Today is the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, a day where we as a people, black, white, Jew, Gentile, Protestant and Catholic, acknowledge the body of work that Dr. King did on behalf of us.
In previous years, I didn't put much thought into how I would commemorate the life of this great man (of God). It was just another day off where I would sleep in or perhaps watch some programming of the minority persuasion. I'm not afraid to admit that I was living in ignorance.
But, thanks to some great friends, I was able to spend this day acknowledging the work that was done so that I could operate in this country as a free (relatively) citizen. How awesome Dr. King was first and foremost as a man of God that could preach his face off and as a civil rights activist that was determined to "Let Freedom Ring."
I am thankful for Dr. King and all he has done for me. I am thankful for the God that was in him that allowed him to blaze trails for the rest of us. I am thankful for his spirit, for his transparency, for his humanity. The list is endless and I came to the conclusion today that I am determined to spend more of my time learning about all of the great men and women that paved the way for me to even have access to all that I do now.
When I was a child, I was taught bits and pieces of knowledge about Black History, but it was only out of obligation that I committed it to memory. But now, I am committing myself to learning because I want to.
