DR. KING'S IMPORTANCE TODAY
Today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is known the world over as perhaps the greatest champion of freedom, justice, equality and peace ever known. He is revered from small villages to great halls of power, and his name is invoked by countless social causes and movements. Schoolhouses and community centers from Boston to Bosnia bear his name, and in the United States, he is the only non-president with a national holiday dedicated in his honor.
And yet, in many ways the true power of his legacy remains untapped. Children across the country celebrate his life with a day off from school each year, but too many don’t understand the reasons why. Americans respect his achievements in ending segregation, but for many his teachings end at “I Have a Dream.” And across the globe, men and women of all ages know his name as a past benefactor of mankind, but not necessarily as a source of relevance to their current lives.
Through our efforts over the years, the King Center has witnessed firsthand the unrivaled power – and untapped potential – of Dr. and Mrs. King’s legacy. Their teachings have helped bridge divided communities in the U.S., and offer a chance for dialogue amongst bitter rivals abroad. We have seen it bring hope and promise to young people in Africa, and dreams of peace to presidents grappling with war. Although many things have changed since the Civil Rights Movement, the remedies proposed by Dr. King – nonviolence, service and hope – remain as relevant as ever.
http://www.thekingcenter.org/dr-king-today