equal is just fine.”  “It’s an issue for each State to resolve with appropriate legislation/The Constitution of the United States must include language that assures fair and equal treatment for all.”  

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. didn’t waver from leading the nation toward implementing Federal laws that gave me and mine access to all the nation could provide for anyone.  Yes, Dr. King had my back and I knew it.  Losing him was a personal loss.

Dr. King ’s dedicated work inspired many throughout the world. 

Dr. King has been gone 45 years yet he continues to inspire us to continually seek justice for all.

May we always be grateful for him.