Dr. Martin Luther King
“Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Birmingham Jail 1963
As we reflect on this day of action and remembrance, it is worth noting how ahead of his time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was. He understood, deeply, the meaning and promise of the United States. He reflected often on the impact and outcomes of his actions, and how they would be perceived by the rest of the world. In the end, he understood that by fighting for justice, equality and egalitarianism, he would not just be making the lives of his fellow African Americans better; he would be making the lives of every American better.
Dr. King was uniquely aware that the impact of the Civil Rights Movement was not isolated to one single group of people. He was fighting to make all of us, and every generation after us, better. A goal that we still are fighting to achieve to this day.
Too often, the problems of the world seem far off in places that are not our home. They occur on TV or online without any way to connect with them emotionally. For this very reason, we must be more diligent than ever to reach out to those different from ourselves and find a deeper understanding of their challenges and to find ways to connect with one another.
In times of great challenge and division, we are given the opportunity to build a better tomorrow. The chance to make significant and lasting change that might—just might—leave the world better than we found it. Ironically, this lesson can be found in even the youngest of children’s books. Last night, as I am reading my son his nightly bedtime story, Piglet asked Pooh “I wonder why things have to change. Pooh thought for a while then said: It gives them a chance to get better.”
So, as we spend our day of action cleaning a park, volunteering at a local non-profit, or lending a hand in whatever way we can, let’s keep in mind that we are all tied to the actions of each other and we have the opportunity to help heal this discordant and divided world by extending a hand and seeking to understand one another in a more comprehensive way. We do not have to wait for the world to be better, we can give it that chance.
See also:
Mayoral Musings: What Does Our Future Hold?
Mayoral Musings: A Qualified Trio
Mayoral Musings: Resolving To Help Restore Humanity To Politics
Mayoral Musings: Taxes Stay Flat in 2019 Budget
Mayoral Musings: No Idle Hands in 2018
