Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday, January 19 marks the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, not quite nation-wide, but only by some cities like San Francisco. Martin Luther King Jr. summons up to me courage and bravery, love of humanity (blacks & whites), good leadership, eloquence and peace. He was a man ahead of his times. I studied MLK Jr. a lot from the people and ideas that shaped his mind to the historical context of the Civil Rights Movement for which he led and his powerful words in his speeches. I know our world has been inspired by him greatly such as U2's song
"In the Name of Love" written about MLK Jr. His "I Have a Dream Speech' has been quoted a few times when I was teaching at Hong Kong.

What I learn most from MLK Jr's legacy, was his love and focus on American ideals of freedom, liberty & justice in spite of the hatred and racism that existed in his times and presently as well. To not come across with a bitter heart, but with strength, grace, logic and peace, Martin Luther King Jr. was and is very powerful. I put myself in his shoes just to imagine what it was like to be 'hated' for the color of your skin, which was the reality and then to love yourself enough to not allow that reality to destroy you, and then to take that and turn it around up to another level, that what you want for yourself which is pretty basic - respect and dignity - is what you want for all people, including blacks, whites, red, brown, yellow, and for America. That imagination makes me a bit teary-eyed. He is awe-inspiring and I believe every young child or adult should study his life and times. As Robert Kennedy said MLK died on the cause of freedom and justice. He was one man, and he led millions to his cause. Therefore, he was truly a man ahead of his times.

In 1997, I had written a poem about MLK Jr.. He would have been 80 years old this year. My e-mail address was created with MLK Jr in mind. I believe in his dream. Thanks for reading! Peace!

A Day of Contemplation - Jan. 15, 1997

I re-read your "Letter from Birmingham Jail,"
behind metal bars, with scraps of newspapers
around you
as you wrote alongside margins of black
stained articles of the Civil Rights Era.
A mind unbounded within boundaries
in your crisp, eloquent
voice raced with passion
powerful enough to stir your dream
instantaneously
from the freedom rides to the steps
of Washington D.C.
where shoulders stood like hamlets
settling in one single
consciousness,
changing the everyday thinking
of how things are, should and ought to be
and beyond
sit-ins, protests, marches.
Why not?
addressing your letter to the
clergymen,
Dr. King, you no longer want to concoct
'answers' for your chidren's
mindful questions on nagging signs
of segregation,
blasting the vivid scenes of the 1960's
a time when you felt alive
with a pioneer's work
worthy and self-less
not for name of fame
but for what humanity stood for
equality and justice
so generations could
dream unimaginable dreams
that could outlive decades
as long as you did
sitting in your jail cell with a pen
writing your thoughts that
may someday be a reality.