HEART OF STEELE

After more than 50 years, the message delivered so passionately by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Might seem like it should be consigned to the history books.

In late August of 1963, the iconic leader delivered his landmark “I have a dream” speech to a quarter-million people at the largest civil rights demonstration in history. The March on Washington drew attention to the continued lack of equality for Black Americans a century after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing U.S. slaves.

Sixty years later, racism remains one of the most divisive and destructive forces in our country.

From a former president–currently supported by 60% of Republicans in the 2024 presidential race–claiming that immigrants are “poisoning the blood” of our country to the horrific rise in violence against Jews and Muslims over a war half-way around the world, we have ample evidence that Dr. King’s dream of justice and co-existence blind to race, creed, or color remains just that: a dream.

What we also have, though, is the hope and the passion of those who still believe in it.

Locally, that’s evidenced by the Owatonna Human Rights Commission’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observance. On Monday, the commission brought in Seema Pothini to talk about how to respond when we witness injustices.

The Alliance for Greater Equity organizes an annual Juneteenth celebration, commemorating the end of slavery, and last year offered training in what to do when we witness bias and hatred.

Many other groups in this community embrace Dr. King’s call to see the humanity in others above all else, providing help and support without bias or discrimination.

Ultimately, though, it is up to each of us in our daily lives to put our whole hearts into speaking out when people with political agendas try to pit us against each other.

Like Dr. King, we must decide to “stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”