A minister by trade, a civil-rights activist by necessity. Martin Luther King, Jr. has become one of the most recognizable faces of social activism in modern times. Most people are familiar with his life story and his impact on American society, but just as a brief refresher, here are some of his credentials:
King entered Morehouse College in 1944 and graduated with a sociology degree four years later at the age of 19. He attended the Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania and became the valedictorian and student body president in 1951. In the waning weeks of 1955, he met with the NAACP and partnered with many like-minded civil rights activists to initiate the famed Montgomery Bus Boycott. The boycott lasted a remarkable 382 days and subjected local transportation to great financial losses, ultimately leading to the lifting of mandated segregation laws city-wide. Shortly after, he partnered with Ralph D. Abernathy, a fellow minister and close adviser, and roughly 60 other influential ministers to form the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. From its conception in 1957 to the early 1960s, the SCLC organized and sponsored mass meetings at various churches and “sit-ins” at segregated restaurants across more than 27 major, Southern cities. King organized a controversial (yet peaceful), mass demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama in the spring of 1963 and used its momentum to lead the March on Washington, the most famous of his demonstrations, in August of the same year. His efforts inspired many of his cohorts to lead similar demonstrations, the most notable being the “Bloody Sunday” march from Selma to Alabama in early 1965. The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and later the 1965 Voting Rights Act proved King’s efforts to be successful.
To accomplish everything King did in a single lifetime is quite impressive to say the least. But to do it all in the face of adversity is something truly remarkable. While he was alive, living as a black man in the American South was a struggle at the bare minimum. Segregation. Harassment. Intimidation. Violence. Not a day went by in which black citizens lived without nagging fears in the back of their minds. Although looking back we are able to recognize how successful King’s efforts really were, opposition at the time was strong and these very successes would lead to his assassination in 1968. As terrible as his assassination was, his message was made all the more important and impactful because of it. He knew the risks involved. He knew the danger he put himself in, his family in, and his friends in. He stood tall despite this.
Martin Luther King Jr. embodied everything SPILT MILK serves to promote. His persistence despite the many trials and tribulations he faced led to previously unrealized dreams becoming a reality. His sacrifice led to the empowerment of an oppressed population for generations to come. Unfortunately, even half a century after King’s murder, we still have a long way to go in the fight for true equality in American society. But there is still hope. We can learn from our societal failures of the past, from the atrocities endured by King and his followers, and from the mistakes we make every day. On this 32nd observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I encourage you to move forward taking every mistake as an opportunity for learning and improvement.
There are many things wrong with our society. Don’t cry, do something about it; it’s what Mr. King would have wanted most.
By Noah Jacobs, Creator of SPILT MILK