Martin Luther King – civil rights leader, master of resiliency

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Torry J. Brittain
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Equal Opportunity
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  (Editor's note: The 26th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebration will be held at 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Central Assembly of God Family Life Center, 1202 West Oxford in Enid. Col. Christopher Daniels, the 71st Mission Support Group commander will be a speaker at the event.)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is an almost mythical character, thought of as a modern day David fighting the Goliath of oppression.

From the Bus Boycott in Montgomery to the March on Washington, his many accomplishments in the Civil Rights movement are well known. But what isn't discussed often is the stress he must have been under and how he managed it all.

King had the ability to withstand, recover and even shine in the face of stressors and changing demands. In other words, he was resilient.

The four pillars of resiliency in the Air Force are spiritual, physical, mental and social. Building up and maintaining these pillars is useful in handling stress effectively.

The similarities between King's life and military life make him an excellent case study for high stress jobs. He volunteered for a dangerous profession, he worked long hours and was often called away from family.

Undoubtedly King had a spiritual foundation. He was a reverend in the Christian church as was his father and grandfather. Relying on his Christian beliefs for inspiration, he often referenced them in speeches. He demonstrated how religion can strengthen your spiritual foundation.

But in the Air Force spiritual resiliency isn't just about religion. It also means having a set of beliefs that guide and help during difficult times.

King showed his spiritual resiliency through his unwavering belief that civil rights for all people are worth fighting for regardless of the stress and risk.

His schedule was full. Spending quality time with family, ministering to his congregation and presiding over the Southern Christian Leadership Conference pulled him in many directions. Add to this a seemingly impossible goal - equality -- and his day-after-day pursuit of that goal.

Dealing with that level of stress sometimes requires having a near impossible goal, like running a marathon and training day after day until it is reached. The pursuit can reduce stress and build resilience.

King's educational achievements were impressive. He entered Morehouse College at the age of 15 and by 25 earned his doctorate while severing as pastor to the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Ala.

He crafted the nonviolent direct action strategy after Mahatma Gandhi's teachings. From a jail cell in 1963 he effortlessly cites Socrates, Thomas Jefferson and T.S. Elliot in his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail."

There's no doubt King drew on his impressive education to help him through the dark nights. But education alone couldn't account for his mental resiliency. But perhaps two of King's personality traits played a key role. First, he had an unwavering dedication to his mission -- civil rights. Two, he could stay positive regardless of the setbacks and stress.

His "I Have a Dream" speech acknowledged the negativity of racism but eloquently paints a positive future. Mental resiliency comes from many sources. King's may have come from his education, dedication and positive attitude.

During the Montgomery Bus Boycott, King was known to play pool with friends late into the night, possibly sharing lots of laughs and good natured jokes with his friends. Even the great civil-rights leader needed some downtime away from his stressful job, an important aspect of social resiliency.

You may not choose to dedicate yourself to fighting for equality like King. But whatever your chosen fight, whether a social cause or preparing for a unit inspection, you can look to King for inspiration.

He proved that even the most stressful times can be overcome with resiliency. During the celebration of King's birthday Monday, take a little time to review his many writings and speeches. They offer many lessons still valuable today.