By, Michelle Hazekamp
January 23, 2025
January 20, 2025 marked a significant day in American history as we simultaneously celebrated two great men who represent tremendous change and progress; the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump as our 47th President of the United States of America.
While Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday is actually January 15, it is observed as a federal holiday on the 3rd Monday in January due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act that President Johnson signed into effect in 1968. The first observance of MLK Day did not occur until 1986, after President Reagan signed it into law in 1983. MLK Day is designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer in honor of the life and legacy of Dr. King and improve their communities.
Martin Luther King Jr. first gained notoriety during the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama and would go on to become one of the most prominent figures in the Civil Rights movement, advocating for civil disobedience and nonviolent methods to push back against racism and segregation. King is famed for leading the March on Washington in 1963, a rally for jobs and freedom, and his is when he gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the National Mall. King also founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957.
Coincidently, President Trump's second Inauguration landed on the same day as MLK Day, but the convergence of these two events to many seem not to be a coincidence at all; rather a divine sign to grab our attention on the many comparisons between the two time periods and integrity both men characterize in regards to civil rights, the value of freedom and compassion for country and humanity. Unique in personalities, there is a similar liken to one another to serve humanity.
Although Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for rights for blacks, his sincerity was for all people held captive to unequal treatment. The parallels of those times have persevered into our time with a new advocate, President Trump, emerging to lead the fight for freedom and equality once again.
In his speech, "I Have a Dream," MLK express's how blacks are unequally treated regarding fair jobs and pay and how blacks are truly not yet free. Below are a few excerpts from his speech explaining the circumstances for blacks during this time and demanding change based on our God given rights and promises declared in the Constitution:
"One hundred years later, the colored American lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the colored American is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition"
"In a sense we have come to our Nation’s Capital to cash a check. When the architects of our great republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given its colored people a bad check, a check that has come back marked “insufficient funds.”
"But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and security of justice."
"Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you, my friends, we have the difficulties of today and tomorrow."
"I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream."
Just like MLK, President Trump's dream is the "American Dream." During his first term as the 45th President, Donald Trump ignited this dream into motion once again, and implemented policies that spearheaded tremendous change and great progress within black communities in the U.S. Below are a few of Trumps policies that helped black communities prosper just after taking office in 2017:
Barely a month after taking office, President Trump signed an Executive Order to move the Federal HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) initiative back to the White House – making sure it is a key priority.
President Trump directed agencies across his Administration to develop plans to enhance their support for HBCUs.
President Trump signed legislation increasing Federal funding for HBCUs.
The President signed legislation that added more than $100 million for scholarships, research, and centers of excellence at HBCU land grant institutions.
But President Trump did not stop with colleges and universities, or just the black communities. He also set forth policies impacting all impoverished citizens and communities to ensure that no one was forgotten:
President Trump’s America First agenda spurred investment and revitalization in our country’s most underserved communities.
President Trump signed legislation creating Opportunity Zones, a game-changing vehicle to spur new capital investment in America’s economically distressed communities.
Opportunity Zones are projected to attract $100 billion in private investments to the American communities that need these investments most.
Median income for African-American-headed households rose by 2.6 percent between 2017 and 2018.
The poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic Americans each reached new series lows in 2018.
Nearly 2.5 million have been lifted out of poverty in the first two years of the Administration.
President Trump also promoted workforce developments to ensure all Americans share in our historic economic revival, and he created a fairer justice system by making reforms to not only keep communities safe, but to also give Americans a second chance by promoting 'second chance hiring' and offer prisoners an opportunity to achieve the American dream.
President Trump picked up the torch to advance the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. And although President Trump will have to undo the economic destruction that has distressed all communities the last four years created by the Biden administration, he has once again promised and will revive the American Dream to everyone.
As we reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his contributions to the civil rights movement, while also celebrating the 2nd Inauguration of President Trump, let us take into account the remarkable significance of both events occurring on the same day while honoring their courage and resilience in defending our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
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Michelle Hazekamp is a current Muskegon County Commissioner. She has been a member of the Muskegon County GOP for 4 years and is our Communications Chair & Secretary. She also sits on the 3rd Congressional District Executive Committee as Secretary.
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