Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his own words

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968

Click on class room resources at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute

I wrote an op-ed piece in 1997, after attending a Ku Klux Klan Rally, (perpetrating as a 1st amendment rally) that appeared in the Journal Gazette, with the following King quote,

It was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who wrote about, "finding your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain discrimination to your young child, while at the same time visualizing ominous clouds of inferiority forming in the child's mental sky, which starts the beginning of distortion in the child's personality in developing an unconscious bitterness toward the perpetrators of hatred."
Yup, "developing an unconscious bitterness toward the perpetrators of hatred, powerful words from the King," huh? Especially from discrimination.

Discrimination. Yes, dare to smile child, because it's coming. I could only protect you when you were close to my bosom. But one day it's going to hit you in the gut and what will you do? Oh I can put the balm for healing there for awhile, but one day it just won't work and what shall you do?

Stand. Stand and recognize it for what it is and from who it is coming from. Recognize it, stare it straight in the eye. Tilt your head back, chin up and give it a little smile. Now, shake the head ever so slightly, and utter these words, "oh no, uh-uh not me, you got your peoples mixed up, because I am not the one.

I am not the one. Because you, don't want me to give you a history lesson or two. Now walk with it, eye contact, forceful, chin tucked as you give an upward glance. Nope, wrong year..2007.

Leave the room..phone a friend..throw in a lifeline and call your mom. But you need to know it ain't the end of the world.

It had to do with beating the obstacles in getting over, seeing your way through, giving your testimony, starting over sometimes but never giving up. This road of racial oppression did not begin with us nor will it end with us. But we don't have to go backward as we travel this road left by our ancestors. This land is our land.