“…And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man.”…..Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The leader of the Montgomery Bus Boycott; the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; the man who seized the world’s attention with his electrifying speech at the March on Washington; and the recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize — at the time the youngest person to receive that honor — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was “all that.”
But even as he was successful in bringing about change with every hard-fought step of his freedom journey, he also lived with the knowledge that his time on this earth would not be long due to the institutions he was challenging.
Dr. King knew he would not be afforded the luxury of one day kicking up his heels to admire the progress he brought about in the world. “I may not get there with you,” was much more than rousing oratory, it was a brave man’s admission that his time was short, but it was the ultimate sacrifice that he was willing to make for his principles, his people, his country and the world.
However, given the lasting power of Dr. King’s legacy, can it not be said that he did get to this point with us because he continues to inspire so many people today? And the bond that we have with this great man transcends race, social class and geographic boundaries — the type of unity Dr. King wanted for us. When asked how Dr. King and his legacy inspires you in your day-to-day life, Dr. David Fike, president of Marygrove College, said, “As the president of Marygrove College, an institution committed to developing leaders and providing leadership in our urban community, I find great inspiration in what Dr. King’s life and legacy teach about leadership.
“His life and legacy are a constant reminder that the most powerful and lasting aspect of leadership derive from purpose. Unscrupulous leaders might cajole followers to do things they later regret; self-serving leaders might be able to temporarily exploit well-intentioned people. But Dr. King led a movement that changed the course of race relations in a country founded on the racist institution of slavery.
“He helped not only break down the most ugly vestiges of segregation but he did this by focusing on the fundamental humanness of people. His life and legacy illustrate the power of humble leaders pursuing the realization on earth of the gospel values of love, reconciliation and justice. His work illustrates the power of leaders who focus on achieving a higher ethical purpose, not personal gain.”
As Dr. Fike so eloquently stated, along with other members of our community whose thoughts appear with this story, Dr. King is indeed still with us today. And may his words and example continue to help guide us as we tackle the challenges before us today.
“I believe that Martin Luther King Day is the celebrated birthday of a hero. He changed the way of life for all of us. If it were not for Martin Luther King, many people probably would judge me. I wouldn’t have friends due to the color of my skin, and my learning environment would be totally different due to segregation and racism. Martin Luther King has made the world better for every generation by allowing myself and others to be able to receive an education. Education is very important and thanks to Dr. Martin Luther King my family and I are able to receive one. Dr. King will always be a part of my life for making everything that I achieved possible.
…Chloé Adams, 12th Grade, Mumford High School
“Dr. King’s actions and legacy have inspired me to realize that Christian beliefs and values should be our guiding light when dealing with the ups and downs of daily life, and especially as we face the cultural, social, economic, business and political issues of today.”
….Don Alessi, Comerica Bank Vice President and National Minority Business Development Coordinator
“Dr. Martin Luther King inspires me to live with integrity and to treat all people equally.”
….Deborah Edwards, Comerica Bank Vice President and Michigan Southern Christian Leadership Conference Board Member
“Dr. King’s life and legacy remind me that leaders must exhibit courage, vision and stamina. Think about the leaders you admire in your family, in your community, in your workplace. They undoubtedly have some of the universal qualities of leadership that Dr. King exhibited: they bring courage to their tasks, taking risks at times, fortifying others to relinquish fears that hold back progress; they possess resiliency and stamina when things go wrong, as they will at times; and, they generally pay attention to where we are headed in the long run — a vision for the future — not the pettiness of day-to-day gossip or inconveniences.
“Finally, the life, legacy and words of Dr. King inspire me to remember that the work for social justice continues. The Civil Rights Movement contributed to social change that was instrumental in bringing opportunity for millions of African Americans in this country. But I never forget that Dr. King’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech was given at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and his leadership was addressing economic injustice in our society in addition to racial injustice. As we struggle to make progress in these difficult economic times, Dr. King’s focus and work in this area are as important today as when he lived and led.”
….David J. Fike, PhD, President, Marygrove College
“My favorite quote from Dr. King is, ‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.’ Those words really come to life in the environment we are living in today. Dr. King’s words help me to remember that this is the time to stand up, be counted and demonstrate leadership.”
….Kala Gibson, Comerica Bank Senior Vice President and African American Business Initiative Chairman
“Dr. King symbolizes dignity and respect. I am not referring to others giving me respect and treating me with dignity. Rather it’s about me acting with dignity and showing that I respect myself. Neither Dr. King nor Malcolm X believed that a person was due respect and dignity without first earning it by our works and words. They also believed that if a person carried themself with dignity, they would earn the respect of others.
“As a Black man, I realize that I am scrutinized and evaluated more than any other group of people in America. That is a given and will never change. But I don’t act the way I do to receive accolades and applause from others. I act the way I do because I want to respect the man I see in the mirror and see dignity in the man that I walk with daily. Dr. King taught me that it is the content of my character that will make me proud each day to be this Black man that God has made.”….Barry Hubbard, Real Skills Program Manager, Coleman A. Young Foundation
“Dr. King was committed to positive social change and that is something I take to heart. I think making a conscious effort to be a part of the solution and solution-oriented versus focusing in on the problem or what is wrong is essential to positive change. His coura
ge even in the face of danger is also an inspiration to me. It encourages me to keep striving even though many obstacles are present. And finally, his dedication to community and being a community advocate makes him a solid role model for me and the work to which I am dedicated.”
….Yolanda Lyles Johnson, Foundation and Government Relations Director, Marygrove College
“My daily living has been enriched by this historical icon. He was a symbol of hope, love, peace and brotherhood. He truly inspired me, and instilled compassion and love for all people, regardless of our backgrounds and our races. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a wonderful example to follow, he was a blessed man with only God’s heart and teachings in mind. And Dr. King, being a minister, knew what he had to do and in my opinion, he did the impossible at an impossible time that has changed minds and generations to come. He did what Jesus preached about — to become fishers of men — and not to hold back even when you know you will be persecuted. So the next time I drive down the highway and see the exit for Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Boulevard or Street, I’ll realize that it is a road unfinished, not yet paved and engineered to match its original blueprint. Thank you, Dr. King, for being strong and courageous, and for being an example for generations past, present and future.”
….Gloria Killebrew, Michigan Southern Christian Leadership Conference Committee Member
“Dr. King’s life proves that one person can make a difference. Dr. King’s life is a constant reminder of how impactful and beneficial it can be to lead by example, and how important it is to treat others how we would like to be treated. Dr. King’s life has shown me that despite the level of education a person may have, there is always more to learn. Dr. King’s life shows that if there’s a problem that needs to be fixed, it’s not enough to leave it to someone else to try to fix. Dr. King’s life proves that it’s important to stand up for what you believe in. Dr. King lived his life by example and I try to do the same.
…..Terri Lee, President, PR Media Services
“Although Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. accomplished great things on a large scale, his legacy inspires me to do what I can on the most simple level, beginning with my day-to-day interactions with people. His messages of love, peace, brotherhood and care for all humanity resonate strongly with me. I try hard to incorporate these messages into my life by seeing every person as an individual, not as a group. Group labels can categorize us all, but underneath it all, we’re human beings, worthy of love, respect and kindness. What an incredible role model he was.”
…..Karen Wood, Communications and Marketing Director, Marygrove College
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