MLK

I had the pleasure of meeting Coretta Scott King very briefly once. She was speaking and receiving an honorary degree from the college I attended. I believe that I had to go to the event for one of my courses, but I can't be sure about it. Afterward, there was a meet and greet that was sparsely attended. But I went, not because I had to, but I was moved and interested by her words, presence and grace. We briefly shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. That was that.

I had what was a 19-year-old's understanding of the life and death of Martin Luther King at that point. Meaning, I knew he was a leader of the civil rights movement in this country and that he had been assassinated for his troubles. And I knew something about a speech he had given at one point involving a dream. That's about it.

Sadly, many people don't know much more than that today. And many more grouse at the forced "day off" and the lack of mail delivery or whatnot each year on this day.

Me? I try to find out something new about the man and his mission every year on this day. Something big, something small...anything really. He's a fascinating individual to research. Someone who would have had much, much more to accomplish had he not been taken from the world so tragically and suddenly.