Southern Campus Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest Winners

"If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation."

A World Perspective

I used to believe loyalty meant staying close to what I knew—
the people who thought like me, looked like me,
the comfortable circles that felt safe to stand inside.

But Dr. King reminds us that peace is not born inside small spaces.
Peace requires seeing past the lines we draw 
between us and them.

In my school hallways,
it’s easy to see how separation lives quietly—
friend groups that never mix,
voices unheard because they belong to someone different, 
opinions judged before they are understood.
Our loyalties become limited,
shrinking our compassion along with our world.

A world perspective challenges that shrinking.

It asks us to look at a stranger 
and leave room for their story.
It teaches us that someone else’s struggles 
may be invisible yet heavy.
That people across the world, oceans away 
from our lives, hope for the same things we hold close—
safety, belonging, dignity.

Loyalty, Dr. King shows us, 
is not meant to divide.
It is meant to expand.

Peace grows when we listen first.
When we defend voices that are not our own. 
When we sit beside someone who feels unseen. 
When compassion becomes stronger than comfort.

A world perspective is choosing connection over convenience—
seeing humanity before differences.

And when our loyalty stretches wide enough 
to hold every race,
every class, every nation,
peace stops being a distant dream

and begins becoming something real — 
something we build together,
one choice at a time.

Injustice

For my quote I have chosen, "Injustice everywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." Martin Luther King Jr. wrote this in his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in the Birmingham city jail in April of 1963. I chose this quote because I thought it was one of the most relevant to my experiences in our world today. Social injustice is an extremely important issue to everyone in this world. In today's society, people are so crude and impertinent that they will ostracize someone for the most minute detail. Even on a smaller scale, such as in a classroom, one person could ridicule another, and suddenly everyone else is doing it, too. It's sad how hateful people around us are.

People are filled with so much hate, and they are so insecure in themselves, that they'll force their hatred onto others to make them feel worse about themselves. Even though my family is not originally from here, we are still a part of the community. However, I have been mocked for the way I speak. My mother is originally from Connecticut, and since I learned to speak from her, I say certain things differently. Even something as universally popular as sports, I'm still made fun of for. I have been swimming competitively since I was seven, and just because no one else at my school does it, they think it's weird. Political feuds are an even worse argument than most of my personal experiences.

People love to insult others in the realm of politics. Political disputes have great power to sway other's opinions. I have been judged by my classmates for my political views many times over the years. Just because what I believe is different from them, they think it's incorrect. My school, and this area in general, is very conservative leaning, and just because I don't agree with everything they believe, people tum to scorn to make me feel bad about what I believe. Many people have extremely unjust opinions and they will exploit others to get what they want. All of these ways that people speak out affect political standings everywhere. Even though a person may not live in the same city, state, or even country, his/her opinions can be swayed. This could affect how these people stand in their local elections and politics. Justice is not a topic politicians take into account.

Real justice would be a healed and united society. It would be a place where everyone could agree on what is truly right and what is truly wrong. This would be people accepting others for their differences and welcoming that into their lives. A consolidated people would benefit the whole of the population for the better. However, in a realistic circumstance this could never actually happen. There is always someone who doesn't agree in a situation. Often people will even disagree just to spite another. This behavior displays just how unjust our society is, but Dr. King knew this even back then and this is what made it relevant.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.

Light over Darkness; Love over Hate

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent his life expressing his thoughts and feelings to the world about what he believed to be moral. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an important figure in American History and the Civil Rights movements in the United States until his assassination.

His way of change involved peaceful protests as he believed that was the best way to spark change. Dr. King even won the Nobel Peace prize, youngest at the time. His achievements are monumental and held important to many citizens of the U.S today.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave numerous speeches and had many memorable quotes that are still remembered to this day. Dr. King gave the unforgettable quote that made its way onto the memorial in Washington D.C., “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that” ( Strength to Love 1963).

This quote stands out to me because it shows that, violence can not be solved with more violence, peace is needed to achieve that. When you look around in the world you see all the wars that are happening and even in history, the amount of violence that happens seems to almost always be solved with more violence. During the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Japan, the U.S. tried to resolve the conflict with more violence which ultimately led to
more violence and hardship. Violence might seem like the easy way out but in the end just leads to more suffering.

In my own life, and hopefully it is not just myself, I battle with the problems of mental health. You start taking medicine to try to help suppress the problems and then all of a sudden you're taking more. Adding more medicine does not always fix the problem. Sometimes you need to try a different one.

When you look at the quote “hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that” it refers to using negative words and actions. Using the same manner and actions of negativity will not resolve the problem, it will only escalate it. When you talk about love in this sense it does have to mean romantically. How I view it is that love is another force that can overcome hate and may be different from person to person.

Dr. King used his words to influence change to occur. He did not believe in protesting violently. One of Dr. King's example of peaceful protest is when he encouraged African Americans not to ride the public transit during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Over a year later the Supreme Court ruled the actions of public transit unconstitutional. A wish of mine is that people today can learn through Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ways and start protesting peacefully like he did. Doing this I believe that real change can happen.

Although violence, or darkness, covers much of the world, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was able to bring light to the darkness amidst the chaos to show another path. Like in Robert Frost's poem, The Road not Taken, there are “two roads that diverge into yellow wood” and the narrator takes the path less traveled by. Take the path of light to avoid the darkness or take the path of love to avoid the hate.

The Right Way to Lead

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said in a sermon of his, "I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness." This quote stood out to me because he was a leader for the good. He didn't do it for ego or fame. He simply wanted to reach the goal where people were treated equally. I chose this quote because I've seen many people my age focus on popularity or even now, social media attention.

To me, this quote shapes what leadership means. Today, many leaders are measured by how loud they are, how many followers they have, or how much attention they can bring in. However, Dr. King reminds us what true leadership is. Leadership is measured by service, compassion, honesty, and courage, not by the applause of others.

When King used the metaphor "drum major" to describe himself, what did he mean by it exactly? It meant he was the one who set the direction; the one who stood out but is also responsible for guiding others. He wasn't the spotlight himself, but he was moving people toward justice, peace, and righteousness. He flipped the idea of ego and turned it into service. Like how you should stand up for what's right and guide others with love, not pride.

Today is a perfect example of why this quote still matters now. Today, leadership is frequently confused with popularity. The world we live in today is rewarding the people for being flashy and attention-seeking. King's quote challenges us to ask: Are we leading for recognition or fairness?

I myself have gone through something like this. My friends I've had since I was little have been known for some stuff that I've never stood for, just as King did the same. I was living for other people's approval and trying to meet a standard, not even being myself. I was leading with the wrong cause, leaving the impact I didn't want people to think of me. So you may ask, why not leave or try and find people who I can be myself around? For me, that meant walking away from what I've known for years. I let them walk all over me but continued to let them do so because I was afraid of losing them. I stood up for myself. I explained all they've done, not just to me but others as well. Not one showed to be a true friend of mine. So, I accepted the consequence of doing what was right and “lost” them. In this situation, honesty mattered most, and it led me out of the hole I was in. It showed me what it meant to be a true, rightful leader and it made me realize that I could be the light that somebody needed to get out of darkness.

In the end, Dr. King's words unfold to us that leadership isn't about recognition but instead standing for justice and the right cause. When he called himself a "drum major for justice, peace, and righteousness," he spoke for millions of people of color who were yearning for the rights and equality they had been denied for far too long. By choosing this quote, I choose to honor all of their yearning. If I choose to lead, I only hope for myself and others to lead as King did. I choose to believe that leadership today means standing up for others, leading with an honorful purpose, and for those who still yearn for a world where equality isn't a dream anymore but instead is a reality.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

The Most Beautiful Gift

When things get dark, and the shadows grow long,
you might think that more darkness is the key to getting strong. 
Like a man who goes blind to fight off the night,
trying to douse a fire with more of its light.

That just makes it worse, a cold, empty space, 
where hope disappears, leaving hardly a trace. 
But wisdom says, “No, that's not how it's done. 
You need the bright brilliance of a new sun.”

To find the right path, to see what's true, 
light is the only way for me and for you.
You don't fight a void with less than your best,
but with a warm kindness that puts gloom to the test. 
The same goes for hate when it takes over your heart, 
a bitter, cold feeling that tears things apart.

You can't put out a fire by adding more fuel. 
A doubled-up anger is just plain cruel.
It only makes wounds deeper, the pain much worse, 
a self-made problem, a heavy, dark curse.
Instead, use the strength of a gentle hand, 
a love that tries hard to just understand.

Love isn't weak; it’s a powerful lift, 
a spirit-filled current, a beautiful gift.
It mends the past and deals with today, 
making the negative finally give way.

Love builds the bridges and holds a strong line, 
the only true power that’s just about divine.
It's how we transform the world that we see, 
the only real force for you and for me.

The Rule of Love and Light

In our world, where shadows creep,
A simple honest truth to keep.
The darkness here, the darkness there, 
Just makes more dark; it's just not fair. 
It needs light, a tiny spark
To chase the shadows from the dark, 
And when we’re mad, and full of hate, 
It doesn't help our troubled state.
It only stops when our love arrives 
And helps us live our better lives. 
So be the light— be kind, be true—
It's all the best that we can do.

A Stone Of Hope

"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." 
A simple line, croaked 
Dr Martin Luther King Junior spoke, 
Trying to instill hope.  

When a problem arises, 
Look it in the eyes, 
And say to yourself, 
"I do not need help" 
Pick yourself up, and reflect what you have done 
For the adventure has just begun.  

Look out on the mountain and see the sun, 
Find the light in everything. 
There are multiple stones to choose, 
Do no pick the one that will make you lose. 
Hope is the one thing you can do 
To show the best side of you.  

As King verbalized, 
There is one thing inside 
That can make the rest subside. 
Look out upon the mountain and see, 
Use all your curiosity. 

Find a stone all alone,
Walk around and roam,
Once you realize what you see,
You are given every possibility.

In the right

In Martin Luther King Jr's book "Strength to Love, 1963" he states, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy" (King). Martin Luther King Jr began as a preacher, and then took major action in civil rights. He was a strong man, who believed loving others was the way to solve problems. King was the one to take action, and fight for what African Americans deserved. It is easy to do the right thing, and take action when it is convenient for someone. The real measure of one's character is in times when it is not as easy to do the right thing.  
The first of this quote is simple for many, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience," (King). Many thrive in moments of ease. These are not the times character should be judged, as king states "but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy" (King), is when they should be. It is easy to do the right thing for show, when it benefits oneself and doesn't hurt anyone . Being a person who does good, even when it may hurt themselves is lost in today's world.  
Oftentimes, I find myself worrying too much about the moments of challenge and controversy. Many say this is a foolish quality to have, but in my opinion it is the best quality. Seeing others struggle hurts me, I always try to find a way to brighten their day. I believe if we all helped each other out, living each day would be a lot easier. Caring deeply for others' needs in times of hurt is a quality that would solve many of today's problems.  So, if you see someone in need, help them, put them before yourself. Even if it is a small act, do it. Kindness never goes unnoticed. Be the person that stands in the right, in times of challenge and controversy. It may hurt to stand here, but someone has to be the one to do it. Others struggling will never forget your acts. Stand up for what is right just as King did. Do not give up on what you stand for, no matter the circumstances. Overall, love for others is what would be valued above all.

Making a Career Out of Humanity

"Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in." March for Integrated Schools, April 18, 1959. This was said by Martin Luther King Jr. and is written on the south wall of his memorial in Washington D.C. Thousands of people see these famous words every day, but how many of them stop and truly think about these words? 
When I hear this from MLK Jr. l think about my local community. As someone from a small town, I have seen firsthand people struggle and be uplifted by the people around them. Whether this is through a nice meal during a hard loss in the family, or people coming together and changing someone's life through donations. Everywhere we look we can see people making a career of humanity but it can also be hard when do not see this happen. 
If you have ever watched the news, you can see the inequality that is still being experienced in America today. People are being beat because of what they look like or how they think, but we should not look at this as a problem that we cannot do anything about This is something we change. You do not have to be a CEO of the largest company or a leader of a country to make a change, you just have to have a voice. You can use your voice to speak up about injustice against people in your community. You can use your voice to tell other people your opinion on critical issue . You can use your voice to change the world we live in.
Martin Luther King Jr. might be gone, but his spirit is not. People everyday learn from his messages of hope, love, and ambition to make the world a better place. If we remember to look at our past we can improve the future we will live in through making a career of humanity in our community.

Through Love and Faith We All Live On

Light drives out darkness, love drives out hate,
Truth and love may determine our fate. 
Take away our zones and sectional abodes. 
And make our nation an ecumenical home.  

Our loyalties must transcend our race, 
Our class, our nation and our faith, 
We put our trust in One over all, 
Our honor belongs to one God.  

Injustice anywhere, 
Is a threat everywhere, 
We are all tied through destiny, 
Each individual has their own chemistry, 
All of us may live in eternity.  

Being temporarily defeated, 
Is stronger than evil triumph, 
Don't get yourself cheated, 
Just always live on in the idea, 
That we all stay strong, 
Through love and faith, we all live on.

Fighter

"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope"  
Out of the world of darkness, a shining light  
Out of world of chaos, a man of peace  
Out of a majority of wicked people, a righteous role model 
A man who changed so many people's thoughts in opinions,  
A man who fought for others,  
A man who help so many,  
A man who changed the way we all think, 
"We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,"  
Justice he fought for, 
Justice we wouldn't have if he had not paved the way,  
Justice he and so many others made,  
Justice we all deserve. 
Fighting for simple coexistence, 
For basic rights, 
Fighting, 
Fighting for a better world 
Fighting for the right to love, 
The right to learn, 
The right to worship, 
Fighting for justice, 
Fighting for peace, 
If there is one thing Martin Luther King Jr. did, 
It was fight. 

Love's Dilemma: Finding Light in the Shadows of Discontent

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." 
- Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, 1963.  

You cannot let your blind spot decide whether to merge or not. First looks aren't everything. You have to hook onto the thought of turning around and taking a second glance. Let the light be your knight.  We can't drive out the hate that we need to thrive when all we are doing is hating ourselves. 

If we learn to love, we can slowly get rid of all the darkness. 
Let the light be the knight your heart needs. 
We cannot let hate determine the color of our soulmate. 
King says he has a dream–
Has a dream so everyone can gleam together in harmony. 
We are the thread King needs. 
The only thing we need to do is tie the seam together. 
I have a dream. 
I have a dream that we will not hate, rather love one another, 
So that I don't have to worry about not having a place to put my head to rest, 
All because of hate. 

Finding Hope in the Face of Adversity

Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, "With this faith, we will be able to hew out the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." There are numerous interpretations as to what this pivotal statement could mean. For many, including myself, it represents how people should remain optimistic in the face of adversity, because if not, hate will win. Remaining optimistic in the face of adversity is a powerful trait to have, but there is nothing more powerful than a group of people remaining optimistic for change against a common oppressor. Black Lives Matter, the LGBTQ+ community, and those involved in the women's suffrage movement are all perfect examples.

The Black Lives Matter movement was established around 2013 as a tool to spread the story of numerous injustices. The deaths of Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, and George Floyd are just a few among the dreadfully long list of many other unjustifiable stories. Any person who watched the news in 2020 heard the name of this community and how they were fighting for equality and justice. No matter how many times the group was threatened and wrongfully criticized, they persisted, inspiring millions around them to do the same. In the face of adversity, their "stone of hope" remained.

The fight for same sex marriage spiked in the LGBTQ+ community around the late 1980s. The LGBTQ+ community was confronted with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which was signed into law in 1996, meaning that marriage between a man and woman was the only legal union sanctioned by the government. According to the Human Rights Campaign, this law made it possible for all 50 states to deny same sex marriage. This was daunting to the LGBTQ+ community, making numerous individuals feel like their identity was not valued in their own country. After more than a decade and numerous protests later, President Obama declared the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional; this was astronomically important for marriage equality. On June 26th, 2015, same sex marriage was legalized in all fifty states, paving the way for the future generations in the LGBTQ+ community, including myself. Against mountains of bigotry, The LGBTQ+ Community held onto their "stone of hope."

Only a little more than a century ago, women in the United States did not have the right to vote, thus creating the need for the Women's Suffrage Movement. According to the Constitution Center, during the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson in 1913, thousands of women came together in protest, bringing attention to the problem on national news. After years of trying, the 19th Amendment was passed, making it unconstitutional to deny women their right to vote. As a result of these powerful women holding onto their "stone of hope" against the patriarchy, they shamelessly broke numerous barriers, changing the lives of women in The United States for centuries to come.

If a person remains optimistic against an oppressive force, change is inevitable. The Black Lives Matter Movement, the LGBTQ+ community, and the women's suffrage movement are perfect examples of this. The changes they made for their future generations were undoubtedly substantial. If there is one common thing I can point out about these influential communities, it is that they used their "stone of hope" to move mountains of hate, and that should serve as an inspiration to us all.

Love Overpowers Hate

The fire that brings on the hate of the world can only be doused out by love and light from those who wish to make the change. Hate is the leading cause of the discrimination that is shown around the world. People who make the most change are the ones who possess the love that the world needs. Hate is taught by those who are blinded by society's prejudiced ways. To be able to change the world for the better, people must show love and light. This notion is reinforced by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when he said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

Discrimination is often brought on by the hate of those who don't like when others are different from them. This is often brought on with race, sexuality, religion, and various other reasons. With the help of social media, acts of discrimination get elevated and shown to people all around the world. With that thought, some may think that may diminish any lingering discrimination in the world, but it only makes it worse. While it does bring awareness to the issue, it makes situations like the protests with Black Lives Matter (BLM) turn from peaceful to conflict quickly. BLM is a factor in recent discrimination, but back when Jim Crow laws were a thing, discrimination was an everyday thing. African Americans were discriminated against to the point where they had separate schools, parts of town, and seating areas in restaurants. Hate is something that can blind people into thinking that discrimination is an okay thing to do.

Change is something that the world needs, but the practices used to do so are not filled with love. Social media influencers constantly make posts about how they "helped" a homeless person in need. They'll give them food or buy them clothes not out of the kindness of their hearts, but just to make social media posts to their fans. If they truly wanted to give to a person in need, then they could have done it without needing to post about it. Also, love would change the outcomes of war. It could stop a war before it began, and it could stop a war from continuing. While change isn't easy, it could help with any problem around the world if hate would change into love.

Hating an individual is something that doesn't come from nowhere; it's taught from a young age. If an adult or child were to hate someone based on their race, sexuality, looks, and money, it's more likely that they were taught that from their parents. Hate being taught is another thing that causes discrimination, and it's the reason why so many people judge others based on looks. A parent may say something that is extremely hateful and not realize that their child is hearing everything that they say, but there is also the parent that knows that their child is listening and tell them what they hate about the people around the world. If hate can be taught at a young age, so can love. Hate doesn't come from nowhere, neither does love; both are taught at young ages and both are what control how a person acts to others situations.

Love is something that is truly needed in the world. While it may not seem like it, doing something out of love is easier than doing something out of hatefulness. Hate is what causes discrimination, what causes no change to be made in the world, and it is taught by those who were blinded by the hate that they were taught as a child. Hate is something that can be diminished, using love and light to truly help those in need, and not to discriminate against anyone is something that needs to be taught more than hate. If stories say that love overpowers anything that may stand against it, then it can be taught to overpower hate.

Drum Majors for Justice

"I was a drum major for justice, peace, and righteousness." This was a powerful quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that inspired many people to be leaders in the fight for justice. This quote was delivered in a sermon called "The Drum Major Instinct" in 1968. Within the sermon, he emphasized the importance of using your desire to lead and be recognized in a positive way and use it to fight for what is right justice, peace, and righteousness. Anybody can be a leader; it is your choice as to how you choose to use your leadership.

One way to be a good leader is to be an advocate for noble and worthy causes. This would mean standing up for what you believe in and justice, equality, and positive change. Many people may not realize it, but there is always someone listening to the words we say and the way that we act. It is important to make sure that you are using this in a positive way and setting the standard for others to follow. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a great example of a good leader. He demonstrated leadership through peaceful protests, powerful speeches, and his commitment to nonviolence. Today, more than 50 years later, he continues to inspire generations to strive for positive change and to be a light in the world.

Another way to be a great leader is to be a positive role model inside your own school. This is something that everyone is capable of doing, even if you don't think you can. Nobody expects you to be the president of the United States; the least you can do is be a positive role model in school. As a leader in your school, you will have many opportunities to inspire others, whether it's through organizing events, leading clubs, or just being a good friend to someone. Being a good role model encourages others to exert the same amount of kindness and excellence that you spread. Small acts of kindness, like lending a helping hand or standing up for a student against a school bully, are all ways to create ripple effects throughout the school community.

Lastly, if you see something wrong happening on any scale, speak up about it. An incredibly important act of leadership is seeing something happening and taking a stand for what's right and putting a stop to it. This is something that, during the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., strives to encourage and inspire others to work for. He saw the injustices African Americans were facing and he could not just sit and watch it happen; he decided to take a stand. Just like Dr. King's, your actions alone can change and help create a safer and better environment for everyone. This can create a chain reaction of courage and compassion and shows others that they could make a difference too.

In conclusion, anyone has the ability to be a leader, regardless of background, age, or position. Being a leader comes down to the choices you make and how we choose to use our words and actions. Leadership is not limited to a specific role or title; anyone can achieve this, whether it is in communities, schools, and beyond that. Dr. King showed us the importance of determination and using his leadership to promote justice. Today, he still inspires so many.

The Ultimate Measure

In moments of comfort, we often reside
but true worth is found when challenges collide.
Not in ease and convenience, our measure is clear,
But in trials and turmoil, our values appear.

When storms of controversy test our resolve,
it is then we discover the depth of our soul.
For a man's character shines through the haze,
In the crucible of challenge, in so many ways.

In the quiet moments of serenity, we often find solace and rest,
but it's when life's tempests rage that we're truly put to the test.
It's easy to be strong when we have no struggle and the path is smooth.
It's in the face of affliction that we prove our strength, our truth.

The ultimate measure, as MLK once did say,
Is not where we are when our skies are clear,
But in times of adversity, where we make our stand,
That's where the true strength of a person is grand.

Challenges can be like a refining fire, forging
character in the heat. They reveal our resilience,
our values, and the people we choose to meet.
In the depths of struggle, when the road seems long and steep,
That's when our true essence emerges from the shadows, deep.

So let us remember, in moments both dark and bright,
our worth is determined by our actions in the fight.
for in times of challenge, in moments of strife,
We reveal the true essence of a meaningful life.

In Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Imagine a life with segregation. Segregation is the action of separating people, historically on the basis of race and/or gender. Martin Luther King Jr. was a big part in trying to stop segregation and unite the country. Dr. King said this in his Strength and Love speech on August 28,1963, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." This means violence does not get rid of violence. Only light can get rid of darkness. Matthew 5 :43-45 says, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven."

First, the Bible tells us, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1 :5) and, "Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). This means light in a dark room is always shining and nothing can stop it. The only thing that can happen is the light spreads. If we, the people, will act like a burning candle, the world would be a better place.

Second, love is very powerful. When a person loves someone it means more than a friendship. Love is respect, loyalty, patience, trust, passion, connecting, and being there for each other. When Dr. King said his words about love he intended for it to mean that if we hate someone we are not going to make them nicer, but by loving them they will begin to show love by their actions. An example of this is when the coronavirus hit almost four years ago. The Covid 19 pandemic caused 1.2 million deaths and 6.6 million hospitalizations in the United States. During this time, many people stepped up to assist others. The hospital staff worked extra hours. They showed their light by risking their lives to save others and love spread like a wildfire.

Lastly, spreading kindness is a form of love. A few ways to spread love and kindness is

by giving back to the community, helping the poor, and even something as simple as holding the door open for someone. This year my family and I participated in a community outreach event organized by our church called Joy in a Box. This is when you buy Christmas presents for a needy child. My family and others shined our lights by spreading the Christmas spirit.

In conclusion, Dr. King spoke brave words of truth. He fought for his rights and others by spreading kindness and shining his light. Martin Luther King Jr. brought many people together by his words and messages of love. Despite his efforts, people are still treated unfairly today. Therefore, every year on January 15th, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s actual birthday, we should remember and honor all of the values he tried to instill in America. We need to listen to Dr. King's words and strive to shine our light brightly to the world in order to drive out hate and darkness.

Echoes of Equality

"Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in."

In a world of chaos and strife,
Where problems seem to rule our life,
We tum to Martin's words so wise,
To find hope and realize.

"Make a career of humanity,"
He said, with passion and clarity,
Commit to the noble struggle for rights,
And watch as darkness turns to light.

Today's problems may seem vast,
But with determination, they won't last,
We must stand up for what is right,
And fight for equal rights with all our might.

In this journey, we'll find our way,
Becoming better people every day,
By embracing love and showing care,
We'll create a nation that's fair and rare.

A greater nation we can build,
Where unity and justice are fulfilled,
By breaking down walls that divide,
We'll create a country where all can thrive.

And as we work towards this goal,
A finer world will start to unfold,
With compassion and understanding as our guide, 
We'll make this world a better place to reside.

So let us heed Martin's call,
To rise above and stand tall,
To make a career of humanity,
And shape a future of true unity.

For in this struggle, we will find, 
A better person, a noble mind,
A greater nation, strong and true, 
And a finer world for me and you.