It’s chilly and damp outside on this January 13th day, but I am not fazed. I am warmed by the anticipation that emanates from those that came to witness the unveiling of “The Embrace”, a monument that celebrates the late civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. The sculpture by Hank Willis Thomas displays two arms crossed one over the other, a universal symbol of love that is shared between individuals not bound by blood but by the mutual respect for one’s humanity. My emotions fly high on the wave of hope that captures the moment. Freedom reigns indeed when arms are allowed to join, woven in an embrace—a humble and healing expression of inclusion and reconciliation. It was Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream—“I have a dream that…one day right there in Alabama, little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.”
Martin Luther King, Jr., was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia to Michael King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. He was a social activist who led the civil rights movement responsible for ending legal segregation of African Americans in the United States. King showed us a way forward. His teachings of nonviolent approaches, such as those that coalesced the massive March on Washington in 1963, continue to point the way for us today. Togetherness is a requirement. What will our legacy be? I ask myself as I think of the principles and tenets Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lived by, fought for, and died trying to instill in the hearts and minds of humanity. His life made a difference. And, I ask, can we embrace the opportunity to do the same?
We still have work to do. The lived experiences of marginalized people of today are signs that Martin Luther King Jr.’s lessons on love, peace, and justice are still relevant and needed. With a history plagued by slavery, racism, privilege, and an insatiable hunger for dominance, the impetus for change is ever present. What will your legacy be in this life’s journey? What choice will you make around upholding the demand for a just humanity?
From where I stand, I see The Embrace as an invitation. An invitation to embrace: the opportunity we have before us to effect change; the principles, tenets, and vision for a better tomorrow, if not today; and the idea that change is possible. The laws of motion dictate that an object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion unless acted on by a force. Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership was a tour de force towards achieving social justice for all. Let us embrace the capacity we all have as members of the human race to possess a dream and continue to work towards a truly just nation.
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