This week, we paused to celebrate a man who not only championed the rights of African-Americans, but people of all races, ethnicities, and religions. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed every man, woman and child should be afforded the same rights, regardless of their race, creed, or gender; and his struggle has made ‘liberty and justice for all’ more true today than at any other time in our history.
But he didn’t do it alone. He, like other great leaders, looked for guidance along the way. From his teacher, Benjamin Mays, president of Morehouse College, to American author and abolitionist Henry David Thoreau, King knew successful people never reach their goals alone, and he was blessed to have people who invested in him spiritually, personally and educationally.
Last year, Gallup conducted several studies that found young adults who reported having a teacher or adult who invested in them and their goals were twice as likely to be engaged in their work and thriving in their overall well-being. Unfortunately, only 22 percent of college grads reported having a mentor.
Today, we have an ongoing responsibility to honor the legacy of Dr. King and answer his question ‘What are you doing for others?’ We know there are real struggles in our community. It’s up to us to lead by example—peacefully standing up to injustice and supporting those who are struggling. We must mentor our youth, showing them that even in the face of poverty and racism they can rise above and build a better life. We must push back against those who hold us down, through crime, drugs, and violence. Our community needs leaders who not only see and understand our struggles, but work every day to overcome them. With our help, we can show our youth that a different world is within their reach.
