Another King holiday is upon us and promises are being made all across the country. We are making promises to treat each other better, promises to be more forgiving and less reactionary and promises to be our brother’s and sister’s keeper.
The question lies not in the promises made but can the promises be kept. King said, “Hatred and bitterness can never cure the disease of fear; only love can do that. Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it.”
It is clear in these perilous times that we do fear one another. Blacks and Whites fear one another. The working class fears those who are unemployed and those with different social norms fear one another.
Getting over the fear of each will put us on the right track but how do we get over the fear? Our hearts and minds must change. Our hearts must change from being combative to being compassionate and our minds must change from being made up to becoming open.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the architect of the Civil Rights Movement, used the nonviolent strategies of Mahatma Gandhi to change the social climate of America.
I grew up in North Carolina and marched in peaceful demonstrations for justice and equality. A defining moment for me was when I met King when I was a student at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte.
My observation about America is that we have come a long way from our original efforts for equality and parity. Yet unfortunately the road of fairness is constantly under reconstruction. The bridge to equal opportunity has some toll stops along the way.
