Why do we have Martin Luther King Jr. Day?
In the spirit of remembering one of the most famous Civil Rights Movement heroes of all time, we asked the Black Voices community how MLK has inspired them — to which there was no shortage of heartening responses.
We asked for your thoughts, feelings and opinions on the iconic figure of MLK:
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“If it weren’t for Dr. King, I wouldn’t have my family. My African American son, Tyler, was adopted at 13 days of age, and my wonderful granddaughter. I’m irish and Tuscarora.” – Denise Boyle
“In 1986 I was a freshmen at Norfolk State University. I was also a barber apprentice at Kappatal Cuts Barbershop. The man who’s barber chair I first began cutting hair in had crazy stuff left in his station. He had passed a year earlier. One day I cleaned out the station and found a Jet Magazine Dated on the Year Day and Month that I was born. 10/24/1968… On the cover of that magazine was Dr King. He was a “HISTORICAL” figure in my mind to that point, but when I did the math, I realized that I was in the womb when he was assassinated. I know that maybe silly but that connection made me read and research more about him and who he was, how his words where about children and people like me.” — Kevo Desh
Some responses have been edited for clarity.
