Thank you. My circle knows I will be honoring the great Dr Martin Luther King Jr, rather than watching the inauguration. My mental health is fragile today. This reading gives me hope. “… only when it’s dark enough, can you see the stars.”
This is so beautiful, Sharon. It may very well be my favorite thing you’ve ever written n here, and that’s saying a lot. We’re all needing encouragement today and thank you for giving us this, first thing in the morning.
I often wonder how active I would have been. Would I have spoken out? Would I have had the courage to engage in hard conversations with my friends and family? Or would I have been frightened of losing power as a white person - frightened of an uprising...
Whatever we are doing now is what we would have done then. Are you speaking to encourage justice and these ideals in your circles? Are you taking the actions available to you in your community? If we all do the good we can where we are, we push things forward. By even contemplating “what would i have done then” probably means you are doing a great deal of good around you. 💖
I feel the same. I feel sure I wouldn’t have gone with the masses, but would I have just kept quiet? I fear I would have—just to avoid the uncomfortable conversations with those I care about. Frightened to be “too outspoken”.
10 years ago this would’ve been my fear too, but something in me has changed. The Wicked song Defying Gravity resonates so much, because I woke up with first Trump run for P. I am not the same. We can be the change needed now. We can resist hate and do what we can to stand up and help others 🩷It is important for my kids to know this, so we break the cycle. Our current time period will be written about in future history books for sure, and I need my grandchildren to know that I did the next needed thing and didn’t give up. God bless Sharon for her strength and for lifting us up to see the good and the light.
This is one of your most powerful posts Sharon. Chill bumps and tears. MLK jrs words awakened my heart again - be hopeful for our country and do not be lukewarm and complacent. Go out and do the work to promote justice and peace, and serve those in need.
I would love to hear more about what Dr. King means to you. What you wrote today touched my heart and made me cry. I don’t want to be a white moderate who cares more about order than justice. I have been so distraught that today we are swearing in a man who doesn’t care about Democracy. I have asked myself the question many times, “should I just turn off all the news, shield myself from all of it and just go on with my life”, but I can’t.. because I love my country and I want to do my part, whatever I can do to make some small difference.
Beautifully said, Sharon, on this amazing day where we honor this exceptional American, honor another one by continuing our flags at half-mast, and usher in a challenge to Our Great American Experiment like nothing we have seen before. If ever there were a time for inspiration to show up in America, it is today. What a great introduction to it you and Heather Cox Richardson have provided. It is clear that you will be here for us and with us as we face the consequences we are about to experience. Somehow the right people with the right words keep showing up when we need them. As you do.
On this day that I feel great despair for our future, it most happens to fall on a day that we celebrate a man and a movement that stood together to fight for basic human decency. On this day more than ever I needed to be reminded of great sacrifices and that If we stay united and not mediocre, we can overcome and see to it that all those promises written on paper can still be full filled no matter what happens in the coming days!
Thank you Sharon for always knowing just the right words to share to inspire others!
The irony of this year's inauguration falling on the day we remember MLK is not lost on me. I can't help think that the universe is trying to tell us that "only when it's dark enough can you see the stars" indeed.
Thank you for these inspiring words. As you’ve said many times, hope is a choice. I’ve chosen to emulate Dr.King and Jimmy Carter to the best of my ability, instead of letting the things and people I don’t agree with, get me down.
Thank you Sharon, this is just what I needed to read today. I'm taking a break from all of the inauguration & EO festivities. I've talked to a few friends who are having a hard time today too. I'm having a "Michelle Monday" - When they go low, we don't go. I have a volunteer gig this afternoon to assemble laundry baskets of goods for veterans transitioning to apartment housing from a men's shelter. I'm trying to fill up my mind and heart with good stuff and I'll come back to the reality of our T situation tomorrow.
Thank you, Sharon. I especially appreciate you mentioning Letter from a Birmingham Jail. About the moderate preferring order over how absent justice is, especially in 2025. I'll be referencing that speech when I speak with my friends who just want to be complacent and criticize others who want to fight for justice.
Thank you, Sharon. Exactly what we needed this morning. I’ve been sitting with my coffee feeling a bitter sense of foreboding and doom. Now I know I need to pull myself up and get ready to do the work.
Is there a collection of King’s writings that you would particularly recommend?
Thank you. My circle knows I will be honoring the great Dr Martin Luther King Jr, rather than watching the inauguration. My mental health is fragile today. This reading gives me hope. “… only when it’s dark enough, can you see the stars.”
Thank you Sharon and I’m doing the same as you Ann today.
Thank you Sharon!
This is so beautiful, Sharon. It may very well be my favorite thing you’ve ever written n here, and that’s saying a lot. We’re all needing encouragement today and thank you for giving us this, first thing in the morning.
Thank you for sharing this, my heart needed these words of encouragement today.
I often wonder how active I would have been. Would I have spoken out? Would I have had the courage to engage in hard conversations with my friends and family? Or would I have been frightened of losing power as a white person - frightened of an uprising...
Whatever we are doing now is what we would have done then. Are you speaking to encourage justice and these ideals in your circles? Are you taking the actions available to you in your community? If we all do the good we can where we are, we push things forward. By even contemplating “what would i have done then” probably means you are doing a great deal of good around you. 💖
Very nice response!
I feel the same. I feel sure I wouldn’t have gone with the masses, but would I have just kept quiet? I fear I would have—just to avoid the uncomfortable conversations with those I care about. Frightened to be “too outspoken”.
10 years ago this would’ve been my fear too, but something in me has changed. The Wicked song Defying Gravity resonates so much, because I woke up with first Trump run for P. I am not the same. We can be the change needed now. We can resist hate and do what we can to stand up and help others 🩷It is important for my kids to know this, so we break the cycle. Our current time period will be written about in future history books for sure, and I need my grandchildren to know that I did the next needed thing and didn’t give up. God bless Sharon for her strength and for lifting us up to see the good and the light.
You and Heather Richardson highlighted the same speech today in your Substacks. What an amazing man to honor today!
This is one of your most powerful posts Sharon. Chill bumps and tears. MLK jrs words awakened my heart again - be hopeful for our country and do not be lukewarm and complacent. Go out and do the work to promote justice and peace, and serve those in need.
Just starting the day with a good cry in the bathroom. As one does.
I would love to hear more about what Dr. King means to you. What you wrote today touched my heart and made me cry. I don’t want to be a white moderate who cares more about order than justice. I have been so distraught that today we are swearing in a man who doesn’t care about Democracy. I have asked myself the question many times, “should I just turn off all the news, shield myself from all of it and just go on with my life”, but I can’t.. because I love my country and I want to do my part, whatever I can do to make some small difference.
Just serve others. Self care (not watching things that hurt us) keeps us healthy and able to help others.
Beautifully said, Sharon, on this amazing day where we honor this exceptional American, honor another one by continuing our flags at half-mast, and usher in a challenge to Our Great American Experiment like nothing we have seen before. If ever there were a time for inspiration to show up in America, it is today. What a great introduction to it you and Heather Cox Richardson have provided. It is clear that you will be here for us and with us as we face the consequences we are about to experience. Somehow the right people with the right words keep showing up when we need them. As you do.
Thank you for sharing this to honor MLK Jr. What an amazing and historic day.
AMEN ! Thank you for sharing this and focusing on Dr. King first thing!
I’m going to watch the inauguration but pray for US and thank God for MLK Jr.
On this day that I feel great despair for our future, it most happens to fall on a day that we celebrate a man and a movement that stood together to fight for basic human decency. On this day more than ever I needed to be reminded of great sacrifices and that If we stay united and not mediocre, we can overcome and see to it that all those promises written on paper can still be full filled no matter what happens in the coming days!
Thank you Sharon for always knowing just the right words to share to inspire others!
The irony of this year's inauguration falling on the day we remember MLK is not lost on me. I can't help think that the universe is trying to tell us that "only when it's dark enough can you see the stars" indeed.
Thank you for these inspiring words. As you’ve said many times, hope is a choice. I’ve chosen to emulate Dr.King and Jimmy Carter to the best of my ability, instead of letting the things and people I don’t agree with, get me down.
Thank you Sharon, this is just what I needed to read today. I'm taking a break from all of the inauguration & EO festivities. I've talked to a few friends who are having a hard time today too. I'm having a "Michelle Monday" - When they go low, we don't go. I have a volunteer gig this afternoon to assemble laundry baskets of goods for veterans transitioning to apartment housing from a men's shelter. I'm trying to fill up my mind and heart with good stuff and I'll come back to the reality of our T situation tomorrow.
Thank you, Sharon. I especially appreciate you mentioning Letter from a Birmingham Jail. About the moderate preferring order over how absent justice is, especially in 2025. I'll be referencing that speech when I speak with my friends who just want to be complacent and criticize others who want to fight for justice.
Thank you, Sharon. Exactly what we needed this morning. I’ve been sitting with my coffee feeling a bitter sense of foreboding and doom. Now I know I need to pull myself up and get ready to do the work.
Is there a collection of King’s writings that you would particularly recommend?
I have a book called I Have A Dream that is a collection of his writings and speeches. It has a foreword by Coretta.
That’s awesome!