I was born two years and two days after the birth of Dr. King. He entered college at 15, I started at 16.
He was assassinated in 1968, I was elected to the Virginia State Senate in 1969.
I have previously posted on his birthday. I think it’s important to reference where we are relative to his agenda.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was not confined to marches, demonstrations, and songs. He was about those things necessary to bring attention to what it takes for government to measure its responsibility not by color of skin in any degree of judgment in its operation.
I think he would be surprised at many things. Chief among them, I imagine, would be the continuing problems in education, K-12 and beyond, despite the historic Brown decision in 1954. He would be surprised why today’s “leaders” are not demanding compliance with court decisions ruling that states remain uncommitted to education equality.
I guess advanced age has whetted my impatience, but as Hillel asks, “if not now when?”
Today, on my 91st birthday, and the celebration of Dr. King’s, I thank him for the opportunities he helped make possible for me and countless others to achieve.