The Final Call

Latino leader: King's vision is ours, too

By Nailah Muhammad -Contributing Writer- | Last updated: Aug 28, 2013 - 9:23:54 AM

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WASHINGTON (FinalCall.com) - Year 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.’s widely referenced “I Have a Dream” speech. In true commemoration, we must not simply recite, march, and reenact the physical rituals that symbolize the great efforts our predecessors did to create a new reality; we must strive to invoke the self-less spirit that led to the march.

The mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. transcended racial identity and ethnic origin, and served the purpose of improving the overall human condition. This concept is perfectly expressed in words from his Letter from a Birmingham Jail: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

The struggle for justice in the form of civil rights demonstrations has been a source of inspiration to freedom fighters in diverse places of diverse ethnic and racial background, the Arab Spring in particular, being one noteworthy. To jump start the commemorative weekend of events, a “Redeem the Dream Summit” took place Aug. 23. The morning forum titled “We Shall Not Be Moved: A Watershed Moment for a Movement” hosted contemporary freedom fighters and national leaders who strive to honor and push forward the mission of those freedom fighters who dedicated their lives to further humanity 50 years ago.

Congressman John Lewis and Janet Murguía President and CEO of National Council of La Raza Photo Courtesy, National Council of La Raza

Janet Murguía, president and CEO of National Council of La Raza, referred to Martin Luther King, Jr. as a “beloved icon in the Latino community because his dream was a universal dream.” She discussed the relationship between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez, the legendary advocate and organizer for Hispanic farm workers, and quoted the words of Dr. King in a telegram written to Mr. Chavez: “As brothers in the fight for equality, I extend the hand of fellowship and goodwill. ... Our separate struggles are really one—a struggle for freedom, for dignity and for humanity.” Ms. Murguía’s closing remarks stressed the importance of that realization and the value of a united effort.

“We must remember, now more than ever, that in unity, there’s power ... we need to be connected, connected among African-Americans but connected to other communities as well, because in that unity there is power to advance our common agendas and in that unity, we can move mountains.”