I’ve been thinking more so this year than ever in the past, about the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I’ve always been inspired by his words and actions.  Dr. King’s messages of non-violent protest, equality for all in education, politics, and day-to-day life have given so many opportunities to more people than I believe even he aspired to.  But I don’t believe I’ve ever thought about it as extending beyond those of color. 

I was very young in the 60’s, but became very aware of this struggle during the 70’s when “forced bussing” became a lightening rod in Boston.  I still can never forget that picture of a “white guy” using the American Flag as a weapon in, of all places, my “hometown”!  (I wonder where he is now.) After all, the “North” was supposed to be so much more “liberal” than the “South”, wasn’t it?  Yet Boston was as divided by race and socio-economic status as the South.  It was a real eye-opener to me.

My mother, having been raised as a typical Irish-Catholic in Boston, had a different view and was embarrassed by the actions of our neighbors.  And she spoke with me at length about it.  But more importantly, she didn’t just talk about it.  She lived it and she set the example I still live by today, and that by which I teach my children.

Still, today though, there are many jokes and euphemisms, which are part of our everyday language.  I’ve heard them from my own children’s mouths and I’m dismayed.  Even in a supposedly “enlightened” society, there are still distinctions. There are still many people (parents) who make these comments, pass them onto their children, who in turn, infect others with the “disease”.  My kid’s only saving grace is that they don’t actually understand them until I explain what they actually mean.  As naïve as they are about inequality, it still concerns me that they could be influenced by their peers and the parents of those peers.

Yet, I’m glad they are naïve and I must explain these things to them.  That tells me that we’re making progress and gradually but, ever so slowly, moving beyond these misconceptions about race.

But it’s not just about race.  Or religion.  Or socio-economic background.  Or physical or mental capabilities. It’s about giving everyone a chance at becoming successful.  Just like Mary’s earlier post: Reaching out to give them a “leg up”.  Not as “charity” but as a human being helping another human being able to realize the American Dream.

I apologize for the length of this post, but I believe that Dr. King didn’t only affect people of his own race.

I believe that Dr. King gave many others the strength and fortitude to assert themselves and their rights to be equal.  I believe that Women, the “Disabled”, the “Economically Depressed” and many others have benefitted and found inspiration in Dr. King’s words and actions.

Would we have two viable Presidential candidates, one of color and one a woman, without Dr. King?  Would we have a Mormon winning primaries?  Would we have a woman of color as our Secretary of State, if not for Colin Powell, who would never have been the first "of color"Sec'y of State ?  Would we have benefitted from Thurgood Marshall?  Gloria Steinham?  And a host of others?

How wonderful that Dr. King's very simple message has translated into so much change in our society.  Wow.  Rather makes you think that even those most humble of "us" can and should make a difference.  We don't need to lose our lives over it, as so many have.  They made it much easier on us  to make a differenct.

You never know where it will lead.

As a CSNY song touts:  “Teach Your Children well” and, more often than not: “Teach Your Parents Well”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6pphVs8bF0

IMHO.