One of the most famous speeches during the civil rights movement was spoken by the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – “I have a dream...” Among the most quoted lines of his speech are “I have a dream that my four little 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.” Dr. King’s speech had a remarkable impact in the minds of our society during the peak of the civil rights movement and is still having a re–sounding impact upon the minds and hearts of people cross every culture in our society today.
January 20, 2020 was a national holiday in recognition of Dr. King’s legacy. Cities across America hosted parades in memoryof the civil rights movement and as they marched, Dr. King’swords echoed through the chambers of men and women’s hearts,the sounds of an integrated and unified America of all God’s people. Perhaps the most compelling lines of his speech was “I still have a dream, a dream deeply rooted in the American dream…one day this nation will rise up and live up to its creed: we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”
In our society today a person’s color, race, origin, and religion have taken a backseat to the rhetorical question about one’s moral character. The narrative being played out in our society appears to be the attitude that moral character is not as important as the economics of a society. However, humanity has always seemed to have placed a higher value on economic growth rather than the moral character of its people.
There is a parable in the Bible that validates the notion about a rich young ruler whose moral character came into question when he was asked to sell all he had and give to the poor. The writer’s narrative account about the rich young ruler who refused to depart with his wealth, is an example of people who place their treasures above doing what is morally right. The young rulerwas devasted with the notion of having to give up his wealth to help the poor.
So, at the heart of Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech is the examination of humanity’s moral compass versus economic wealth. It is the reminder that as we dream for the betterment of our society, the moral fabric of humanity is still held in the balance of versus the treasures of a society. Finally, as wecelebrate the legacy of Dr. King, let’s remember that each of God’s creations has value much greater than our dreams of becoming rich and famous.
Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Chaplain Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
