MLK Day

When I was in the tenth grade at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, a very important person came to play an impromptu concert in support of a federal holiday celebrating Martin Luther King. That person was Stevie Wonder.

We did not know why we were having an assembly, and at first I was a little irritated about the change in my routine. But I got caught up in the excitement buzzing around the auditorium, and then Stevie Wonder came out on the stage.

He didn't play long, but he got all of us into the moment. I remember there was a LOT of screaming and quite a few people on their feet. He spoke about Martin Luther King, and I can remember thinking that it was kind of silly that someone who had such a significant impact on America did not have their own holiday. I thought something along those lines, at least. I'm sure it was more surly, in keeping with my teenager self.

Then the show was over, and we all headed back to class for the rest of the day. I believe that the local news had a story about the event, and then pretty quickly after that, Martin Luther King got his very own federal holiday. There was much rejoicing.

But think about it for a moment, all the things that Mr. King accomplished in his life that merit a federal holiday. I know that he didn't do those things with any sort of personal gain in mind. Those are big shoes to fill, aren't they?