The true ring of freedom!

 

January 20

 

Today was Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday.

It's amazing how far we have come in less than 40 years! My kids knew a lot about Dr. King from what they had read in history books; and through the obligatory book report due during black history month. But a few years ago Mel and I went to Atlanta on a business trip and decided to take our kids with us. Due to scheduling conflicts with my stepchildren's mom and our older boys, Chris, who was 14 years old at the time, was the only one who accompanied us on that trip.

We decided to drive down so we could sightsee.  My husband planned it so we had time to stop in Washington D.C. for a whole day before we continued on to Atlanta.

It was really an eye opening and moving trip.

We went to the Lincoln Memorial and stopped at the reflection pool.

I told my son how this place had been filled with hundreds of thousands of people of all different races, marching hand in hand. This had been the place where Dr. King had made his incredible "I have a dream" speech.

For me it sent shivers up my spine because even though I am not African-American, The fact that I am Latina meant that speech was for me as well. My son listened intently to all the tidbits we told him but it wasn't until we were in Atlanta that it all hit home for him. We took him to the Dr. Martin Luther King memorial. There he got to walk through the museum that contained a lot of Dr. King's personal artifacts. He saw his shirts, his brief case and Bible. Suddenly as he walked through the halls of that museum Dr. King was no longer a myth or a legend. For Chris, Dr. King became a living ordinary man who accomplished extra-ordinary things. He was in awe of Dr. King's intelligence and his articulate speaking style. He was mesmerized by his passion for his cause and the desire to have equality for his people. When we were ready to leave we stopped by Dr. King's final resting place, with its ever burning flame. I personally felt tears of gratitude for the commitment this man had made to ensure that future generations would know true freedom and opportunity. I didn't think Chris would grasp the depth of this man's sacrifice, but once again my son surprised me. As we turned to leave, he grabbed my hand and softly said," I guess one person can make a difference!"

I just looked at him and smiled while nodding my head. On the way back to where we were staying, Dr. King's life played back in my head. Here had been a man who although truly gifted and brilliant had still been just a simple preacher; He, along with the courage of Rosa Park, had in reality changed the way we viewed America. He showed the world that with peaceful resistance, not violence, he had been able to lead his people to that mountaintop.

As a Latina I too will forever be indebted to Dr. King's legacy. I know that we will never view the world the same way again.

Our trip to Atlanta was supposed to be just a simple family get-away; instead it became an awakening to the depth of our true potential. Potential that is only limited by our own beliefs and thoughts. The next time I feel like I can't make a difference or I have nothing to contribute, I'll think of Dr. King. I'll think about what this country would be like if he too had thought that he, being only one man, couldn't make a difference. 

Let freedom ring! Let freedom ring! From every mountain top, let freedom ring!