“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King challenged our nation many years ago to live out that sacred truth: to banish the evils of bigotry, segregation and oppression from the institutions of society and the hearts of men.  He was indeed a champion of great principles, laboring mightily and in the end sacrificing his life to advance the cause of equal rights for all.

At the level of first principles—in his commitments to natural rights, democratic government, and the irrelevance of race to moral personhood and just social deserts—King’s political thought might properly claim a consensus among virtually all American citizens.

As stated by many over time including President Elect Donald Trump, “His legacy of freedom is the true memorial to his life: no testimonial can pay better tribute than the faces of young children living out their dreams.” Indeed, When the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., shared his dream with the world atop the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he gave mighty voice to our founding ideals. Few could have imagined that nearly half a century later, his iconic profile would forever be memorialized in stone, standing tall and gazing outward, not far from where he stirred our collective conscience to action. In summoning a generation to recognize the universal threat of injustice anywhere, Dr. King’s example has proven that those who love their country can change it.

But his work is not done: all around us today we see communities and schools falling behind and not sharing in the prosperity of American life as shown here in Prince George’s County due to political cronyism and Corruption. Each of us has a solemn obligation to ensure that no American is left behind — and that all Americans are fully included in the American Dream including new arrived Americans irrespective of their background. When young Americans of color are left on the sidelines, our nation is denied a lifetime of contributions to this society and when any of our American brothers and sisters is forced to live in fear, or poverty, or violence, it is setback for the entire nation.

Just like President Barack Obama told us, “Those who dismiss the magnitude of the progress that has been made dishonor the courage of all who marched and struggled to bring about this change — and those who suggest that the great task of extending our Nation’s promise to every individual is somehow complete neglect the sacrifices that made it possible.” Dr. King taught us that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

We rise and fall together, and today we must pledge to follow in Dr. King’s footsteps so that all Americans may know the full blessings of this God-blessed land.

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