Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has come and gone once again. It's a special day that affords us the opportunity to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. It is vivified through engagement in service projects that strengthen communities and bridge barriers.

The venerated reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a man full of optimism and courage. He was the pure embodiment of a people that while persecuted by oppression from a society that alienated them and deprived them of their inalienable rights, were audacious to believe that equality was not merely illusory, but could become their reality. While, the Civil Rights Movement did succeed in marginally ameliorating the state of African Americans, the African American community was, and is, still hindered by innumerable and reprehensible barriers to true equality.

During his time, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed the crucial problems facing his society that he believed would result in either chaos compounded with hostile racial tensions or a peaceful community based on principles of equality. King believed that the solution to those problems rested solely upon the citizens of the United States and their decisions. The teachings and ideals that he preached reached millions of people and touched millions of lives. It is safe to say that King’s influence, as a preeminent leader of a radical movement, encouraged persons of color to push forward and break down social and racial barriers. Through this, people of color were able to eventually rise and take positions of dominance, regardless of the barriers that were made to disenfranchise and prevent them from achieving these positions and be afforded these opportunities of preeminence. While not complete, King's notion of true equality is affirmed through this burgeoning social, political, and economic advancement of people of color. To King, communal solidarity becomes a reality for people of color, which beautifully affirms Black identity. Society, writ large, is able to progress because of the empowerment of marginalized people, which is Dr. King’s vision for the future.

I encourage all to daily translate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and teachings into community action that aids in solving societal problems. This is certainly not exclusive to MLK Day of Service. Be the agent of change that Dr. King intended for his works to inspire. One person can make a difference, Dr. King is a testament to this truth.