Celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. | READER COMMENTARY

This marks the 41st year since President Ronald Reagan signed into law the holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The day is observed every year on the third Monday in January. The Baltimore Sun has, through its editorials, commentaries and letters, highlighted the life and legacy of Dr. King including his untimely death on April 4, 1968, in Memphis.

Although King’s birthday is Jan. 15, the nation will be honoring him the entire month of January. We are honoring him this month not because of his race or other factors, but because he was a great American and human being (“How to celebrate MLK Jr. Day in Baltimore,” Jan. 9).

He was involved in hundreds of civil rights marches and demonstrations, and was responsible for desegregating numerous bus terminals, lunch counters and housing projects.

At age 35, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent efforts to gain more rights for all Americans. He was a model in what is best in all Americans — fair play, honesty and a belief in the majesty of the law. His fight for racial justice in a peaceful manner will remain a great part of his legacy.

In 1963, King led more than 200,000 Americans to Washington, D.C., where he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. His dream was that all Americans and others would one day live in a land that would judge people not by the color of a person’s skin but by the content of their character.

Finally, in honor of the slain civil rights leader, let us work to eradicate hate and discord from our nation; and further, be able to accept all Americans as equals — as true brothers and sisters — regardless of race, nationality, gender or beliefs.

Few men, living or dead, have contributed in such a humane and positive way to the betterment and improvement of American life and the human spirit. King and his deeds will live on through time as what is best in mankind.

— John A. Micklos, Essex

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