The country observes, January 20, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as “A Day of Service.” His late widow, Coretta Scott King, described his birthday celebrations across the nation as “the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example, the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.”
Much has been written to memorialize his birth, many celebrations have been held, and the King holiday honors the life and contributions of America’s greatest champion of racial justice and equality. A preacher who not only dreamed of a color-blind society, but who also led a movement that achieved historic reforms. We know the dream. However, today how should we remember his death?
April 4, 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee. And 50 years ago, on February 4, 1968, two months before his death, Dr. King delivered a sermon at his Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta that seemed to be prophetic. That speech contained what would become his eulogy.
He said, “Every now and then I guess we all think realistically about that day when we will be victimized with what is life’s final common denominator, that something that we call death. We all think about it. And every now and then I think about my own death and I think about my own funeral. And I don’t think of it in a morbid sense. And every now and then I ask myself, ‘What is it that I would want said?’ And I leave the word to you this morning.
“If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long.
“And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize; that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards; that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school.”
He said, “I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I’d like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody… that I tried to love and serve humanity. Yes, if you want to, say that I was a drum major for peace, and for righteousness.”
This year, there will be a yearlong commemoration of Dr. King’s murder, and the theme is “Where Do We Go from Here?’ Do you have the answer? What do you suggest?”
How do we remember the death of a man whose commitment to peace and understanding between people began as a child? Shall we have candlelight vigils or marches to remember 50 years of sadness? You tell me.
Please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday night at 10 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. on NLEC-TV Ch. 24.2. I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or e-mail at: berhay@swbell.net. Or on Twitter @berhay.
