This day transcends one single man and symbolizes all the sacrifice and determination and strength of many people. The people who stood on Edmund Petus bridge in Selma, Alabama and were beaten by those who are supposed to protect; the Freedom Riders who risked their lives to enforce Interstate laws; the children who marched; the people who lost their lives. So many people who worked to make the United States to uphold its promise to its people; a promise of equity and justice and liberty and freedom.
A promise that we continue to struggle to uphold every day. What often strikes me is the relative anonymity most people in the civil rights struggle had (and have). The “ordinary” folks whose names will never be known, on whose legacy our feet rest. Few people have the gift, the voice, the ability to transcend and become a symbol as has Martin Luther King- a man whose voice brings tears to my eyes and well of determination in my throat every time I hear it. Most will never know such impact, yet their work is important and impactful in its own right.
I confess, I struggle sometimes to feel my own impact. To let this work, doing what is right, center me beyond any momentary ego-gratification. Martin Luther King recognized the need for such recognition in his Drum Major sermon (oft cited in these yearly e-mails and quoted below) and he tried to channel that human need for importance into good works. I remember reading James Farmer autobiography in college. Farmer was a long time civil rights worker (in the 40s and 50s before there was even anything called a “movement”). His book was entitled Standing in the Shadows (or something close to that.) The title referenced his own personal struggle with standing in the shadows of those who became leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. He talked honestly about his inner struggle to accept that he would not be in the spotlight, not recognized for his hard work, would not be a leader (and in fact was overshadowed by someone much younger). He wrote of those personal jealousies and desires and ego which get in the way. I really admired him for being honest about his struggles: Recognizing his and our own humanness.
Because it is hard sometimes to see any impact, or continue momentum without a groundswell of change (like the Civil Rights Movement) or when you’re in the background and no one will know your name.
Yet there is still much to be done. I fear the pendulum swing that will take us away from gains in civil rights. I fear that people complacent in our relative peacefulness and wealth before last September will grasp safety instead of something much harder to hold: truth, freedom, justice. And there are still many there are still many vestiges of racism, sexism, classism, all the isms, which have never been truly addressed.
One small example: A report came out recently that African Americans are charged (on average) 20% more when buying cars in person, however, there is not price difference when buying cars on-line. Hmm. And people say racism doesn’t exist.
Inequities exist in all facets of life, every day, everywhere.
And on Martin Luther King Day, I hope to let go of all the crap that holds me down (to paraphrase Toni Morrison) and gets in the way of what’s important. To focus on the important work that needs to be done and do my best to make a difference to change those inequities in any way I can.
I write this to remind myself. And to honor all of you for the work you do everyday that makes a difference. And to thank you for the difference you make in my life. And in hopes that we can keep working and feel inspired and empowered even in the shadows.
“Yes, If you must say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace, I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won’t have money to leave behind. I won’t have the fine and luxurious things in life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. ”
Love and peace on Martin Luther King Day and always.
bethreflects 