In the Shadow of a King
Today I looked out over my bookshelf and a book by RC Sproul caught my eye. It is one of his more popular books, though it was written for children. The title of the book is A King Without a Shadow. As I reflected on the title and content of the book I was reminded that kings actually do cast shadows. They usually cast huge and irrepressible shadows over their nation and family. Today I am thinking of one king in particular. His name is Martin Luther King, Jr.
This week we learned of the death of Dr. King's eldest child, Yolanda King. Even as we are learning more of the details of her death, we are also learning the details of her life. Apparently, she was an actress, author, producer, a motivational speaker, and an advocate for justice and peace. And yet, for all of her accomplishments, today we know her best as Dr. King's oldest child and daughter.
As we look out over the political and social landscape of America, we observe an obvious void of capable, self-denying leadership. This void is particular acute when we look to the supposed ongoing Civil Rights Movement. Since the death of Dr. King, the mantle of his leadership has never found capable hands in which to be placed. Apparently, we may never find them. Dr. King's shadow reigns large over America's social and political landscape. And yet, we see that it reigns large over his family as well. As hard as his children may have tried, like his would be Civil Rights successors, they can not seem to get from under his shadow.
Interestingly, Dr. King's wife, Coretta Scott King, following Dr. King's death, never remarried. An attractive and intelligent woman, and yet she remained single until her death. Who would have dared to stand where Dr. King stood? His oldest son, Martin Luther King, III was elected to public office and even assumed the presidency of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, only to leave both under clouds of suspicion and charges of poor leadership. Bernice King is the only one to follow her father into the ministry, and yet she is under the wings and at the whims of the theologically offensive Eddie Long and often finds herself at odds with her family. His youngest child, son Dexter King, perhaps has the most potential but has yet to find his niche. Tragically, who can forget his involvement in that unfortunate and embarrassing charade with James Earl Ray, the convicted murderer of his father. And they there is Yolanda - the oldest and arguably the most talented and independent, and yet for all of her accomplishments we this day can not speak of her without recognizing that she is the daughter of Dr. King.
Like most larger than life Americans, Dr King casts a large shadow over this nation and his family. The King children never really had their father. They surrendered him, without choice, to this world. They watched as he was given to the world for love and was taken by a fool for hate. I am sure that there was many a day when they asked why they could not have a normal life, a normal family, a normal father. And yet, because they did not have a normal life, my children and millions upon millions of African-American children can and do have normal lives. Because they did not get to enjoy a free life with their father, my children are enjoying a free life with theirs.
It could be said that Yolanda King never really could escape the looming shadow of her father. Who could? This at times may have caused her pain. For this I am sorry. But I would want her to know that the shadow of her father not only reigns over her family, but it reigns over mine as well. For as long as I live, my children will always know that we, like Yolanda, live under the shadow of a king, her father - Dr. Martin Luther King.