By Ruth Ferguson, NDG Editor
Today could be another day we remember with sadness, and surely we look back to that balcony in Memphis with sorrow. However, on this beautiful Easter weekend, if we are to honor the memory and sacrifice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we must do so as he asked….tell folks he was a drum major for justice…for peace…and for righteousness!
Dr. Martin Luther King on the eve of death shared these words:
“If any of you around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell him not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want him to say, tell him not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, that isn’t important. Tell him not to mention that I have 300 or 400 other awards, that’s not important. Tell him not to mention where I went to school.
“I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I’d like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody.
“I want you to say that day that I’ve tried to be right on the walk with them. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe all to a naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.
“Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major. Say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”
