THIS IS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY, therefore something should be said about race relations. I think its fitting that I quote from a piece written by Vanessa L. Hill, of Howard University. She told about a little boy named Theo who one morning asked his mother, ”What if there were no black people in the world?”

His mother thought for a moment and said, “Son, follow me around today and let’s see what it would be like if there were no black people in the world. Now go get dressed and we will get started.”

Theo ran to his room to get dressed. His mother took one look at him and said, “Your clothes are all wrinkled; I must iron them.” But when she reached for the ironing board it was not there. You see, Sarah Boone, a black woman, invented the ironing board.

Then the boy’s mother said to Theo, “Go do something with your hair.” He ran to his room to grab his comb but it wasn’t there. You see, Walter Sammons, a black man, invented the comb. So then Theo decided to at least brush his hair. But the brush was gone—for Lydia O. Newman, a black female, invented the hairbrush.

Mom told Theo, “Let’s do our chores around the house and then take a trip to the grocery store.” Theo’s job was to sweep the floor, so he did so, but when he reached for the dustpan, it was not there. You see, Lloyd P. Ray, a black man invented the dustpan. So Theo just swept the dust into the corner and left it there. Then he decided to mop the floor, but the mop was gone. You see, Thomas W. Stewart, a black man, invented the mop.

Theo’s mom decided to do a washing before they left for the store, but when she went to place the clean clothes in the dryer, it wasn’t there. You see, George T. Samon, a black man, invented the clothes dryer.

By now you’re probably getting the idea. And I haven’t even mentioned that if you were sick and needed blood that Charles Drew, a black scientist, found a way to preserve and store blood, which led to his starting the world’s first blood bank. What’s more, if you needed to have heart surgery, it would not be possible without Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a black doctor who performed the first open heart surgery.

So, if you have ever entertained the thought that any race, nationality, or other subgroup of the human race is disposable, think again.

DID YOU SEE THE MEMORIAL SERVICE AT TUSCON LAST EVENING? It was inspiring, uplifting, and encouraging to see our national leaders come together. Would to God, they would always respond to the needs of the masses and work together to solve our national problems.

“We are grateful to Daniel Hernandez, a volunteer in Gabby’s office who ran through the chaos to minister to his boss, tending to her wounds to keep her alive.” Those were the words of President Obama as he hailed Hernandez as a hero. Of course, Hernandez had already denied being a hero. He totally rejected that notion and instead shined the spotlight on those who were killed and wounded. After all, isn’t that the leading trait of a true hero—humility—putting others before oneself.

There’s an old ditty that goes, “It needs more skill than I can tell/to play the second fiddle well.” In a similar vein, Leonard Bernstein was once asked which instrument was the most difficult to play. He thought for a moment and then replied, “The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm—that’s a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony.”

Lord, give us more Daniel Hernandez’s who display courage of a higher sort, seeking no attention or gain---simply responding to the needs of others as though they mattered more than self.