Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.
On this day of remembrance of the late great Martin Luther King Jr., I reflect and connect with the simple and formative memories that shaped my view of America.
I was born on the anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and I will never forget how I felt when I first realized it’s significance, and heard the words of Dr. King. I watched and rewatched his stern and hopeful message from that day, that “the bank of justice” was not bankrupt- and that Black folks around the country deserved so much better than what we had been offered. His message was beautiful and simple. We deserve jobs, employment, housing, the right to vote, and the right to education — many of the things that we continue to discuss nearly 60 years later.
It also allowed me to dream. As I watched Martin Luther King Jr., I was able to connect through his words to the country that others spoke about- a country that was sung about in public schools but seemed unreachable and mythical to myself and many others. This was the ultimate narrative. A story in which I could center and renew myself time and time again, regardless of how difficult or unwelcoming the world felt at a given moment. His message wasn’t formed from hate, but disappointment rooted in a broken promise and knowledge of our collective potential. As we reflect on his legacy and on his place in history, I’m reminded of the promise yet unfulfilled. I’m reminded that we still have a dream. Martin Luther King Jr. provided so many with a direction to march, and for that I’m forever grateful.
And so in 2022, we continue to organize for justice. We organize for the right to vote, for equal access to education, for fair chances at employment, and an end to the culture of mass incarceration that has defined an entire generation since Dr. King’s passing.
I invite you to take today to read and watch his message again – and then actively seek ways to get involved. Do this because Dr. King and the message he carried deserves more than our gratitude — it deserves our purpose.
Be reminded. Be renewed. Represent Justice.
Daniel Forkkio
Represent Justice CEO