️Did Dr. Martin Luther King Play Tennis? By Lou Fuller

The image of Martin Luther King Jr. is seen during the unveiling ceremony of a statue of slain civil rights leader on the grounds of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 28 August 2017. The placement of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Statue, ends a decades-long effort, and was completed on the anniversary of his ‘I Have Dream Speech.’ EPA-EFE/ERIK S. LESSER

 

 

Why you ask? Simple. Simple? Yes. Tennis is such a global sport he would have seen the sport (GAME) as something that could help heal the worlds wounds. A sport that each week aligns players of different races, creeds, colors, religions as partners in doubles. And travelling family in locker rooms and training rooms. Tennis transcends the concept of world peace…. It could.

Today Dr. Martin Luther King is remembered as the truly great man he was. He wanted one thing. It’s simple EQUALITY!

Equality. We hear that word alot these days.

Okay. So here’s the “B” part to this story. Every country sings their national anthem. They sing of their country pride and beauty and brave military. The song that I always liked to sing at school assembly was simple also.. It wasn’t an anthem. It was

 

• Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!

 

Below we’ve attached the lyrics. They are as true today as ever. And as a child I believed it and sang my heart out and I still believe it today via TENNIS!

 

LYRICS

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me

Let there be peace on earth

The peace that was meant to be

With God as our father

Brothers all are we

Let me walk with my brother

In perfect harmony

Let peace begin with me

Let this be the moment now

With every step I take

Let this be my solemn vow

To take each moment

And live each moment

To take each moment

And live each moment

To take each moment

And live each moment

In peace eternally

Let there be peace on earth

Let there be peace on earth

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin

With me (me)

With me

 

Songwriters: Jill Jackson / Sy Miller

Let There Be Peace on Earth lyrics © Mccg LLC

 

Editors Note: tennis is played on every continent. And in every country in the world. Davis Cup really helps the sport grow in third World Countries. We truly believe tennis is a microcosm of the world. We are at the Australian open. We see Polish people sitting with South Africans. We see the Serbs sitting with the Germans and creations and the Dutch and the Belgian and the Aussies. And it’s just like that. The Indians are friends with the Pakistanis, the Jews and the Muslims. The Japanese and the Chinese and the Russians. I’m stopping but it’s only because it’s endless…

• Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me… Equality. What a basic concept.

Yolanda Renee King participates in the wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of her grandparents, slain civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Coretta Scott King, on his federal holiday in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on 17 January 2011. Martin Luther King Holiday is always celebrated on the third Monday in January and therefore lays close to King’s birthday on 15 January. The slain civil rights leader would have been 82-years-old this year. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER