The principal speaker at Columbus Holy Rosary-St. John Church’s annual Martin Luther King Day celebration said that like all of us, Dr. King had his faults, but he also had the courage to stand for social change and set an example for succeeding generations to follow.
Dr. Andre Brown, assistant dean for diversity, equity, inclusion and justice at Ohio State University’s college of arts and sciences, noted that King might have turned 95 on Monday, Jan. 15, the day of the event, had he not been killed in 1968 at age 39.
“We often portray Dr. King in a simplified, one-dimensional way, overlooking his complete political beliefs,” Brown said. “Sometimes people reduce him to a caricature that disregards the political complexity central to his identity.
“Unfortunately, many people only remember him for his famous quote, ‘I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.’
“In doing so, we turn Dr. King into a single line in the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech to make him some non-violent, Kumbaya teddy bear. In many ways, Dr. King has been exalted and has become an American symbol of righteousness and moral authority. But it puts things in perspective when you realize that Dr. King’s career in the civil rights movement spanned a mere 13 years, from 1955 to his assassination in 1968,” Brown said.
“Dr. King has become canonized in American society. But Dr. King was a man, a real-life flesh and blood human. Not a saint. Not a symbol. He hid cigarettes from his children. He had a little white dog named Topsy. He had skin so sensitive he couldn’t use a razor. He slept poorly, but he napped well.
“He had a great sense of humor, especially coming from a Baptist minister. … He suffered from depression, and as an adolescent we know that he at least twice attempted suicide, although perhaps half-heartedly.
“He was not perfect. I have never yet met a perfect human being. There are no perfect human beings. … But I hope you know that by these facts that I stated, Dr. King has become more relatable to you, that you found some commonalities with him,” Brown said.
“Dr. King is widely recognized as … perhaps the figure that we all come to recognize as the figure of the civil rights movement. He was a symbol of courage, peace, sacrifice and leadership. But it’s crucial to remember that he wasn’t alone in the struggle.
“Along with organizations such as the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and many unsung heroes and heroines who marched alongside Dr. King, they fought the cause together.”
Brown reviewed King’s role in events including the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott of 1955 and 1956 and the 1963 March on Washington and said, “As a faith community, we have a civil and a moral duty to promote unity among each other, while providing service and advocacy for our community. This church can be used as a vessel for public good.”
“Social justice and equality movements require three elements, and Dr. King has given us the blueprint,” Brown said. “Movements need people who are willing to work towards a common goal; after all, it’s churches that serve as a critical meeting place for civil rights organization and activism. …
“Movements require individuals who are dedicated to achieve a common goal. During the Montgomery bus boycott, the black citizens committed to not riding the public transit for over a year to achieve dignity and equality as citizens. Lastly, movements require sacrifice.
“We must be willing to invest our time, talent and treasure. The Church has numerous opportunities to come together and work together for the betterment of our community. It is essential that we unite to achieve this purpose.
“We must remember that today is a ‘day on’ and not a ‘day off,”’ Brown said. “It is King’s example of perseverance and dignity in the face of oppression that is a cornerstone for this national holiday. This is the invitation for all of us to make our communities a better place.”
“I challenge all of you to be increasingly steadfast in being committed to our divine calling of being noble servants, leaders and gatherers for Christ in our thoughts, our words and our actions. We must honor this man in his sacrifice by continuing to make his dream a reality. We do this by committing to the causes he fought for in life: voting rights, housing, equal employment opportunities, striving for peace and joining together in embracing one another in brotherly love.”
The event also included quotes from Scripture and from King’s speeches read by Cecilia Parram, BrenYah Gentry and 6-year-old Langston Cary. Father Ramon Owera, pastor of Holy Rosary-St. John and Columbus St. Dominic churches, said the closing prayer. Music was provided by the combined choirs of the two parishes, led by Vernon Hairston.
Holy Rosary-St. John Church has been celebrating Martin Luther King Day every year since the holiday was established in 1986, making its celebration the oldest of its type in the city of Columbus.
