~ MLK’s Words for Today ~
Fifty-two years after his death, the words of Martin Luther King are still calling out to us to fix our society and make it just. Here are six things he said to inspire you to take action.
On Unions
Joining together gives people power. “Let it be known everywhere that along with wages and all of the other securities that you are struggling for, you are also struggling for the right to organize and be recognized.” The Poor People’s Campaign 1967
On Boycotts
“We don’t have to argue with anybody. We don’t have to curse and go around acting bad with our words. We don’t need any bricks and bottles. We don’t need any Molotov cocktails. We just need to go around to these stores, and to these massive industries in our country, and say, “God sent us by here, to say to you that you’re not treating his children right. And we’ve come by here to ask you to make the first item on your agenda fair treatment, where God’s children are concerned…And so, as a result of this, we are asking you tonight, to go out and tell your neighbors not to buy Coca-Cola in Memphis. Go by and tell them not to buy Sealtest milk. Tell them not to buy — what is the other bread? — Wonder Bread. And what is the other bread company, Jesse? Tell them not to buy Hart’s bread. As Jesse Jackson has said, up to now, only the garbage men have been feeling pain; now we must kind of redistribute the pain. We are choosing these companies because they haven’t been fair in their hiring policies; and we are choosing them because they can begin the process of saying they are going to support the needs and the rights of these men who are on strike. ” Memphis 1968
On Unions and Racial Justice
“Our needs are identical with labor’s needs: decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old-age security, health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can grow, have education for their children and respect in the community. That is why Negroes support labor’s demands and fight laws which curb labor. That is why the labor-hater and labor-baiter is virtually always a twin-headed creature spewing anti-Negro epithets from one mouth and anti-labor propaganda from the other mouth.” Address to the AFL-CIO 1961
On the Right to Medical Care
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhuman.” Medical Committee for Human Rights in 1966
On Scientific Study
“Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals.” “Science investigates. Religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power. Religion gives man wisdom which is control. Science deals mainly with facts. Religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals. They are each other’s complement. Science keeps religion from sinking into the mores of crippling {irrationalism} and paralyzing obscurantism. Religion prevents science from falling into the marsh of obsolete materialism and moral nihilism.” A Tough and Tender Heart 1963?
On Education
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” However, he also warned, “The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals. ” “The Purpose of Education” 1947
Take Action
Whether you are an individual, a parent, or a teacher and students choose one of the above quotes and join with others and organizations working to make these things come true. Support politicians who will further these goals. Stand up and show your support.
