Reflections on This Special Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday

[Lonnell Johnson]

Monday, January 19, 2009—“A day like any other, yet why so much significance.” So often as I wax reflective, I also wax poetic, recalling poetic works that come to mind on this particular holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the day before the inauguration of Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America, the first African American to hold that position. Among the first thoughts that came to mind related to the everlasting impact that one individual can have on the whole world. In my prayer journal/scrapbook which contains scriptures, photographs, poems, and other writings that I use as focal points for praying and meditating, I recently placed a collage of photos of President Obama, one of which is taken with a portrait of Dr. King in the background as the President-elect is speaking. I recall also that President Obama offered his acceptance speech of the nomination on the 45th Anniversary of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream Speech.” In the poem “Your Life Is a Book” I expound upon the words of Elijah Pierce and comment on the influence that a single individual can have:No one knows the future nor can anyone gaugeThe impact of a solitary life with its message.Indeed, the impact of life of Dr. King still resonates not only on the third Monday in January but throughout the year, especially in light of events that follow that day 2009. Here is a work written in honor of Dr. King:. . . the man behind the nametribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.the namethe good brotherhammered out his"Here I stand,I can do no other"and forged "A mighty fortress"the namethe same namethunders through four centuriesanchored with a surnamea paradox,oxymoronicnature of a servant/Kingthe nameweight of that nameonus of the same nameobligation to be trueto one's namesakeas Ellison's hidden name and complex fateresounds from age to age the same--the battle cry to defy the status quomore than the nameis the memory of the manbehind the namereflections on the manbehind the namemirror commonalitiesthreads intertwine in black and goldthe life of this preacher,teacher of the Word,Walker's prophet for a new day,husband, father, mentor and more,fellow-laborer in the Lord,fellow bondslave and brotherheeding the higher callingfirst of all,servants of all,we shall transcend all. . . the man behind the name page 2the manpraying, preaching,leading through troubled watersfollowing in the steps of Christ,along the higher path of lovethe manbuked and scorned,called everything,including child of God,tested, arrested, tried and sentencedpenning his letter from a Birmingham jailthe mansitting down and standing up,protesting and marching and singing"Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round"from Selma to Montgomery to Memphiswhere he waved and smiled the last timethe manuprooting burdock and stinkweed,bitter roots of prejudicethat blight the landplanting peace lillies insteadthe manimages forever etched in my mindeloquent, passionate dreamerworking to weave into realityhis multi-colored dream of possibilitythe vista of that gatheringwith echoes of his orationbefore the People of Promisearm-over-arm, hand-in-handswaying in rhythmic wavesacross the multitude of facessinging softly in unisonthis choir of celestial voices". . . Black and white together. . ."embracing refrains from the anthem of his age:We shall overcomeWe shall overcomeWe shall overcome, someday.Oh, deep in my heartI do believeWe shall overcome, someday.by Lonnell E. Johnson

[Dan Haas]

"we shall transcend all" / "we shall overcome"

I was reading a book on the canon of scripture by the scholar Bruce M. Metzger, and he mentioned that MLK's letter from a Birmingham jail. The next time I was at Barnes and Noble, I asked around and got a paperback with the letter in it. I read it there in the store as I sipped a cup of coffee.

It touched something deep within me, or maybe I should say I touched something -- not less than divine. As I left the store, it was as if the store itself was an elevator... I had walked in from a lower world, and exited into a higher one -- but the only thing that had changed was me.

[Karen (Hemmalin) McGrath]

Hi Lonnell, a lovely tribute, thank you for sharing!

Being on volunteer staff at the Martin Luther King Concert, Raising the Roof with Lou Gossett Jr. last Monday here in Boston, I listened as Lou Gosset Jr. spoke of where he was when he heard that Dr. King had been assassinated. I thought of where I was at the time as well. I can still see him in my mind's eye on the television set. A mere five years before I had watched my mother cry over the news of President Kennedy's assassination, then Dr. King being killed, two months after that Bobby Kennedy would be down. As a young child I thought the world was unraveling. It was. A candle was snuffed out that sad day but not before that candle lit a fire for freedom for all human beings.

As I watched the young people sing and dance at his tribute on Monday, I wondered what they really thought of him, how would it be for them if they could have reached into his life, what would they say, how would they react, what would they resolve? I found myself praying for them to love the One True God.

Dr. King was able to articulate the difference between anger at "white" people versus anger at the spirit of death, the drive of any and all racism; not just for African Americans but for all Americans. The spirit of death roots in unforgiveness leading ultimately toward bitterness and finally death. Dr. King was able to do so much for God to turn the tide because he was able to forgive, which effectively was taking a spiritual stand against the wiles of the enemy. And it shattered the enemy's engine of hurt at the time.

Dr. King will forever be one of my heroes. May we all repent for entertaining the spirit of death wherever it has masqueraded in our lives.

Many blessings Lonnell! with love, Karen