Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s family spreads his powerful messages in Colorado

In addition to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, King's family members have called for "no celebration" of Martin Luther King Jr. Day until legislation strengthening voting rights is passed through Congress.

Farris reiterated that message when he spoke in Colorado Springs.

"The right to vote is so important, " said Farris. "First off, because it's not a Black issue. It's so important that people understand that. It's an American issue."

Two bills that would've reinforced voter rights were recently halted in the Senate, unable to get the support from Republican senators needed to pass the bill. 

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R.4) would have strengthened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which had been weakened recent Supreme Court rulings. In particular, it would have restored a requirement that certain states need congressional approval before making changes to their voting laws.

The other bill that failed to pass was the Freedom to Vote Act (S.2747), which sought to standardize voting election laws across the country and expand voting access.

Farris has experience with our country's political system. He attended his uncle's alma mater, Morehouse College, where he majored in political science and kick-started his professional life in advocacy carrying on his uncle's messages.  

"My favorite quote from my uncle is based on changes, the timing and environment in which we're living. And since we're living in this particular time and environment with what's happening, my favorite quote would be, 'We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools.'"

Now, Farris serves as a senior fellow at the King Center, where he researches and writes about the philosophy and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as racial, religious, economic and war issues in the United States and around the world. Part of that work includes reaching out to the future leaders of our country.

"I'm here to educate Colorado Springs children about the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., to put it in a way for youth to reach him, to understand. You know, sometimes greatness and celebrity status can overwhelm people, right?" Farris said. "For instance, I'll ask kids, 'Do you think you need to be a preacher to be like Dr. King or give a good speech to be like Dr. King? Do you think you need to be Black to be like Dr. King?' So, it's putting it in a place where they can embrace him and not just put him in some great place like putting him up on the wall and thinking 'Gee, I could never do that!'" 

He has one main message and piece of advice to the upcoming generation about how to make the world a better place:

"As I tell the kids I'm speaking so that they go as far as they can in school, recognize there has got to be one more level of education after high school," said Farris Jr. "That could be a traditional four-year college, could be a junior college, it could be specialized training for an occupation ... but there has got to be one more level. Educate your minds and as long as that happens we'll be okay."

Lindsey Ford is a multimedia journalist with Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at lindseyford@rmpbs.org.