Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life And Legacy

“History is not static.  It has the power to shape our perceptions and influence our behaviors in the world. History is not dead. It lives through all of us and propels us into the future. As I reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the upcoming holiday, I contemplate the significance of his life, the history of his life that we are exposed to, and the history in the making in which we currently participate. In today’s political environment where history and its retelling are hotly contested, it is vital that we extend beyond our comfort zones and expose ourselves beyond the narratives of the Montgomery bus boycott and his ‘I have a dream’ speech. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an individual amid complex times and of a paramount struggle. To fully understand his work, we need to understand the world in which he arose from, and the multiplicity of challenges and dangers that world presented. In his pursuit of justice and equality for African Americans, he was fully aware that the liberties of humanity were at stake, both within the U.S. and abroad. He knew deeply that the journey towards equality and justice connects us all, and we all have a necessary and valuable role to play. The courage and dedication of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was not his alone, it was shared among all the unsung individuals who risked their lives and livelihood for a better world. We all have that ability to rise to the occasion and contribute, at any level. It does take courage to step up to advance justice, and I know we have that strength inside of us and the willingness to act.”

“I believe Dr. King gives us direction on what we can do every day to best honor his legacy in his ‘I have a Dream’ speech from 1963. There are few lines within that speech that speak to how I try to live every day. One line states, ‘let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you, my friends, we have the difficulties of today and tomorrow.’ I believe this means to keep a positive disposition when pushing to strive and thrive, day in and day out, through the challenges that we face. 

I also believe it is important to support non-profit organizations who have a quest for equality similar to Dr. King’s hopes and dreams. This year, I was honored to receive McKinstry’s 2023 Impact Award, which comes with the ability to provide $5,000 to a non-profit whose mission aligns with McKinstry’s. I’ve chosen to award this money to Urban Impact Seattle. This organization hosts an annual tribute to Dr. King with their MLK Prayer Breakfast. I have contributed monetarily to this organization and cause in the past and will continue in the future, but how cool is it to provide such a significant donation supported by a company I love working for!?! I believe all of this represents parts of Dr. King’s dream!”

“One of the best ways I believe we can honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today and every day is by doing our absolute best to practice positivity daily. In one of Dr. King’s speeches, he states ‘We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path.’ One of my goals daily is to stay positive, help others, and see the bright side of things — you can find the good in everything if you stay positive. I truly think that if we all tried to follow a peaceful path, we would not only honor Dr. King, but we would uplift those around us and change our own lives in ways no one imagined.”