Reverend Jocelyn Emerson shares a powerful account of her visit to the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, where she encountered holy ground at the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Despite her uncle’s concerns about visiting “the wrong side of town,” she discovered a vibrant, powerful community and was deeply moved by the museum’s immersive exhibits. From the massive relief sculpture depicting the journey from slavery to freedom, to the life-sized recreation of civil rights protesters facing fire hoses, to standing in the sacred space where Dr. King was martyred, each moment brought her face-to-face with the profound weight of the civil rights struggle.
Rev. Emerson emphasizes the importance of remembering Dr. King not just as a civil rights leader, but as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an ordained minister whose courage and commitment to justice were deeply rooted in his faith. His mission extended beyond racial justice to encompass all forms of oppression, including his final stand with Memphis garbage workers that ultimately led to his death. Through prayer and unwavering faith, he found the strength to continue his work even in the face of mortal danger.
Drawing connections between past and present, Rev. Emerson reflects on the ironic timing of a presidential inauguration she views as contrary to Dr. King’s values falling on MLK Day. She calls upon progressive Christians to embrace their role as “the new hands and feet of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” emphasizing his message that positive change is inevitable – “How long? Not long.” Through prayer, mercy, loving kindness, and standing alongside those who are marginalized, she urges everyone to carry forward Dr. King’s legacy of working toward justice for all.
“Tomorrow is not just a day when we honor Reverend Dr. King, tomorrow is a day when we must become the new hands and the new feet of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in this world. It is on us, the progressive voice of Christianity, it is on us to find that courage and that boldness to stand.” – Reverend Jocelyn Emerson
