Reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Other Visionaries: A Personal Journey
Reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Other Visionaries: A Personal Journey
Today, January 15, 2025, marks not only the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy but also a significant milestone in my life. My husband and I intentionally chose this day to get married in 2000, as a testament to our dedication to the African-American movement in the United States. Both of us have felt a calling from a very young age to make a difference in our communities, and our journey has been deeply influenced by Dr. King and many other visionaries of their time.

A Shared Calling
From the ages of seven and nine, my husband and I both felt a calling to fight for justice and equality. My husband was raised in an underserved community, facing the harsh realities of life there. I, on the other hand, grew up in a middle-class home in Los Angeles, but my life was marred by severe trauma and abuse. Despite our different backgrounds, we were united by a common purpose: to bring about positive change in our neighborhoods.


We met each other at the ages of 18 and 24, and we knew right away that we had a special connection. It has always been a part of who we are, both to our detriment and to our benefit. You can imagine that with our different upbringings, trying to become one has been very challenging. But it is still something that is at the back of our fight, even if we don't always feel like we are fighting on the same page. Trying to be one is rooted in the struggle of the American fabric. Becoming one, what we believe is intended, is more than words; it's a mouthful of struggles. As I get older, I am wondering, does it have to be so hard? What is it that we are missing to embrace this and make it work?
A young pastor at a wedding I was photographing stated that the hardest part about marriage is becoming one. When you brought us from our home, you married us; we are one. If we are failing in schools and in prison, we are failing in schools and prisons. If we are being harmed, you, the one causing harm, are also suffering that same torment. There is no way around the injustice but to become just and atone and make right the wrongs; that is the only way through suffering that same torment. There is no way around the injustice but to become just and atone and make right the wrongs; that is the only way through.
Dr. King's Influence and Other Visionaries
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others like Mahatma Gandhi, Malcolm X (especially after he matured), Marcus Garvey, Cornel West, and the Obamas have been beacons of hope and inspiration for us. Gandhi's fight for freedom, a parallel we have yet to win, resonates deeply. Dr. King's unwavering commitment to nonviolence, justice, and equality has shaped our beliefs and actions. His dream of a society where people are judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin reminds us that the fight for civil rights is ongoing and that we must continue to strive for a better world.
The African-American Experience
Breaking Down the Paragraph:
Introduction to the African-American Experience:
Our journey together reflects the broader story of the African-American experience. We are united, but sometimes we don't know what we are fighting for. It can feel like a house divided or like we are pulling apart, but I know that we are one, and it is a divine plan that we are one. Everything about us that we carried over the miles of sea to America, without speaking the same language, our traditions, and the essence of our soul and spirit, remains with us. This is why Black culture is so popular on social media.
Social Media and Cultural Appropriation:
However, social media can be a double-edged sword. It allows people to take our style and play it as their own, which is a constant reminder of cultural appropriation. I was reminded of this recently while sitting in a store called Lucky's Chicken Place. The walls were adorned with images of southern blues musicians, and the place played their music while serving southern-style fried chicken. My daughter pointed out the blues singers on the walls, and it brought to mind the sentiment that many of these musicians' families are not wealthy like Elvis Presley's descendants. They gave their hearts, souls, blood, sweat, and tears, yet their families do not reap the benefits.
Definition and History of Cultural Appropriation:
Cultural appropriation is the adoption of certain language, behavior, clothing, or traditions belonging to a minority culture or social group by a dominant culture or group in a way that is exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical. This phenomenon has been identified across various fields, including religion, music, sports, fashion, visual art, and film. Historically, some of the most hotly debated cases of cultural appropriation have occurred in places where cultural exchange is the highest, such as along the trade routes in southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe.
Impact and Examples of Cultural Appropriation:
The term 'cultural appropriation' is thought to have emerged in the 1970s from academic discourse on Western colonialism. It involves some level of ignorance or apathy, where appropriators use a cultural element for their own benefit, whether monetary, social, or otherwise, without fully understanding or caring about the cultural significance of what is being appropriated. For communities that have faced systemic oppression, witnessing the commodification of their culture can be offensive and hurtful.
Examples of cultural appropriation include the use of Native American war bonnets as fashion accessories by non-natives, blackface historically used in minstrel shows to mock Black people, traditional African hairstyles like cornrows adopted by non-Black individuals without acknowledging their cultural roots, Native American imagery and names in sports teams, and elements of Black culture such as hip-hop fashion and music frequently appropriated by mainstream culture without proper credit or compensation to the original creators.
The Legacy We Pass On

People use soundbites from icons like Dave Chappelle, Dolomite, Kevin Hart, Eddie Murphy, Luther Vandross, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to get likes and attention. However, no revenue streams to the families of these individuals for their hard work, creativity, and gifts. Despite knowing that these soundbites originate from these icons, their families do not benefit financially. Our grandparents built houses with blood, sweat, and tears; they worked hard for those homes. Yet today, those houses are worth far less than those in predominantly white neighborhoods.
My coworker bought a house for $100,000; now it's worth $600,000. She just sold it for $500,000 into her family's legacy to take her kids to college. Meanwhile, we are robbed daily on all fronts—our children don't see richness because they inherit legacies marred by systemic inequities.
Now the richness we pass on to our children is often distorted by negative influences—telling them not to cook or think or be smart but instead to chase superficial success. This legacy that has been robbed from us is the pain I feel today on this January 15th as we prepare for another era.
I don't give a damn about any politician because none is greater than my faith. But it does bother me deeply—the constant robbing of our legacy over 400 years affects our children's education and opportunities.

Our Journey Together
Our marriage has been rooted in love, faith, and activism—a journey of growth and resilience despite numerous challenges. We believe we have been called to this path; we remain dedicated to fulfilling our purpose.
Reflecting on Our Mission
As we reflect on our journey and Dr. King's legacy today, we're reminded of discipline's importance—built by habits—and godliness through discipline. In 2025 we're focusing on building habits that help achieve goals while making lasting impacts within communities.
Looking Ahead
We remain committed to continuing work inspired by Dr. King's vision—living balanced, purposeful lives through disciplined focus, creating ripple effects that positively impact communities beyond.
Conclusion
On this special day honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we reflect upon personal journeys filled with gratitude, lessons learned, strength gained, and moving forward committed to making differences, living out callings with faith and determination.
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