Reflecting on His Legacy
I am about as old as Dr. King was when he was murdered. He was a relatively young man. What strikes me most about him was his combination of spiritual understanding and courage.
His Letter from the Birmingham Jail is a very special example of this unicque convergence of intellect and courage of conviction. His courage manifested itself in doing what is Right.
One of the key takeaways of this letter, which I’ve shared many times with incarcerated men, is the notion of connectivity we all share. This is the notion I’ll reflect upon today.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
This quote, ironically enough written while Dr. King was locked up, is a key reason I go visit these men, and try to help in general. If I care about myself I have to care about them, after all we’re connected. Lost men who are and have been destructive to themselves and others hurt a lot of people. Among them their victims, society in general, taxpayers who pay to keep them locked up, etc. But more importantly wasted talent, passion and energy also hurts me…
What also strikes me is the audience of his letter. He was writing to liberal church ‘leaders’. These church leaders were actually questioning why he was going to Birmingham. Don’t stir up too much trouble... He was in Birmingham because injustice was there, injustice that obviously these leaders didn’t recognize or think was important. Have we anointed leaders like this today?? I think of Al Pachino's commentary on leadership in "Scent of a Woman":
I'll reflect upon how Dr. King rolled. As a young preacher he was taking a big risk, he took alot of risks. In his Letter he was publicly criticizing leaders of organizations he was a part of. He didn't mind pissing people off, any group of people, if it meant addressing injustice. Yes he was non-violent but he was NOT nonconfrontational. I apply the old baseball adage, "if you ain't cheating then you're not trying hard enough." Well I think if we’re not pissing people off we’re not trying hard enough either. Let’s try to gain some inspiration from him to go to injustice, and work side by side with those afflicted to eliminate it. Let’s also keep in mind that no matter our socio-economic status and education level we are also victims of injustice wherever it exists.
His Letter from the Birmingham Jail is a very special example of this unicque convergence of intellect and courage of conviction. His courage manifested itself in doing what is Right.
One of the key takeaways of this letter, which I’ve shared many times with incarcerated men, is the notion of connectivity we all share. This is the notion I’ll reflect upon today.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
This quote, ironically enough written while Dr. King was locked up, is a key reason I go visit these men, and try to help in general. If I care about myself I have to care about them, after all we’re connected. Lost men who are and have been destructive to themselves and others hurt a lot of people. Among them their victims, society in general, taxpayers who pay to keep them locked up, etc. But more importantly wasted talent, passion and energy also hurts me…
What also strikes me is the audience of his letter. He was writing to liberal church ‘leaders’. These church leaders were actually questioning why he was going to Birmingham. Don’t stir up too much trouble... He was in Birmingham because injustice was there, injustice that obviously these leaders didn’t recognize or think was important. Have we anointed leaders like this today?? I think of Al Pachino's commentary on leadership in "Scent of a Woman":
Be careful of what kind of leaders you're creating.
I'll reflect upon how Dr. King rolled. As a young preacher he was taking a big risk, he took alot of risks. In his Letter he was publicly criticizing leaders of organizations he was a part of. He didn't mind pissing people off, any group of people, if it meant addressing injustice. Yes he was non-violent but he was NOT nonconfrontational. I apply the old baseball adage, "if you ain't cheating then you're not trying hard enough." Well I think if we’re not pissing people off we’re not trying hard enough either. Let’s try to gain some inspiration from him to go to injustice, and work side by side with those afflicted to eliminate it. Let’s also keep in mind that no matter our socio-economic status and education level we are also victims of injustice wherever it exists.
Addressing injustice is self-serving.
We’ll have flaming arrows shot at us along the way, however Righteousness is a powerful shield. It certainly was for Dr. King, his legacy and spirit transcends his physical time with us here on earth.
posted by Charles Senteio at
11:36 AM
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