Honoring Two Heroes: MLK and Mandela via Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and The Root

Today, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, my thoughts were of King, and yet also, of another role model and hero of mine, the great, Nelson Mandela.  I was glad then to see this article from The Root by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in my email inbox today.  Dr. King has been an inspiration to me ever since I was a young girl, and even more so as an adult, finally more conscious to receive, understand and act in my day-to-day life on his message of equality, justice, and speaking up for what is right.Please follow the link to Gates's article, to read how the first official, national Martin Luther King Day back in 1986 had direct ties to Nelson Mandela and apartheid in South Africa. http://www.theroot.com/articles/history/2014/01/_1st_king_holiday_and_nelson_mandela.html?wpisrc=topstoriesphoto credit: www.bidorby.co.za