King preached that non-violence can be achieved. No matter how you do it, continue to grow and move towards progress. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Despite challenges one faces, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel - when hope is in the heart. “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”ĭisappointment does not last forever. Loving your enemies is the only way to close the rift that separates (and in this case segregates) different racial and ethnic communities. In his sermon –mirroring the light-driving-out-darkness metaphor - the civil rights icon expressed that only love could drive out hate.
King often spoke of having love in one’s heart.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that.” Will you be in the trenches when confronted by adversity? 8. Perseverance is tested through hardship, not times of peace - and this applies to all aspects of life. “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.” For example, it should not take losing a loved one to an act of violence for us to care about everyone’s right to living in a safe community. When one offense is overlooked somewhere else in the world, it makes it possible for many other injustices to be swept under the rug - especially the ones that affect us directly. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere… Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Within the same speech, King noted that “violence ends by defeating itself.” Rather than destroying enemies, we should give them perspective and understanding. “If we do an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we will be a blind and toothless nation.”Ĭonstantly seeking revenge will inevitably lead to an endless downward spiral of destruction for all who are involved in that dynamic.
It is a nearly impossible feat without love in one’s heart. Friendships are built on acceptance and succeed because of forgiveness between two parties. It’s important to consider that even friends commit acts that you do not condone. MLK was encouraging us to look past the negative things that people have done to us.
It takes true mental fortitude to establish trust with a perceived enemy. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” It’s easy to notice the bigger aspects of an object or idea and miss the smaller pieces that comprise them. “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”Įvery positive contribution - big or small - counts in the fight towards achieving equality. Being passive and hoping for the best is no way to fight a problem that will cause exponential damage to the unity that so many civil rights activists have fought to achieve today and onward. This is MLK’s call-to-action to take an active role against injustices that are faced in society. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” King advised that those leading the charge on civil rights not let “bitterness and hatred” let their movement “degenerate into physical violence.” He encouraged his followers not to see their White supporters as enemies because Americans from all backgrounds and races need to act in solidarity.
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