“God never intended for one group of people to live in superfluous inordinate wealth, while others live in abject deadening poverty. God intends for all of his children to have the basic necessities of life, and he has left in this universe “enough and to spare” for that purpose. So I call upon you to bridge the gulf between abject poverty and superfluous wealth.”
My brother Caleb bought me "A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings of Martin Luther King Jr." when I was in high school. MLK is one of Caleb's heroes because of his commanding rhetoric of hope, his actions against injustice, and his involvement in change. My brother Caleb shares a lot in common with MLK Jr., namely his speech delivery, his servant-like approach to everything, and his close relationship with Jesus-Lord-God-Creator. I'm thankful Caleb has encouraged me to read the deeply inspiring, convicting, and motivating words of MLK Jr. His speech "The Drum Major Instinct" has informed how I approach my competitive nature: daring use it to serve others rather than challenge them.
If you have not seen SELMA, you should. If you have not listened to the voice on the other side of things, you should. If you have not made an effort to become friends with people that are different than you, you should. When I look at the disparities that still exist between whites and blacks in our country, I do not sense hope, but he has taught us to declare hope. May we be bold enough to engage the things that need changing.
These photos are from the Nashville MLK Jr. march and convocation at Tennessee State University
