From the Editor’s Desk:

Jan. 20, 2025 – What did you do today? I spent time catching up on personal business, while at the same time, reflecting on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Yes, today is a federal holiday in honor of Dr. King’s birth, Jan. 15, 1929.

Had time to think about how we, my husband and I, would not have the many freedoms we enjoyed today had it not been for the work and sacrifices of Dr. King and the countless other leaders, marchers, volunteers; organizers and activists in his day and generations before him. (Something as basic as walking into the front door of a restaurant, sitting next to people of different ethnicities and races, and receiving equal service. This is one example of a legal freedom for which they fought.)

Though I was a toddler when the civil rights leader and ordained minister was assassinated on April 4, 1968, my mother made sure my siblings and I knew, as young children, who he was and what he stood for. Our family took a trip to Atlanta to visit the King Center to learn more about him and the Civil Rights Movement. Our church reinforced the education through year round activities in the Young People’s Department (a.k.a. YPD). The Moses of his day, a leader of oppressed peoples, Dr. King fought for human and civil rights of poor people, everyday working people – many who looked like him, like us. He fought for economic rights, voting rights, educational rights, housing rights and basic fairness in just about every sector of society – here and throughout the world. (Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts.)

At some point during this MLK Jr. holiday, I reflected on the opportunity we had in the summer of 2023 to visit Dr. King’s memorial in Washington, D.C. Let me first encourage everyone to go and experience it for yourself – and take your children and/or grandchildren.

Here’s what I learned about the memorial, thanks to the National Park Service staff member who conducted a talk when we were there.

First off, the fact there is even a memorial in our nation’s capital in honor of Dr. King is a miracle. While he is celebrated nowadays, he was disliked among many people, because he challenged the status quo. It took 12 years to lobby the United States Congress for the approval to build the memorial. The effort was initiated by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity of which Dr. King was a member. In 1996, then President Bill Clinton approved legislation to establish the memorial. Fifteen years later, work on the memorial was completed and it opened.

The memorial, strategically situated in the middle of a diagonal path between the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial, was built around a theme based on a quote from Dr. King’s I Have A Dream Speech – “With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.” It is the first on the National Mall to honor an African American. More striking: Dr. King delivered that speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and talked about the Declaration of Independence, written mainly by Jefferson.

The entrance is an opening to what’s said to be an arch. (Think: “We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” – Dr. King) Various quotes by Dr. King are engraved around the arch and other parts of the memorial.

Two large stones, separated and sitting across from each other, represent a mountain. Visitors walk between them to get to the plaza where the huge 30-feet sculpture of Dr. King stands. 

The walkthrough was a humbling experience for me. It served as a reminder to me how before us, Dr. King, and countless others, had to break through unimaginable barriers, especially in the South, to get to the other side. Some of them didn’t make it – like Dr. King – to see a much better day in which people could live free and have more opportunities. While many inequities remain, our generation has safer voting locations, no laws / codes restricting where we can eat, legal protections for fairer wages and access to better educational settings.

The team of professionals and materials used to build the memorial came from all over the world: executive architect, Ed Jackson Jr. – U.S., sculptor Lei Yixin – China and stone from Canada, for example.

There are elements of diversity that are not in previous memorials, the park ranger said. He pointed out the hints of colors used throughout the memorial property. I liked how he quizzed participants in his session on Dr. King’s legacy. (Way to go Honey on answering correctly just about all of the questions and on being recognized!)

Visiting the memorial was a highlight of our summer vacation, along with spending time with family members and visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It reminded me of the struggle of Black Americans and other marginalized Americans and of how it will take all of us to see positive change that looks like equitable treatment among people living in the U.S.

The uniqueness of each one of us, our collective diversity, makes this country great. 

Trish Marshall, Founder and Editor, OCN orlandocommunitynews@gmail.com

Sources: National Park Service (Park Ranger and nps.gov) 
Photos by: Nate & Trish Marshall