Thoughts For Thursday

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live - Martin Luther King Jr

A Man Of Less Words And More Actions!

A champion of the Human Rights Movement and awarded the highest civilian award of the world, the noble peace prize at the age of 35yrs old, Martin Luther King Jr. (who was actually born Michael but changed it after being baptized) was put on this earth to make a change. With an excusent resume in the educational field such as graduating high school at 15yrs old to later completing his residence for his doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955 it is no wonder he was and still is so well respected. Not to mention being  a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He led the civil rights movement as an activist in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968.

His leadership was fundamental to that movement's success in ending the legal segregation of African Americans in the South as well as other parts of the United States. If  there wasan injustice, protest, and/or an action being taken place you better believe King was there traveling over six million miles and speaking over 2500 times. King wrote five books and numerous articles.He was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times but he was determined to complete his "Dream."For that reason he continued his task to later be named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963 and became  not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.     

Now we fast foward to present time on the beautiful day of October  16th,2011 at 8am in Washington DC when the statue of this courage and unforgettable man was unvieled.The Memorial’s address is 1964 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20024. The street number is a reference to the Civil Right’s Act of 1964, a milestone which Dr. King played an integral role in achieving.  It stands tall at 450 ft long which sets him apart from the statues of Jefferson and Lincoln standing at only 20ft tall. It's also the first memorial on the mall of an african American person. The sculpture shows king in a way that many viewed him. In his blazer and tie with his arm folded  and holding a paper in his hands, he stands tall and strong. with a look of hope in his eyes as if he can see all of the hard work paying off in the end. All the blood, sweat, tears and pain being well worth it someday.

He wanted the memorial to be a visual representation of the ideals in King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

The wall has 14 quotations from King's speeches and witings. Lei, the sculptor stated “His dream is very universal. It’s a dream of equality." He contiued by syaing "He went to jail. He had been beaten, and he sacrificed his life for his dream. And now his dream comes true.”

Many came out for the unvieling ofthe King's sculptue including king's son Martin Luther King lll. President Obama and his family was also in attendence along with thousands of  others.  From wise to young,men and woman were there to either remember , learn and/or acknowledge the man who is gone but NEVER forgotten.

Martin Luther King III and family at the dedication


He may be gone but his dream lives on everyday we continue to fight. Fight  for the things we want and believe we deserve!