Coretta Scott King

April 27, 1927-January 31, 2006

When one looks at the life of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, one sees a life which was all about surmounting challenges, and overcoming obstacles. Her story was a story which was much like that of many of our grandparents, a story which reminds of us of the painful past of this country, but also symbolizes the potential we as their descendants have to go forth and achieve their shared dream. Their lives may have begun by their working on farms to support their families, but their lives were of most use when they planted seeds of hope in their offspring, seeds of encouragement for us their descendants. The shared dream of the African-Americans of past and present, who knew or still know what it is not to be treated as equals, to be treated as less than human is a dream, which was articulated so very well by the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is a dream as has been said, that equity and justice would not just be ideals which are important to all Americans, and only given to some Americans, but ideals which lead to the fulfillment of this nation's full potential.

Dr. King said in part:

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

What parent or grandparent doesn't hope that their children or grandchildren will be treated fairly and justly? What parent or grandparent doesn't hope that their children or grandchildren will become informed, conscious, compassionate, and responsible citizens who work to contribute to the betterment of their community? This as Dr. King suggested could only be achieved if respect were given without regard to condition, if opportunities were given without regard to condition, and if the personal liberties and freedoms, which are so dear to the American people were given and maintained by a government which is of, by, and for the people.

So much of what African-Americans in this country have been able to achieve, has been due in part to their faith. Dr. King alluded to the power of faith when in his "I Have A Dream" speech he said the following:

"With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."

He knew that the power of faith was tremendous. I believe that he had faith not just in those who worked alongside him, faith not just in those who marched alongside him, or faith in the potential of America to fulfill its promise to all its people, but also faith in his wife with whom he shared his life, his work, his passion, and his dream.

From an early age Mrs. King knew that she would have to work hard to obtain freedom through education given the limited opportunities available to African-Americans at the time, and even more daunting given the limited expectations which many had for African-Americans. Her story began like many of our grandparents on a farm, her journey continued as she left home to attend college, as she married and started a family, and as she worked alongside her husband to see that a dream shared by so many were somehow achieved. So much is said of the accomplishments of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but if there were no Coretta Scott King, I for one believe he would not have been able to do what he did. I believe that he was able to pursue his dream because of the comfort in knowing of Coretta Scott King's faithfulness to God, her uncomprimising loyalty to him, and her dedication to maintaining their family.

A man can achieve so much more when he has a strong and virtuous woman who stands beside him not just in good times, but also in bad.

After his death, Mrs. King devoted herself to continuing her husband's good work. She devoted herself to cementing his legacy, and telling his story to the generations which succeeded him. Her greatest work may not have been founding The King Center as some say, or getting the country to declare Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday a national holiday, but instead raising her four children, and providing them with as normal life as possible in the face of an existence which was steeped in tragedy. A good parent pays close attention to the well-being of their children. A good parent helps their children develop into confident and self-assured people with a strong sense of who they are, and could possibly grow to be.

One of my main connections to the late Reverend Dr. King and the late Mrs. King have been through their children Yolanda who is an actress, Martin, III who like his father headed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Dexter who heads The King Center, and Bernice who like her father is a minister. As I have come to know more about their children, I have come to know more about Dr. and Mrs. King. I have come to see how selfless they were, because the danger and risks associated with their activism should not be overlooked. They gave so much of themselves, and risked their lives. They didn't have to do what they did. They could have led more normal lives, but what they did was extraordinary.

As we begin this African-American Heritage Month aka Black History Month, we must remember our heritage. We must remember that our stories are to be celebrated, and to serve as inspiration for all of us. If we don't recognize the sacrifices of those who came before us, as being examples for us, the dream will most certainly die. Their work is not done, it's only to be continued by us.

Dr. King also said in his "I Have A Dream" speech:

"Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning."

April 4, 1968 was not an end but a beginning, October 24, 2005 was not an end but a beginning, January 31, 2006 was not an end but a beginning.

Lamartine said, "History teaches everything including the future."

Martin Luther King Jr. we honor and remember you, Rosa Lee Parks we honor and remember you, and Coretta Scott King we honor and remember you.

And we now pick up the baton, and we move on, we run toward freedom, because the race isn't over, and we will and we must endure until the end.

Have a tremendous African-American Heritage Month reflect on this journey.