Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!

Today our country pauses to celebrate Dr. King's legacy and the courage of all who have championed civil rights in our history. This year it is especially meaningful as we are on the eve of inaugurating our first African-American president, Barack Obama. It has always bothered me that we commemorate these important days, such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day, by staying home from school and not learning anything about their significance. Therefore, I offer you two articles to provide some perspective about Dr. King and Mr. Obama.

First, Dr. King made a famous speech about jazz music 45 years ago at the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival. He spoke eloquently about the relationship of jazz to the Freedom Movement in America.

Second, performer/composer/producer Quincy Jones wrote an editorial entitled "Our Future of Hope" about his experiences as a young, black musician during the 50s and 60s. In it he discusses why the election of Barack Obama is so important to African-Americans and our nation as a whole.