Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King, a pivotal leader in the American civil rights movement. This day serves as a reminder of his enduring vision for equality, justice, and nonviolent social change. It is intended to be a day of education and service in his memory.
Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of service by telling his congregation that, "[e]verybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.[1]" He went on to say that “[i]f I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way[2]."
I understand that greatness is being defined in different ways by differently minded people these days. The greatness I speak of is grace, understanding, inclusion, love, and caring. I think that is what Martin Luther King, Jr. meant as well.
As humans, scholars, academic support professionals, and lawyers let us all plan to serve—in the next year, the next four years, or as long as we can. Let us serve our students, institutions, profession, and larger world in great ways.
Let us engage in small, meaningful "things" until it becomes a tide, a tsunami even, of generosity, excellence, and strength. We can do it-I have it on good authority.
(Liz Stillman)
[1] Martin Luther King, Jr, Feb. 4, 1968.
[2] Id.
