Martin Luther King Jr. Day: a day of service, not a day off

This week we remember the remarkable life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We pay tribute to his dream that one day, children would live in a nation where they would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. But this commemoration is not just about remembering a man who had a great impact on our nation. 

It is a day to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy by engaging in community service. In fact, the national theme of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is, “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day on, Not a Day Off!” 

It is intended to encourage everyone to dedicate the day to community service and make their communities better places. If you look around, you can see Dr. King’s legacy embedded in the culture and values of our society, our military and our Army. 

Every time you see non-violent demonstrations and marches aimed at focusing attention on justice, civil rights and fair treatment for every individual you can relate to Dr. King. 

Our military, our Army is committed to the ideals endorsed by Dr. King – to treat every individual with dignity and respect. 

Born as Michael King, Jr. on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the middle child of Michael King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. His father and maternal grandfather were both preachers. King’s maternal grandfather, A.D. Williams, helped found the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and pastored the Ebenezer Baptist Church. Membership grew from 13 in 1893 to 400 by 1903, turning the church into a thriving congregation. 

When Rev. Williams died in 1931, Michael King, Sr. became pastor of the church and adopted the name Martin Luther King, Sr., in honor of the German Protestant religious leader, Martin Luther. Michael, Jr., followed his father’s lead and took the name Martin Luther King, Jr., for himself, and followed his father and maternal grandfather by attending Morehouse College. King earned a sociology degree from Morehouse College in 1948 and then went on to Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. He graduated as valedictorian of his class in 1951. 

During his time in the seminary, King was influenced by Morehouse College President Benjamin Mays, who was an outspoken advocate for racial equality. His views would shape King’s own nonviolent activism. King went to Boston University for doctoral studies and while there met Coretta Scott, who was attending the New England Conservatory. They married in 1953 and had four children. In 1954, King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He completed his Ph.D. the following year, at the age of 25. 

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks boarded a Montgomery city bus to travel home from work. She sat in the middle of the bus in the first row of the “colored” section. As the bus became more crowded, the driver demanded that African Americans give up their seats to white passengers. In a decision that would change history, Rosa Parks refused and was arrested. 

That night, the Montgomery NAACP chapter met with local civil rights leaders and launched a citywide bus boycott led by Dr. King. African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, joined together to challenge and change the city’s policy of racial segregation on its public transit system. The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted over a year. During this time, police arrested and jailed Dr. King. Boycotters were physically attacked. Homes and churches were firebombed. But in the end, the perseverance of the boycotters resulted in the Supreme Court’s decision that the laws requiring segregated buses were unconstitutional, and spurred the national Civil Rights Movement. 

Following the Montgomery Bus Boycott, King invited African American ministers and leaders to Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to organize, coordinate and support nonviolent actions to end segregation. They formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, or SCLC, with Dr. King as its president. 

King said, “Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.” 

After the Birmingham demonstration, King and his supporters planned a massive demonstration in the nation’s capital to ask for and embrace peaceful change. 

The March on Washington on August 28, 1963, brought more than 200,000 people to D.C. Here, in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." The Civil Rights Movement continued as more and more people began to question Jim Crow laws and the unequal treatment of African American citizens. 

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 authorized the Federal Government to enforce desegregation of public accommodations and outlawed discrimination in publicly owned facilities. In 1964, at the age of 35, Martin Luther King, Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize. In his acceptance speech, he said, “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.” 

King continued his fight for Civil Rights until his assassination on August 4, 1968. Today his legacy lives on, inspiring men and women of all races to seek equality, tolerance and justice. 

Today we see King’s messages of equality, non-discrimination and respect embedded in our society, our military and in our Army. The Army embraces the different attributes, experiences and backgrounds of our Soldiers, civilians and family members. Diversity enhances our global capabilities. It contributes to an adaptive, and culturally astute, Army. 

We are dedicated to ensuring that everyone who is able and willing to serve has the opportunity to do so, regardless of the color of their skin, their gender, sexuality or religious beliefs. Every day, courageous young men and women from different backgrounds and walks of life raise their right hands and swear to protect and defend our nation. We owe them the opportunity to serve equally with their fellow Soldiers – to realize and embrace their unique potential. 

In our National Day of Service we reflect on what Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” 

In honor of King’s legacy of service to others, his birthday is now marked by individuals across the nation engaging in community service projects. I ask you all to commemorate this day with service to others. Volunteer to feed the hungry, mentor at-risk youth, work at special projects in your church, donate supplies to schools and shelters. Support our troops and our veterans. Find a project that needs your unique skills and talents. Together we can make our communities and our nation stronger and richer.

Today, our Army and our nation is faced with many challenges that threaten our safety, security and peace of mind. Perhaps now, more than ever, we must stand in unity against those who seek to tear us apart. We must celebrate our diversity and channel all our skills, resources and talents into shaping our country for the generations to come. I think Dr. King would be proud to see our country today and how his dream has taken hold. However, I also think he would tell us we have much more work to do, and it is up to all of us to ensure that our country remains dedicated to respect, dignity and equal opportunity for all. 

Mario A. Guerra is the former mayor of Downey and currently serves as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. He can be reached at www.marioaguerra.com