If it’s up to Martin Luther King III, Kamala Harris can’t become US President fast enough. A conversation about his fascination with the politician – and his father’s dream.
Martin Luther King III was ten years old when his life changed forever. On April 4, 1968, the famous civil rights activist Martin Luther King was shot while giving a speech on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis. The world lost one of the greatest human rights fighters of its time. And Martin Luther King III lost his father.
King still remembers the moment when the breaking news of his death flashed across the television. He remembers April 8, four days after the assassination, just as clearly, when his mother drove him and his siblings to a demonstration in Memphis to continue her husband’s work.
As the eldest son, King followed in his father’s footsteps. In his late 20s, he entered local politics, led protest marches and fought against police violence. In the 2008 election campaign, the human rights activist became one of President Barack Obama’s most prominent advocates.
Today, King is 67, has a daughter of his own – and recognizes his father in Kamala Harris.
It has been 61 years since your father gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The country that your father dreamed of seems far away at the moment, the mood is heated in the USA, the nation is divided. Will your father’s dream always remain just that – a dream?
Parts of his dream have already become reality. But when you look at the bigger picture, we see that while many individuals are doing well, the majority are still struggling. I’m thinking of the Supreme Court turning back the clock, the disparities in healthcare, the unequal educational opportunities. Just this week, we saw a former president question the identity of Vice President Kamala Harris. It’s crazy that in 2024, a person still has to justify themselves because of the color of their skin, their gender, or their sexual orientation. It just goes to show how much work we still have to do as a society.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
