Thirty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established as a federal holiday. At that time, most people living remembered the man and the powerful impact he had on the advance of civil rights in the United States.
Thirty years later, most living Americans have no direct recollection of Rev. King. He is remembered in the history books, and the holiday has become less about the man himself and more about his legacy.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott he helped organize will forever be an example of grassroots activism and the power of individuals who act collectively. His practice of non-violence will forever be an example of patience, humanity and resolve. His “I Have a Dream” speech will forever be an example of principle, faith and hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Most Americans today, thankfully, cannot understand the world of segregation into which Martin Luther King Jr. was born. That is in large part due to the tireless and often thankless work of people like Rev. King — and that is something Americans today understand, even if they cannot fathom the quotidian struggles that he and countless other black Americans faced.
For American generations to come, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will continue to evolve into a celebration of commitment to civil rights, and a communal pledge to ensure equality across the many strands in this American society.
Copyright © 2016 by the Intermountain Jewish News
