Remembering the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dear Maroons,

As I talk to friends, I hear deep weariness about our country’s discouraging era of division.  I, too, sometimes find myself discouraged, feeling a sense of powerlessness to make a difference.

Remembering the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. is coming at just the right time for me this year.  I needed the reminder of a man who embraced the joys, pains and costs that inevitably come with the pursuit of moral unity, love and justice. And clearly, there is still much work required to eradicate the scourge of racism from our society.

In King’s book “Strength to Love,” he reminds us that justice no doubt comes through legislation and court decrees to bring people together as physical neighbors, “…but it cannot bring an end to fears, prejudice, pride, and irrationality, which are the barriers to a truly integrated society.”  

This MLK Day, I’m going out to celebrate this remarkable man by joining a friend in a walk organized by several Roanoke City community organizations. There are many activities taking place on Monday to allow us to connect with our neighbors, unknown and known, including our own Toy Like Me: MLK Day of Service Modification Workshop.

Today, I am committed to remembering that showing up is a wonderful first step in closing the gaps that keep us divided.

With hope, 

Frank Shushok, Jr. 
President