Celebrating and remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Eagle Lake Remembers

There are some heroes whose lives we never forget. They impact the world and our vision of it.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was among those.

As we celebrate our national holiday on Monday, Jan. 20, to honor Dr. King, we reflect upon his life and legacy of promoting justice, equality, and peace. He taught us that we must advocate for a world where every individual is seen as valuable and where everyone must be treated with dignity and respect.

Dr. King inspired America and people across the globe with his leadership and outspokenness about the need for racial equality, opportunity, and justice. In all his work, he showed us the profound impact that an individual can have upon shaping the course of history.

His philosophy of non-violence and civil disobedience were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and became the cornerstone of the American Civil Rights movement.

In March 1963, King delivered his iconic message in his “I Have a Dream” speech before a crowd of more than 250,000 in Washington DC. He espoused the vision of a world where people would be judged not by the “color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” He reminded us of our individual responsibilities to protect the rights of others and to join the collective work to assure the rights and freedoms of all people. Dr. King’s example and leadership led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They broke institutional barriers and reminded us of our partnership in promoting equality and opportunity.

King dreamed of a just and inclusive society. He faced threats and violence but never failed to unite people and to continue his teachings of nonviolence and reconciliation.

By his model, King has had a lasting impact upon our democracy. Born in Atlanta on January 15, 1929, he knew early the challenges ahead, and spent his life teaching and leading us to a broader understanding of the value of non-violent change, and our individual roles within it.

King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. His pivotal achievements will live on. Let us carry his courage and moral clarity with us as citizens as we honor and celebrate the life of a noble leader and continue his important work.