In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

By

Bukola Shonuga and Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought and died so we can continue to breathe. He paved the way for us African immigrants to voluntarily come to America in pursuit of a better life, the life and dignity that were denied enslaved people of African descent in America. It is not enough to celebrate the national hero, iconic world citizen, Nobel Prize winner or a martyr, but we must continue to “Pass the Word!”

Dr. King did not set out to become a national hero, however, when the responsibility was presented to him to help Black people who were being discriminated against in racist Alabama, he stepped up to the plate and did what others did not seem to have the courage to do. He galvanized church members and people in the community of Montgomery Alabama to boycott the bus system until Black people were allowed to ride the buses regardless of who was on it.

Now, in Africa, where Black people are in the majority, this may not mean so much, but in the US, where racism is the rule, not the exception (especially in the deep South), a boycott was a bold move — especially in the 1950s when taking any kind of stance against white racists could have cost him his life. Additionally, organizing an entire town of Black people to not only strike against the only transportation system in town — when they needed it to get to work, school, and other destinations — was no easy feat. Everybody had to be all in — or it would have been a total failure.

In 1955, Dr. King was a newly made minister — a relative unknown. Yet his bold vision, powers of moral suasion, and his discipline so motivated Black people of Montgomery, that the churches and community groups cooperated and coordinated with each other to provide alternative transportation. After a year, and nearly facing bankruptcy, the city of Montgomery, Alabama relented and desegregated the buses.

That victory rocked the world, and shook the racist south to its very core. The news went around the world and catapulted King to the top of the news chain as either a Black hero, or an upstart. Black people in America were waiting for a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Over the next 13 years he led boycotts, sit-ins, and marches against the racist establishment.

Over the next 13 years, his efforts led to his receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, forcing President Lyndon Baines Johnson to sign the Votings Rights Act and Civil Rights Acts into law, as well as a great many programs that were direct benefits to Black people. The father of four children and a selfless wife, could have easily stayed home, behind the pulpit and pontificated about the evils of society, like so many ministers of his day. But his love of, and concern for his people would not allow him to sit idly by — he put his life on the line over and over again to liberate Black people — facing jail, death threats, FBI bogus investigations, and, despite all these — he emerged victorious until the fatal day of April 4, 1968 when he was assassinated in Tennessee. While they attempted to kill Dr. King’s dream and movement, it still lives on. Dr.King’s boycotts inspired Black people to force the Boycott against South Africa, the freeing of Mandela, and settlement of other issues in Africa via nonviolent means.

While many of our fellow African brothers and sisters have heard the name Martin Luther King, Jr., most of them are not totally familiar with his history. This is why we must continue to pass the word, ensuring that this critical history is included in academic curricula worldwide, especially in black institutions of learning.

Bukola Shonuga is an independent journalist, Creator of the podcast Truth and Reconciliation streaming on Spotify and SoundCloud. She’s a member of the New York Foreign Press

Gloria Dulan Wilson is a veteran journalist, blogger, writer and speaker