Fifty years ago, at the end of the march on Washington, Martin Luther King proclaimed with passion and hope, “I have a dream…” That march, empowered by King’s sermon, helped to turn back the tide of racism in our country. Racism continues to be a terrible thing but five decades later we can see much was accomplished on that singular day.
King’s speech gave millions of Americans reason to hope. There may be no greater gift than the ability to dream of and hope for a better day.
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in prison. Eighteen of those years were on Robben Island, just off the coast of South Africa. It is a god-forsaken piece of rock. Mandela and the other prisoners were forced into hard labor. They cut rock in the glaring sun every day. The harsh light permanently damaged Mandela’s eyes. But the blinding sun did not take away his ability to dream. Yes, he was in prison for 27 years, for 10,000 days, but he spent 10,000 nights dreaming of a free South Africa. Not just freedom for his own people but for all.
Mandela wrote, “It was during those long and hungry years that my hunger for the freedom of my own people became a hunger for the freedom of all people, white and black. I knew as well as I knew anything that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. When I walked out of prison I knew my mission: to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor.”
Dr. King knew about the reality and the struggle to keep hope alive. Go with me for a moment to Memphis, TN. Dr. King is speaking at Mason Temple in support of the striking sanitation workers. He concluded what I believe was the best sermon of his career saying, “I’ve been to the mountain- top…Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” The next day his life was taken by an assassin’s bullet. But his vision, his dream, his sight remained and was and is to this day, clear.
Have we come a long way since the march on Washington 50 years ago? Yes, we have. Do we still have a long way to go? Yes we do. But our dreams, fueled by hope, can help us move forward on this journey to freedom.
Grace and peace to you,
-Glen
