John,

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As someone committed to fighting for justice and equity for all people, especially Black Americans, I have always been inspired by Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. I am also deeply aware of the fact that without Dr. King’s leadership, I, as a Black woman, would likely not be able to exercise my right to vote, let alone run for office.

However, many who honor Dr. King today are only familiar with his work through this speech and do not understand the scope and importance of his work. Those who defend insurrectionists, work against voting rights, and do not understand why we say Black Lives Matter fail to grasp that if Dr. King were still with us, they would almost certainly oppose him.

As an American and a Black woman, I am grateful every day for Dr. King’s work and legacy. May we all share our truths, our words, in the exact same way, having enough faith to trust the direction they are to go.

Thank you,
Alisha Shelton