On April 4, 1968, the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was snatched from the world at large. His family lost a father and a husband; the world lost a civil rights hero.

Today, the world remembered King, and black leaders proved that as long as we are willing to speak out against injustice, the steps towards King's dream deferred will continue.

In honor of King, Martin Luther King III spoke to Newsweek about his father's message and how it has evolved throughout the generations. 

“I think we see [my father’s message] continued by three movements as we speak — Black Lives Matter, the #MeToo movement and March for Our Lives,” noted King III. “I see my father’s movement and legacy manifesting itself through these movements that are occurring today.”

On this day 50 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated for being a Black radical in the face of white supremacist violence. #KingsLegacy is honored by this current movement of Black organizers fighting for Black lives to actually matter. #StephonClark #Justice4Stephon pic.twitter.com/DPpucZhAkk— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) April 4, 2018

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On the 50th anniversary of MLK's assassination, several black leaders took to social media to honor the departed reverend and social justice leader. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), Angela Rye, former president Barack Obama, Joy Ann Reid, Ava DuVernay and more paid homage in their own way. Each of them are forwarding the movement MLK began in various ways — be it through media or policy.  

Former President Obama and Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) spoke on MLK's legacy, and how it lives on today during a My Brother’s Keeper Alliance roundtable with students from Ron Brown College Preparatory High School:


“Being on the right side of history isn’t always popular. And it isn’t always easy,” said Obama. “You don’t know when things are going to break your way. You don’t know whether your labors will deliver.”

“When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something, to say something. Dr. King inspired us to do just that,” Lewis added.

Never one to hold his tongue, Reverend Al Sharpton directly shaded President Donald Trump in his statement for MLK's assassination anniversary in an op-ed for Buzzfeed. 

"Today, 50 years after his life was so viciously and violently cut short, we have someone in the White House who is committed to undoing all that Dr. King fought for," wrote Sharpton.

"As we mourn Dr. King’s assassination, the greatest challenge we face is to maintain his dream and all that he and others achieved after so much sacrifice — including sacrificing his own life. It is not enough to memorialize him; we must continue the work," he continued.

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Leaders in media such as Angela Rye and Joy Reid took to Twitter as well, speaking on the nation as it stands today. 

These black leaders and more will not stop dreaming. They will not stop doing–and neither should we.

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angela Ryedr. martin luther king jrmartin luther king IIIMLKMLK assassinationPresident-Barack-ObamaRep. John Lewis