Last year, it was my pleasure to attend the annual Martin Luther King Jr. observance at St. Steven’s Episcopal Church.
Although lightly attended, I was happy to see, year after year, increased participation by members of our community. This year it is being held at the Bond House Museum at 10 a.m., Jan. 16.
I’d like to bring to everyone’s attention the misconception by many that this day represents a “black person’s” holiday. Nothing could be farther from its reality.
The courage, resolve and achievements of the civil rights movement who Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as the face of, not only profoundly altered the trajectory of American justice, but it reverberated worldwide.
It is worthwhile noting that its first and perhaps most important impact was to effect the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That’s 50 years ago and over 150 years after the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. It is a lengthy document but it’s important to note several of its provisions. A few excerpts follow (the italics are mine):
Title ll-Injunctive relief against discrimination in places of public accommodations SEC. 201:
“All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities and privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodations, as defined in this, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion or national origin.”
SEC. 402:
“The commissioner shall conduct a survey and make a report to the president and the Congress, within two years of the enactment of this title, concerning the lack of availability of equal educational opportunities for individuals by reason of race, color, religion, or national origin in public educational institutions.”
TITLE VI-Nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs
SEC. 601:
No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
It should be noted that these excerpts repeatedly stress that no person on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin is to be discriminated against. It affects all of us. It doesn’t say black or Hispanic, Jew or even white Protestants, it says all people.
To be sure, we often personally fall short of this noble ideal. The bar is set very high. But that shouldn’t stop us from trying to overcome what is a learned-human trait, one that prevents us from enriching our lives by embracing the marvelous diversity that makes up the citizenry of our United States.
It should be exercised every day but most appropriately reflected upon on a day set aside to honor a remarkable individual, Martin Luther King Jr.