A Nation in Pain: Reflections on MLK Day

"A large percentage of Americans are hurting today. I also am, and I feel your pain."

Today is MLK Day, and emotions are running deep. I find myself grappling with a heavy heart, unable to watch the inauguration of the new president. The weight of reality feels unbearable – a world that seems to have sidelined care, empathy, and concern for those who have historically been labeled as “the other.” It feels as though these values have been buried, like a loved one lost, with a tombstone marked, “I care.”

I wonder what Dr. King would think. How would he spend this day? How might he overcome this suffocating feeling of despair? Yet, in this moment, I find myself seeking solace in reflection and rejuvenation. For despite the rising tide of hatred and bias, I realize the fight for justice and equality has not died. Instead, it calls for resilience and renewed determination.

So, I turned off the TV. I refused to be drawn into the celebrations that feel alienating for so many of us. This is not a time for celebration, but for prayer, for building strength, and for preparing to continue the fight for what is right. The emotions surging through me are overwhelming, a storm on many fronts. Technology has been weaponized to sow fear and division, amplifying these feelings. Yet, in this quiet moment of contemplation, I hold on to Dr. King’s dream. It still lives. It still breathes. And no amount of hate can desecrate it.

In the face of today’s challenges, I hold on to hope. I hold on to the vision of a future where care and empathy triumph over division and fear. Dr. King’s legacy is a beacon of strength, a reminder that the fight for justice is far from over. His dream lives on, not just as a memory but as a call to action, urging us to keep moving forward, to keep striving, to keep dreaming. When we continue to fight, we win.

Effenus Henderson