A Time for Reflection

Today is a day we spend doing whatever we like away from the office and the classroom due to the legacy of one man. I was fortunate enough to have listened to an audioboook on Marting Luther King's life, as narrated by LeVar Burton which included recordings of speeches I had never heard before, while travelling through Alabama during my first sabbatical some years ago. Listening to the historical accounts of King's life and then sitting in the 16th Street Baptist Church put the Civil Rights movement into a whole new perspective when trying to imagine the tragic events that transpired inside and outside of that building not so long ago; it sent a chill down my spine that I will never forget. This day could also be a great time to reflect on whether or not our teaching helps those we teach realize the dreams they have one day of being a chef, hotel manager, etc., or not. I know it is for me now, especially based on the personal experiences I had while visiting historical sites and hearing from those who were at the center of the Civil Rights moving during part of my sabbatical 8 years ago at Samford University in Alabama.