The Impact of Dr. King

(One of my favorite speeches of his. It gives me chills every time.)

As many of you know, Martin Luther King Jr is one of my heroes! His life, and what he gave his life for, has inspired me ever since I remember first learning about him and hearing his speeches in junior high. Whenever Martin Luther King Day rolls around each year, I go searching the internet for new articles, blogs, and videos about him.

This year, through someone I follow on Twitter (American Indian News), I learned something new about the impact he had on all Americans.
Levi Rickert stated on the "Native News Network" site that Dr. King's "leadership and dream transcended racial boundaries." He went on to add,
"The effects of his work impacted the lives of all Americans. For instance, the passage of the momentous Civil Rights Act of 1964 benefited American Indians and Latinos, as well as African Americans. We can now go places we could not go prior to 1964. We can now stay in motels we could not stay in prior to 1964. Prior to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, American Indians were not allowed in many establishments simply because we were Indians. Many establishments prominently displayed signs that read: 'No Indians or Dogs Allowed' in various parts of this country. One Ottawa elder recalls, when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became a federal law, business proprietors, who owned restaurants, motels and shops, in the upper portion of Michigan's Lower Peninsula held a meeting to discuss, 'What they were going to do now that they had to serve Indians.'"

Dr. King was a man who, compelled by the love of Christ, gave his life for others (1 John 3:16-18). His message is still relevant today as our nations is still plagued by racism and systemic injustice. His life should inspire us to contend for and sacrificially serve others. May we all have a holy discontent for the way things are, and dream and work for true Gospel driven unity and shalom.