Today, Jan 15th , is a day I remember two very different people, one having a birth and the other a death. Most people will remember Martin Luther King Jr, who was born on this date in 1929, although the official holiday for him is tomorrow – Monday. It is not just for him that we celebrate but for the civil rights movement of which he was a key leader. I remember standing on the front steps of the Lincoln Memorial where he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Looking out over the reflecting pool and towards the Washington Monument I had a vision of history and got chills.
But I also have a very personal memory for this day. Someone very close who inspired me as much as MLK who made me who I am today. That person was my Mom, who died in 1979 on this date. She judged people by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin, or any other surface measure or category of place, race, or circumstances. She didn’t put people in a box, she was open to all. An inclusive person before it was popular.
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