Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘s birthday has become a holiday where young families bring out their children to share the big moments of the civil rights movement. With parades and programs, the youth have an opportunity to peek into the past as attention is being given to the of the civil rights movement through public viewings today.

While children are learning, young adults are also learning along with their children as they both seek personal insights from the baby boomers who should have some lifetime stories about the civil rights movement.

In Houston, two parades are held. For the past 29 years, The Houston Sun has participated in the original MLK Black Heritage Society and it has always been a surreal moment as the event requires reflections and visioning. The need to measure our progress and to set new goals loom large.

The general public however, I recommend should listen to 3-5 different of Dr. King’s speeches
so that we can learn about the focus and guidance he was trying to bring to the world. His speeches are instructive thereby provide historical messages to the reader or listener. No, I shall not recommend any of them. Self guided education is good fo the learner as you can use technology to perform an internet search for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s speeches and listen to them using your electronic equipment of your choice or do it the traditional way and just settle down with your favorite beverage and read and think. The reading would probably give more opportunities for thinking and positioning yourself in the present with preparation for the future.

The future was the focus for Dr. King. The past was the history. The present was the change we were fighting for and the future was where our hopes and dreams rest. So, as young parents bring their children to the parades, they are connecting their children with a future that will belong them as the learn about the past that opened doors of opportunity for them, the future for whom the civil rights movement was fought.

May God bless and I will see you next week.