In Our View: The Quest for Justice

The most noble of journeys — that of the quest for justice — is one without a final destination. While progress can be made and barriers can be eradicated, human nature dictates that injustice always will linger somewhere, somehow in a disjointed world.

Such is the lesson of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as the nation pauses today to reflect upon his life and legacy. The fact that the holiday honoring the birth of an authentic American hero has been co-opted as a national day of service seems only appropriate, as King is credited with once saying, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?'”

Of course, King is credited with a multitude of memorable quotes, the list of which inevitably begins with his “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963. Legend has it that King was prompted by gospel singer Mahalia Jackson’s urging upon the stage to “tell them about the dream, Martin!” So, departing from his prepared remarks, King closed his rousing exhortation with one of the most memorable soliloquies in recorded history, intoning, among other visions, “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. I have a dream today!”

King typically focused his vision upon racial inequality, urging the United States to live up to its creed of “justice for all.” Yet his efforts extended well beyond racial boundaries as he sought fairness for all downtrodden people, for all those mired in the economic underclass, for all the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. And while King’s message of nonviolent protest continues to resonate today, it all too often is bastardized by those who view violence as an acceptable means of expression. Last year’s riots by some protestors in Ferguson, Mo., and elsewhere served only to obfuscate the message they were attempting to deliver, harming their cause and drowning out meaningful discussion.

Not that there is anything new about the conflict between peace and violence. Not that there is anything new about a difference of opinion on how best to effect change. Even during his lifetime, King faced criticism from more militant advocates of racial justice, from factions that felt his turn-the-other-cheek philosophy was too passive.

History, however, has demonstrated that King’s vision was clear and his path was righteous. The fact that he remains lionized and respected by a vast faction of Americans, some 47 years after he was assassinated, is a testament to the enduring power of his message. “During the short career of Martin Luther King Jr. . . . the nonviolent civil rights movement lifted the patriotic spirit of the United States toward our defining national purpose,” historian Taylor Branch has written.

Many, many words have been written about Dr. King over the years, reflecting upon a man and a movement that looms large over American history. While a racial divide remains in this country and while that divide sometimes appears impossible to bridge, the fact is that much progress has been made. It is nearly incomprehensible these days to consider that the movement that launched King into history could be traced to Rosa Parks’ simple desire to sit on a bus.

The United States has moved a long way toward realizing King’s vision of racial equality. Yet the most noble of journeys remains one without a final destination.