"I have a dream that my four little children will one
day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin
but by the content of their character." – Martin Luther King Jr.
The
above is perhaps Dr. King’s most well-known quote, summing up the pursuit of
equality in an unequal nation. The sentiment it communicates is something I
firmly believe in. It is, in a nutshell, the sort of end that Acceptance Theory
seeks: judgment only on who one is(character, behavior, treatment of and
respect for others) rather than what one is(their background, their
circumstances, heritage).
It goes without saying that I believe in the power of communication. Communication allows individuals and groups to make clear their needs, preferences, desires, dislikes, hopes, fears, and dreams. It allows people to piece these things together and find common ground with one another. While most people think first and foremost of words when they think of communication, the truth is that it comes in many forms. Most actions, expressions, and displays convey some message, sentiment, belief, or behavior; words streamline this process. They make it more precise. If one is looking to reach understanding, they must communicate, and if that communication is to be successful, specific expressions, verbal and nonverbal, must be exchanged.
I believe that Dr. King was trying to communicate a message to all people about the importance of equality and the reality of injustice. In his time inequality, hatred, and discrimination were far more apparent than they are today. Unfortunately, in modern times, some people feel this message is irrelevant. Some feel that equality has been achieved. Others interpret it differently; they believe that inequality remains, but who is treated fairly(or better than) and who is not has changed. In the minds of this latter group, King’s message has taken on a whole new meaning.
It goes without saying that I believe in the power of communication. Communication allows individuals and groups to make clear their needs, preferences, desires, dislikes, hopes, fears, and dreams. It allows people to piece these things together and find common ground with one another. While most people think first and foremost of words when they think of communication, the truth is that it comes in many forms. Most actions, expressions, and displays convey some message, sentiment, belief, or behavior; words streamline this process. They make it more precise. If one is looking to reach understanding, they must communicate, and if that communication is to be successful, specific expressions, verbal and nonverbal, must be exchanged.
I believe that Dr. King was trying to communicate a message to all people about the importance of equality and the reality of injustice. In his time inequality, hatred, and discrimination were far more apparent than they are today. Unfortunately, in modern times, some people feel this message is irrelevant. Some feel that equality has been achieved. Others interpret it differently; they believe that inequality remains, but who is treated fairly(or better than) and who is not has changed. In the minds of this latter group, King’s message has taken on a whole new meaning.
As I have said, words make
communication easier, but taking words in isolation, particularly words that
are taken to represent the whole of as person or a group of people, is
detrimental to truth and understanding. We
as people must do better to truly understand and represent others. It is not
enough to label someone because of one blessing or damning line. We must move
beyond that. We need to look to the situations in which such words are spoken,
and we must also consider the actions of those who are speaking, and how they
correlate to what has been said. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. didn't just speak of the world he believed in, he dedicated his life to it, treating others with kindness and compassion regardless of their background, and seeing even those arrayed against him as brothers and sisters.
Put simply, the 'what' and the words are not enough. The 'why' and the actions matter too. Anything less serves only to warp the narrative, to intentionally or otherwise disregard the full experiences and ideals of a given individual.
Put simply, the 'what' and the words are not enough. The 'why' and the actions matter too. Anything less serves only to warp the narrative, to intentionally or otherwise disregard the full experiences and ideals of a given individual.
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