We, at the Laura Riding Jackson Foundation, believe that writing is an essential part of living. We write because the ideas and feelings we have need to be remembered, if by no one but ourselves. We sponsor writing workshops and writing groups for people of all ages because we believe that is how important writing is.

For instance, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whom we honor this day, was a fervent writer. His “Letter From a Birmingham Jail,” was in response to white religious leaders who objected to his methods of fighting for the equal rights guaranteed by our land of laws. Writing his response was so important to King that he wrote notes on scraps of newspaper and even on toilet paper because that was the only paper he had. Just think how important it was to him to put his thoughts on paper.
Let us celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today not only as one of the most significant leaders in our history, but also as one of us — a writer.