As we approach what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 95th birthday, I am writing to encourage everyone to honor the legacy of the civil rights icon by working to emulate his philosophy through our own lives.
Dr. King’s extraordinary impact on our society remains interconnected with his philosophy of embracing equality and rejecting bigotry and segregation.
In honor of Dr. King, let us commit ourselves to the following: never discriminate or dislike someone because of race, creed or color; learn to love your fellow man and woman; do something good for someone every day; and give back to those less fortunate when you become successful.
I remain indebted to Dr. King’s kindness and guidance. As a college student at Alabama State College, I attended the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in northern Montgomery where Dr. King served as the pastor. I had the privilege of listening and observing him firsthand. He was a breath of fresh air and an inspiration at a time when I was experiencing many challenges and frustrations in Alabama due to segregation. African Americans were not allowed to drink at certain water fountains. We were prohibited from sitting in certain seats on buses and banned from eating at many restaurants.
Following the lead of Dr. King, Rosa Parks and other civil rights leaders, I participated in the Montgomery Bus Boycott that ultimately led to the desegregation of the public transit system.
The systemic racism I experienced in the south cut deep and left a lifelong impression on me, and I’ve dedicated my life to treating people — all people — with fairness and compassion.
It has been just over a year since I completed my sixth and final term as your Secretary of State, and I remain filled with gratitude for the trust Illinoisans placed in me for 24 years to serve them in such an important role.
In reflecting on my career in public service, I’m forever appreciative of those who helped me along the way — especially during my impressionable college years in Montgomery, AL. It was there that I encountered one of my earliest mentors, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and I continue to do everything I can to honor him through my actions.
