The 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Lisa Noël Babbage
Author, Teacher, Philanthropist
Jun. 1, 2018
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Fifty years after the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, his legacy continues to be one of the most influential voices for peace around the globe. Immigrants and natives alike recalled this year, in glorious splendor the light and life of Dr. King. In Atlanta, Georgia, and in Washington, DC., with the federal funding of the expansion of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Park, as well as in numerous cities throughout the country, celebrations and remembrances echoed the words once championed by this brave American.
While many have reflected on the publicly spoken words of the nonviolence movement Dr. King led, it is also the words spoken behind closed doors that gave him the courage to step out on the world stage and boldly declare the truths he so devoutly believed in. Many of these private reflections have been collected for public display due to the generosity of the King family.
The Millennium Gate Museum now houses a collection of King’s personal letters, papers, and other memorabilia. This small and personal exhibit on the museum’s third floor gives a different look at Dr. King’s work and legacy from a family perspective. While Americans still marvel at the progress Dr. King made through nonviolent means, the world has joined the celebration. The website Stories of USA lists Dr. King’s speech as the most patriotic speech in American history, but it is accessed by readers around the globe. At the annual birthday service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he served as pastor for eight years, the Bellringer ceremony at the 2018 service featured diplomats representing over 20 countries. Yet it all started with one man’s decision to pursue the fundamental right to be free. The quest has become more than an American dream through the efforts of those following Dr. King’s example for change worldwide, it is slowly becoming a global light.
Visit http://www.mlk50forward.org/love-for-humanity-50-acts-of-service-or-kindness-campaign/ to join efforts in the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s work.
