(Seguin) – Although Monday was the official MLK Day Holiday, this week continues to be a week of observing the heroic and legendary efforts of the slain civil rights activist.
Leaving questions for the public to ponder following Monday’s MLK Day Program in Central Park was Seguin City Councilwoman Monica Carter.
While things have no doubt improved, Carter says the ultimate dream as laid out by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is far from fruition. Carter says that’s why she believes that what was initiated by one man 60 years ago is now the responsibility for every American.
“In September of 1958, Dr. King was stabbed by a deranged woman during a book signing and after undergoing a four-hour surgery, the head surgeon informed him and Mrs. King that had he sneezed, he would have died. The question that I encourage you to examine for yourself is are you glad that he didn’t sneeze? And if the answer is ‘yes,’ what are you going to do personally to ensure that the dream he spoke of 60 years ago lives on for all the generations that come behind us,” said Carter.
Now although there have been gains, Carter says there is still plenty of work that needs tackling. She says all the successes and failures along the way should also be owned.
“I ask have we really reached that Promised land that he spoke of one day before losing his life on our behalf. I think that is the question that every American has a responsibility to personally ask themselves. Are there still criminal injustices? Yes. Are there still race related social problems? Yes. Are there still economic disparities? Yes. Are there still education disparities? Yes. Are there still health practice disparities? Yes. Have things improved? Yes. Are things as good as they should be? No. Are all of these problems our own fault? No. Are all of these problems everyone else’s fault? No. I can only imagine that if Dr. King was alive today, he would demand that we own our position and take responsibility for our accomplishments, but he would also demand that we take responsibility for our own failures as well,” said Carter.
So, how do we work toward that dream? Carter says pushing forward is the answer.
“We have a moral responsibility to fight hate with love. We have a moral responsibility to keep pushing forward and fighting against the injustices of the world. We have a moral responsibility to ensure that we are seen and heard, and I say again, we have a moral responsibility to understand that MLK is not a black holiday. It’s an American holiday and as a part of the American dream, we are a part of what makes America great and what has always made America great, we are America. America is all of us. We have a responsibility to make sure that we work collectively with any and all willing Americans to ensure that we keep Dr. King’s dream alive yesterday, today and tomorrow,” said Carter.
Also sharing their own personal messages on Monday included Seguin Police Chief Terry Nichols and Pastor Jeanet Jackson of Wesley Harper United Methodist Church. The program was hosted in downtown Seguin by members of the Seguin MLK Day Planning Committee.