MLK Jr. Day

Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. brought hope and healing to America, at a time when there was no shortage of division and disagreement. Today, the words of his famous I Have a Dream speech in 1963, are a welcome reminder of the understanding and tolerance that we need to consistently work towards. Thankfully, we have come a long way since then, but there is always more to be done, be it the need to educate the next generation, or to be more conscious of subtle undertones that may be misunderstood.

Observed on January 21^st, Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrates the life and achievements of an influential leader, well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation. It is a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of race, color or creed. It is a day to increase in tolerance and understanding, to teach our children and to remind ourselves, that “all men are created equal”. We are the leaders of the next generation and it is our attitudes, that will ultimately determine the future of our country.

While it may be difficult to acknowledge, many of us harbor some prejudice of a person or group. I’ve discovered that in most cases, this is simply due to a lack of information. When we don’t have facts, we tend to make erroneous conclusions. MLK Day is the perfect opportunity to educate ourselves or our children about those we are judgmental of. More often than not, once we fill in the gaps and develop a better understanding, the intolerance falls away and we discover that we are more alike than different.

We may not be able to change the world in a day, but we can change ourselves, one day at a time.