On August 28, 1963, the honorable Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood before a crowd of civil rights supporters and admonished racial inequality, discrimination and social injustice. Dr. King’s 17-minute “I Have a Dream,” speech is perhaps one of the most recognizable public addresses that spoke volumes, and in turn, gave a movement even more momentum.
Today, we observe the celebration of Dr. King’s life.
Though every word of the speech has inspired generations, as a parent, this line underscores the significance of Dr. King’s plight:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
As a parent to a multicultural child who is the product of an interracial marriage, I’d like to say, Thank you, Dr. King, for helping to pave the way, but we’re not all the way ‘there’ yet.
We’ve come a long way, much thanks to Dr. King’s efforts, but there’s still a long road ahead until we achieve his dream.
The day where it’s assumed that I’m not the nanny to my fair-skinned child, the day where I’m not greeted in Spanish by complete strangers who are unsure of my ethnicity and assume I don’t speak English (much less have a degree in it) or the day where our family doesn’t prompt judgmental double-takes while walking together in a crowded suburban mall, the day when crimes aren’t committed as a result of hate and ignorance…that’s when I know our society is getting even closer.
Maybe our kids will have a chance to experience this in their lifetime, but educating about the importance of equality is up to us just as well.
Today isn’t a day where our family will go ice skating to celebrate a “day off.” Instead, it’s a day where I hope to emphasize to my young child about the beauty of color.
He’s only three, but thanks to YouTube, we started our day by listening to the speech of “I Have a Dream.” If you or your kids haven’t seen it, then go watch and be inspired. (My guy insisted that the video’s black and white appearance indicated the beginning of his favorite movie, “Up.” Hey, I’m trying here.)
But I digress…
If books and dvds are more your speed, here are some suggestions for books and dvds about Dr. King that are worth checking out:
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr., by Johnny Ray Moore, is a board book that gives kids a concise primer on Dr. King’s life that’s easy for small children to understand.
The award-winning Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Doreen Rappaport gives kids a pictorial glimpse of Dr. King’s life.
Part of Scholastic’s Storybook Treasures includes March On! And More Stories About African American History on dvd. March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed The World, the title story included on this dvd, is by Dr. Christine King Farris, who recounts her perspective of her brother’s legacy.
*And btw, another inspirational man who shares a January 15th birthday and moves mountains for family? My dad. Happy Birthday, dad!
