Jet Flights to Freedom

In 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary efforts in the civil rights movement – his work to peacefully secure equal rights for the American Negro. But in his acceptance speech, he made it clear that the honor, the award, and the victory, weren’t his alone.

Every time I take a flight, I am always mindful of the many people who make a successful journey possible – the known pilots and the unknown ground crew.

So you honor the dedicated pilots of our struggle who have sat at the controls as the freedom movement soared into orbit….You honor the ground crew without whose labor and sacrifices the jet flights to freedom could never have left the earth. Most of these people will never make the headline and their names will not appear in “Who’s Who.” Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live – men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization – because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake.

(Martin Luther King's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, 1964)

Martin Luther King was a pilot. He was at the controls, in the spotlight. But his life work represented many others – the ground crew. The men and women who walked to work in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, who joined him in the March on Washington, who wrote petitions to the government pleading for equality. King wasn’t alone.

Today, our story is similar. We have government representatives in legislature, celebrities and association spokespersons on TV. These select few are the pilots – the men and women whose voices are heard loud and clear, who reflect the decisions that we make. These leaders are in these high positions because we supported them, joined them in defending certain rights, fighting for specific issues. The truth is, they wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for American citizens. Bills wouldn’t have been passed, rights preserved, crucial debates settled, without our efforts.

Perhaps some of you have heard the story of Freeman Clark, an Indiana farmer. In 1844, an election was held to vote representatives into the state Senate. On the election day, Clark was bed-ridden with illness but insisted that his sons take him to nearest poll booth so that he could vote for Democratic candidate David Kelso. Clark died shortly afterwards. Kelso won the seat by a margin of one vote.

Later that year, elections were held for the national Senate. During that time period, the state senators rather than the entire state population voted for the representative to Congress. In the elections that year, the votes were tied for the Democratic and Whig candidates. Kelso, refusing to vote for his Democratic party’s nominee, insisted on a man by the name Edward Hannigan. The rest of the Democratic senators also switched their votes to Hannigan and he was elected to the United States Senate by one vote.

But the story of Clark’s ballot doesn’t end there. His influence carried all the way south to the second largest state in America. In 1845, Congress voted on whether or not to annex Texas to their growing nation, and Texas was admitted to the Union 27-25 – with the deciding vote being cast by Senator Edward Hannigan.

A senator’s voice matters. A state legislator’s voice matters. A farmer’s voice matters. As does yours.

The effort of each individual is what culminates in the final victory. In the 1850’s and 60’s it was the Negroes’ decision to march to work, or to pick up a pen and write a letter.  It was their choices, their words, their actions that propelled the civil rights movement. King’s speeches and sermons would have been futile without them.

Now, the tables are turned. The ballot, the shoes, the pen are in your hands. What will you stand for? Will animal-owners oppose animal neglect by setting the example in how they feed and tend their own livestock? Will teachers improve education nation-wide by pressing for vital reforms in their own schools? Will Christians live their faith by sharing the Gospel and rooting their lives in the truth of God’s Word?

You are never too “common” to take a stand for what you believe. God has gifted each of us in unique ways and those talents, however ordinary they may seem, are meant to make a difference in the world.

Half a century ago, King piloted the “jet flights to freedom” for the Negro race, but thousands of men and women joined in making those flights possible. Today, what freedom, moral, or principle will you fly for? Whether you’re a pilot, stewardess, mechanic, gatekeeper, or security guard; a rancher, student, teacher, parent, clerk, or businessman the position is yours alone to fill.