Today, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On this day, we celebrate his life and his legacy. We remember and are thankful for how we have progressed as black people because of his leadership during one of the most challenging times in history. Even though it has been 51 years since he was assassinated, his impact still carries on strong. This year MLK day is about a commitment service. Dr. King was the ultimate servant. He dedicated his life to others. He risked his safety and the safety of his family for the service towards other people. He did that during a time where it was hard for blacks. In the year 2020, things are not quite where they should be for blacks in this country, but we are a lot better than the black community was 60 years ago when Dr. King was doing the work.
This year and moving forward, I want to celebrate Martin Luther King Day by committing to service. I want to perform acts of service to honor his legacy. I’m a member of one of the best fraternities, which is Alpha Phi Alpha. Dr. King was the ultimate Alpha brotha. He lived daily our motto, “First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.” Dr. King was a servant whose service was first in everything that he did. His service also opened the doors and will transcend his life for many generations to come. I salute you, Dr. King, because, in our fraternity, we are about developing leaders, promoting brotherhood, while providing service and advocacy for our community.
One of my favorite Dr. King quotes is, “Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve…You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Greatness is not something that is limited to specific individuals. Greatness does not have a singular definition. Each individual person defines greatness. What does greatness look like to you? Dr. King taught us a model. What will you do that is great? It would be best if you did not let someone else define your greatness. Find out what your greatness is and accomplish it.
Dr. King told us that everyone could serve. Service is not limited to those with the most power or money. Even if you did not attend college and graduate doesn’t mean you cannot serve. Service only takes a heart full of grace. It is about how you treat people and how courteous you are to others. Those with grace in their hearts can serve. We cannot forget that love is at the center of service. Service is about love. You are providing this service because of the love you have for the people you are serving or even the community you are serving.
As we honor and celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy, we must always remember that in his heart, he was a servant. He was doing the work he believed was God’s vision and mission for his life. Imagine if we as a people, all people, honored Dr. King with our service. Our society would be so much better off.