How Dr. King changed my life.

I was 21 years old in Flint, Michigan. That I struggled in school would be an understatement. I repeated half the seventh grade and half the 10^th grade. I had to attend classes in the summer of my senior year to receive my high school diploma. Not sure of my career path, I worked various odd jobs. One day while driving trucks, I stopped at a truck stop and noticed a cassette tape of Dr. King sitting on the counter at the checkout counter. I bought it. Dr. King had delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in Detroit a few months before his historic delivery at the March on Washington. This tape was that Michigan version.

His speech left me mesmerized. Never had I heard a speech as eloquent, intelligent and powerful. Admittedly and honestly, I knew little of Dr. King at the time. Not much was taught about him during the 70s and 80s. Intrigued, I purchased my first book ever: his autobiography. I could not release the book from my hand so much was my thirst to know more about him. So I purchased and read, purchased and read book after book written about him and by him.  

His academic achievement stood out first and foremost. He graduated with his bachelors at 19 and his doctorate by age 25. I said, “If he could achieve this during that time, certainly I can achieve educational training as well.” 

So I started community college. I realized my academic deficiency that first year as I could not write a complete sentence, and the school recommended that I register for developmental courses. So I did. And I began every morning by listening to Dr. King’s speeches and working to memorize every one of them.

While there, I realized the college did not recognize Dr. King's birthday as a holiday. One of the highlights of my life occurred when I led an effort with petitions and presentations to have the college closed for his birthday, and I spearheaded the activities that educated participants and honored his life and philosophy. 

Dr. King inspired me to start college and then to go on and earn my doctorate, writing my dissertation on his influence to the social justice theology of Black Theology. I am so grateful that I discovered that cassette tape at the age of 21 in 1987. It inspired a young Black male who struggled in school and was never much of a reader to have the confidence that he could achieve whatever he put his mind to.