Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. -- how young he was when his work began: 26; how young he was when his time was over:  39; but what's truly important was the vision he gave us in the 13 years in between. Thirty-eight years ago he told us he had been to the mountain and had seen the promised land. Fully aware of his own mortality and the enemies around him, he knew that he might not make it there with us but he had seen it and he gave us a glimpse of it.

Tragically, we haven't made it to that promised land where every person is "not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."  We have made progress -- the "whites only" drinking fountains of my youth are gone and the doors of commerce are open if not wide open.

But too many doors are still closed to too many people.  In this country of great riches too many people still go to bed hungry, too many people still lack adequate health care and shelter, too many
young people see gang membership as their only option, and too many bright students are lost before they graduate high school let alone college.

Three nights ago we saw the movie "Glory Road" about a small, unremarkable school in west Texas in 1965.  In this mystical story, ordinary elements intersect in a extraordinary way that tilts the world in a slightly different direction:  a losing basketball team in the midst of football territory; a girls' basketball coach with an unrealistic vision; and a bunch of farm boys and hope-less street kids with talent and passion.

In some ways, it's a familiar story -- the little engine that could. In spite of the odds and all expectations, the Texas Western team works its way into the basketball championships.  It is here that destiny and character team up to change history.  Don Haskins chose to make a difference by starting an all-black team against Adolph Rupp's all-white Kentucky team.  It could have cost the Texas team the championship; it could have cost Haskins everything.  But, they won and the televised game became one more note in the song of freedom and equality that was sweeping the country.

For me, the most remarkable part of the story was the epilogue that recounted the productive lives of the players, each at a level of success as previously unexpected as the outcome of that championship game.  Each changed by hard work and the expectation that they would succeed.

On this day of remembering Martin Luther King, Jr., I also think of Don Haskins and the countless people like him who made, and make, a difference.  Then I wonder what's my role in moving closer to that promised land ... that color-blind world of hope and peace?

May Martin's spirit be with us all ... Joyce Wycoff

Poetry Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://www.thinksmart.com/bios/poetry6.html

Comments

[Lynn]

It's important to keep the memory alive! Great Blog.!