How would a young boy react to a record breaking snow in a city where it doesn't snow all the time?
Yesterday our Weather Channel gave us a fascinating glimpse into the world of a young boy who grew up to be an important part of the history of the United States.
Yesterday was a federal holiday - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I do not know how many of my readers living outside the United States have heard of the late Dr. King (assassinated in 1968) but he is one of only three people in United States history to have Federal holidays in their honor. (King's actual birthday was January 15 - like so many other Federal holidays, this holiday always falls on a Monday.)
Dr. King was a Baptist minister. A leader of the Civil Rights movement. A social activist. A man who had a dream. That dream changed the lives of millions of people.
This is perhaps his most famous speech yet - it starts slow, but once it gets going - perhaps one of the top speeches of American history.
But once upon a time, Dr. King was a young boy. Born in 1929, he was 10 years old when he wrote a short letter to his father about playing in snow. Dr. King's childhood was spent in Atlanta, Georgia, where it does snow, but not that often.
The young Dr. King had a great time making snowmen and throwing snowballs, and cleaning off a sidewalk. He mentioned how hard a job the sidewalk cleaning was.
It turns out the snowfall he shoveled was a record snowfall for Atlanta.
Atlanta has a reputation for epic - as in "epic horror" - snowfalls, and ice storms.
But young Dr. King had a fun time with the record snow he was fortunate enough to experience.
Just reading this short letter makes me want to learn more about Martin Luther King, Jr. the boy and the man. Not the legend, but the man who once enjoyed a snow day.
A fantastic thought - greatness lies inside all of us. Greatness comes when you let it out.
Will I do things this year that are DIFFERENT? (My word for 2015)
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
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M.L. King was a great man, well respected in England too. I like the thought of him experiencing his first snowfall. When we stayed with hubby's family in California, it snowed at the edge of Los Angeles. His grandsons had never seen snow before and they were awed. We all begin our life learning, but only some of us proceed to greatness. I have a dream, too.
ReplyDeleteWe have relatives in Atlanta who lived through the last snow/ice storm. Even here in Iowa it looked horrible to us.
ReplyDeleteHi Alana!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! So true, you need to let your GREATENESS out!
I love this story! It's fascinating to read about things well-known people experienced as children - gives you a whole new insight into their life. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous post. I love the way you researched every bit. I graduated from Stanford, and didn't know they now have a MLK research center -- perhaps they are making up for Hoover Tower! Also my father was born in 1929 too, so I always think about that when I read about MLK.
ReplyDeleteAlana, wonderful! Another light on one of my heroes of peace! I did an article on him and his day, yesterday. Thanks for a great post!
ReplyDeleteI will have to tell my children about this. I think kids learn history so much better when they learn stories like this about individuals. So fun!
ReplyDeleteGreat tribute! It's always interesting to read about famous people and their childhoods. Those experiences contribute to whom they become. (I remember the first time my niece and nephew saw snow when visiting us from Florida.)
ReplyDeleteHow interesting to read about Martin Luther! Every one was once a child....but we forget it as we grow old.
ReplyDeleteI was curious to read the letter. That was an interesting one.
ReplyDelete