FILE - In this April 3, 1968, file photo, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. makes his last public appearance at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tenn. The following day King was assassinated on his motel balcony. Travelers will find a variety of events and sites in Memphis and elsewhere honoring King's legacy on the 50th anniversary of his death.(AP Photo/Charles Kelly, File) (AP Photo/Charles Kelly)
Exactly half a century ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who gave voice to the importance of embracing love and equality, was tragically murdered in Memphis, Tennessee.
Despite the shocking end to his life on April 4, 1968, Dr. King left behind a powerful legacy that impacted not only America, but the world.
King’s leadership of the civil rights movement was supported by many in the faith community who joined him in pointing out the American hypocrisy that our laws did not reflect the truth in the Declaration of Independence that that "all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."
Americans and people around the world remember King’s legacy for his call to freedom and racial unity through love and engagement; a message he still shares with the world a half-century later. The supremacy of any race over another is not only immoral, it’s contradictory to the fundamental idea of America and our Declaration of Independence.
Love is the consistent theme throughout many of King’s writings and remarks: “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend,” he said. He also said: “I have decided to stick with love.… Hate is too great a burden to bear.” And this: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Fifty years later, America still needs King’s message of love and unity.
On social media and cable TV news, discourse often looks like hate trying to drive out hate, rather than light and love driving out hate. Angry and bitter dialogue harms our ability to be the United States of America. Our divisive rhetoric loses sight of the message of Dr. King – from the scriptures – that all people are made in the image of God and have inherent worth and dignity.
We can disagree without being disagreeable. We can challenge each other's view and perspectives without tearing down the person who holds them.
To address the racial tensions in America, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and I started an initiative two years ago called “Solution Sunday.”
After police shootings in 2016 in Texas, Minnesota and Louisiana, we challenged our constituents and people all across America to address racial tensions by engaging people of another race over a meal in their homes. We encouraged people to take time to stop, to listen to one another and build trust by spending time over a meal at our family tables.
The real national conversation on race will not occur at a rally, a big event, or in the media, since in a crowd or on TV we can talk about each other, but not really to each other. I believe that “national conversations” are really millions of individual conversations with family and friends, best shared over a meal, in our homes.
If it seems too simple and obvious, let me ask you this question: Has your family ever shared a meal at your home with a family of another race? If not, why not? To say it simply, we will never get all our issues on the table until we get our feet under the same table. Demonstrating to our kids and grandkids genuine friendships across racial lines is much more powerful than words.
After two centuries, we are making progress on race, but we seem to be rapidly losing our “melting pot” of ideas, respect and acceptance. A trend has emerged that encourages people to listen only to people who share their values, philosophy and ideas – and then dismiss or belittle anyone who is different or disagrees, even if only on a few issues.
A good burn, rather than a good word, is the new goal. We still need the reminder that “love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
Let this anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death be an opportunity to honor his memory and legacy by engaging neighbors who are different – racially, ideologically, religiously, and socioeconomically. If the national pendulum is ever going to swing, it will require role models in every community who don’t just call out others for respectful engagement, but who live it.
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