Across the country people gather at the end of January for a celebration of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.  It is a time when we remember the people who struggled for a vision of America rooted in compassion, love, justice and peace. This year Detroiters organized to 22nd annual commemoration under the banner “Six Decades of Mass Movements: The Struggle Continues.” Emphasizing our city’s long history in efforts for a just and peaceful world, the celebration is held at the Historic St. Mathew’s-St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, a home of the Underground Railroad in the 19th Century, a critical site in the Northern High School Student Strike in the 20th Century, and an important place for organizing in the 21st Century as we face continued assaults on the lives of people.  This year, the national celebration is also the day we will witness the inauguration of Donald Trump as the President of the United States. 

Trump represents an America rooted in division, violence, and the protection of wealth for a few, at the expense of people and the planet. It is a vision representing the worst in our past. He glorifies a time when everyone knew their place and stayed in it.

The contrasting visions of who we are and where we want to go give us an opportunity to reflect on the challenges ahead as we work toward bringing our images of beloved communities to life for all people on this land.

This holiday has always been a window into the struggle for the kind of country we are and the kind of people we can become.

It was first proposed by our own Congressman John Conyers in April of 1968, four days after King was murdered. Representative Conyers introduced the legislation in congress every year, joined by Shirley Chisolm and the Congressional Black Caucus. It did not come up for a vote until 1979. 

Despite the strong backing of President Jimmy Carter, the idea of a national holiday honoring Dr. King and the movements he led was defeated. In all it was a 32-year campaign. Along the way public pressure pushed Congress and President Ronald Regan to finally set the holiday. In 1983 the house and senate passed the bill, and Regan signed it into law, setting the first celebration for 1986. It was not until 2000 that all 50 states agreed to honor the day. 

This long struggle offers many lessons for us. People organized marches, teach ins, public events, visits to state legislators, boycotts, musical tributes, petitions, and resolutions in churches, community groups, state houses and professional associations. 

Shortly after the defeat in Congress in 1979, Stevie Wonder released his hit “Happy Birthday” and helped organize entertainers to support the holiday and boycott states that were resistant. 

In 1990, under pressure from the National Football League players, the NFL threatened the state of Arizona with removing the Superbowl.  When Arizona voted down the King holiday in a confusing election, the NFL made good on its threat moving Super Bowl XXVII, scheduled for 1993, out of Tempe and to Pasadena.

Arizona lost about $300 million in economic benefits. More importantly the national attention provided an opportunity for serious community reflection and in 1992 Arizonians finally voted to support a holiday with 61% in favor to 39% against.

In spite of efforts by the powers that be to turn Dr. King into an empty dreamer, the legacy of the struggle for Black Liberation and Human Rights continues to disrupt those in authority. Kings vision will frame Trump’s oath taking. 

At the end of his life, the movements around King were challenging the deepest structures of our society, offering a path away from colonial empire toward a more human future.

This year, as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King, we have the opportunity to open our hearts and call upon the best of our history and our most expansive visions to welcome in a new season of struggles for our futures.