Books by Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. /  Strength to Love / The Measure of a Man /  Why We Can't Wait

A Testament of Hope  /  A Knock at Midnight   /  The Papers of  Martin Luther King, Jr., 1948-1963

Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community /  Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story

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Edward M. Kennedy

U.S. Senator (D. Mass.)

"What Martin Luther King Means To Me"

Martin Luther King Jr. will go down in history as one of the greatest Americans of them all. He dedicated his life to completing the unfinished business of the American Revolution and the Civil War. he helped us to see the discrimination in our midst and to accept the fundamental principal of equality, not just in words under glass in the constitution, but in the reality of our daily lives.

The real genius of Dr. King enabled America to embrace and advance the cause of equality through peaceful and nonviolent means, and he richly deserved the extraordinary honor -- bestowed only on Christopher Columbus and George Washington before -- of a national holiday in his name.

The recognition of Dr. King is especially timely now, when the fundamental rights for which he fought are so at risk today. We must redouble our efforts to preserve the right to equal job opportunity and affirmative action, the right to a decent education and a fair paycheck, the right to a Justice Department that is truly a department of justice, and to a Supreme Court that is truly committed to the "equal protection of the laws."

In the difficult struggles of this era, let us recall the words of Dr. king, anticipating the victory he knew would come: "However difficult a moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because truth pressed to earth will rise again."

In his address the day before his death, Dr. King said that he had been "to the mountaintop." He spoke of his vision that true freedom for all people could be achieved -- not just in the United States, but in all the world. in honoring Dr. King, we bring that vision closer to reality; we foster a greater national awareness of the unique achievement of his life; and, finally, we generate a stronger national commitment to the fulfillment of his dream -- which is the American dream.

Source: Ebony, January, 1986

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