Like most members of Gen X, I have no firsthand remembrances of Dr. King. But, he and I were alive at the same time, albeit briefly. Dr. King was killed when I was less than one month old.
Since, Dr. King was still alive when I was born, I hoped that he had made one of his emotionally moving speeches on my birthday. Sadly, my research came up with no great words spoken on that day. However, almost three weeks after my birthdate, he spoke to the sixty-eighth annual convention of the Rabbinical Assembly. At the Rabbinical Assembly, he was introduced to the rabbis in attendance by Professor Abraham Joshua Heschel. A transcript of the event is at the link posted below.
I was glad to find this transcript. While I have seen television footage of the marches of Selma and Washington and the speeches in Washington and Memphis, I was not aware of this event.
After watching Driving Miss Daisy, I was made aware that the struggle for social justice for Jewish Americans and African Americans were similar. This point as well as several others are expounded on by Dr. King. There are a couple of things that he said that reminded me that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Dr King touches on the tension between the Muslims and Israelis. Also, when asked which candidate he liked for president, Dr. King said that he didn’t care for either of the two candidates.
Please remember that this is a direct transcript of the evening. There’s certain things said which may offend or upset 2024 sensibilities that were, apparently, not offensive in 1968.
I will end my ramblings with my favorite quote from Dr. King. I stand in agreement with this statement and cling to the hope that it offers. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Let’s be the light and love to the world.
Professor Abraham Joshua Heschel with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Journey with Monica 