“I have a dream.”

How do these four words resonate with you? Depending on your own personal journey, these words resonate with each of us differently, but they resonate.

 Today, is a day to CELEBRATE

In the United States, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is observed annually on the third Monday in January. The day commemorates the life and work of Dr. King, who was a Baptist minister and prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. People are encouraged to use the day to “reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change espoused by Dr. King.” The holiday is typically observed with events such as marches and rallies and speeches by politicians and civil rights leaders.

Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929. He rose to the fore of the civil rights movement in 1955 with the Montgomery bus boycott that followed the arrest of Rosa Parks, an African American woman who had violated the city’s racial segregation ordinances when she refused to give her seat on a bus to a white passenger. An advocate of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of using nonviolent resistance to effect social change, Dr. King promoted the use of nonviolent means to bring an end to racial segregation in the United States. In 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for his efforts. He was assassinated in 1968.

Efforts to create a national holiday honoring Dr. King began soon after his assassination, although legislation for a federal holiday was not passed until 1983. The first nationwide observance of the holiday occurred in 1986.

FAMILY

There are many words that one can use to describe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

Helpful, willingness, decent, hero, yearning, accepting, impressive, accommodating, zeal, kindness, belief, defiance, leadership, daring, zealous, benevolent, empathetic, legacy, healing, bold, encouragement, observant, warm, bond, energetic, open-minded, talented, brave, optimism, hard-work, charismatic, faith, orientated, teamwork, charm, feeling, outspoken, harmony, church, focused, sacrifice, coherent, forgiving, freedom, civil rights, forsake, civility, and family.

—

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle, and a mentor to his family.

As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we wish to reflect on the inspiring quotes and memorable words that have kept his spirit flame illuminating the world ever since that fateful day in April of 1968.

Here are 11 inspiring quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that have become life lessons for many of us:

  • “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
  • “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
  • “The time is always right to do what is right.”
  • “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
  • “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
  • “At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.”
  • “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”
  • “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”
  • “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
  • “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
  • “Forgiveness is not an occasional act.  It is a permanent attitude.”

 

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change:

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change (The King Center) was established by Mrs. Coretta Scott King and has been a global destination, resource center, and community institution since 1968.

The King Center is grounded in the iconic words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,

who in his notable and inspirational writing Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? professed that: “ Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.

We can achieve the Beloved Community by studying the King Philosophy and working every day to put it into practice. It is not enough to learn it — we must live it.

Join us. Pledge to BE LOVE.

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