In the Darkness of January, Hope Lives On
On the fortieth anniversary of MLK Day, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior is in crisis. For the first time since the Federal holiday was implemented in 1986, the current President of the United States of America has neglected to recognize its importance and the history of the Civil Rights movement that Mr. King had endured. But across the United States, there were still celebrations abound, including in Glens Falls, New York, led by our city’s Councilwoman-At-Large, Mary Gooden.
Mary Gooden is also the current local chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Yesterday morning, she led a march from City Hall to the United Methodist Christ Church for a celebration of the life of Dr. King. Holding hands of solidarity, she walked with hundreds of people down Ridge Street, turning left onto Washington Avenue, and headed into the church. Lyrics for Pete Seeger’s We Shall Overcome were distributed among the crowd as everyone sung the iconic song. While the original song was written in 1945, it was resurfaced during the March on Washington protest in 1963 by the popular folk music musician, Joan Baez. Four days before Dr. King was murdered in 1968, he recited the lyrics in his final sermon:
“We shall overcome,” he said, “because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
In Glens Falls, Mary Gooden embodies her own transcending legacy as the first African American City Councilwoman in 2021, and most recently, the first African American Councilwoman-At-Large. Over the past four years, she has had an incredible impact on revitalizing our local recreational parks and trails, like the new Pruyn’s Path, Water Street pedestrian bridge, and Murray Street Park, and her fighting spirit had allowed her to overcome a medical crisis last year. In her remarks during the celebration at Christ Church, she spoke about her trials and tribulations as well as her resilience, just like Dr. King. I am honored to sit across from her on the Glens Falls Common Council over the next four years as she continues to build a legacy of hope for all.
Last week, I read Dr. King’s letter from the Birmingham Jail, written on April 16, 1963, for the first time. Recalling memories from school, I don’t remember if it was on the syllabus, but I had heard that it was inspirational. Written over sixty years ago, it still stands as a blueprint for nonviolent protest. In his eloquently written statement in response to criticism from local clergymen, he offers an historical perspective on the urgency of the racial justice movement, four basic tenements for accomplishing change, and a critique on moderation with moral responsibility. His testament that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” has been restated in other civil rights movements over the years, and his legacy will continue on for generations.
As the United States of America embarks on celebrating 250 years of independence from the tyranny of early British monarchy in July, our collective voices demand to be heard. Be a part of positive change, learn from others’ experiences, and mold a society that treats everyone with dignity and respect, just like Dr. King envisioned. The wintry weather of January will take a toll on our collective psyche as the sunlight remains scarce and the air cold. It could lead some to become fearful for the future, but our small actions each day have a positive impact on the world. As Dr. King said, we can imagine and change the world. It just takes each one of us to make it happen.
