The national holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King is a wonderful time to explore what is possible. Dr. King was a social entrepreneur in the field of civil rights winning a Nobel Prize at age 35.
There are some skeptics out there. Why the fanfare? What about Washington, Jefferson, etc.?
First, King was a figure from the recent past. Just looking at the history of oral tradition, our parents, grandparents, and others in our lives remember. I was at a rally today at Cardoza High School in Washington, DC where many of the attendees had marched with Dr. King.
Second, the changes he catalyzed were BIG changes. Like in business when people talk about “disruptive technology.” It is major. So big + recent = an impact on us.
Last, what he did influences our everyday lives. I was able to go to school with friends having a diversity of backgrounds. My kids and I can live our lives in a world without the legally-mandated racial tension of decades past. I believe we face now is the tension of togetherness and how to handle that. For instance, while we legally have the same rights, children in America today do NOT all receive the same education and – therefore – do not have access to the same opportunities. Many consider this educational disparity to be the most pressing civil rights issue of our generation.
Parting Thoughts:
Dr. King’s ability to teach us, even after his death, is astounding. For an excerpt from a lesson plan on the NFIB’s Young Entrepreneur Foundation, click here.
To learn more about the personal side of King’s life through Coretta Scott King’s book “My Life with Martin Luther King Junior,” click here.