What He Taught Us

(This was written in Sept. 2006. I run it again in honor of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr).


“Mommy, I want to go in the Dr. Seuss room.” Seth whispers, pointing toward the grown-up section of the library.

He’s referring to the small sanctuary the library has dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

One time last year we happened to be on that end of the building and he asked about the room so I took him in. No talking is allowed in there. The room has glass walls, and lots of photos taken during the civil rights movement. A bust of King rests on a podium.

We were the only ones in the room and Seth sat quietly while we whispered about Dr. King. What do you tell a three year old? I did my best.

Seth picked up a flyer and took it with him, carrying it around for a few days before eventually losing it. He was so proud of that yellow flyer.

Today I correct him, “Dr. King, baby…not Dr. Seuss.”

We walk into the room and Seth sits quietly on a chair for a couple of minutes. Once again, we’re the only people in there.

“Mommy, why do they have a statue of Dr. King?” he asks in his quietest whisper.

“Because he was a very good man, and we want to remember all he taught us.” I whisper back.

Wondering what Seth remembers from our talk last year, I ask,

“Seth.....what did Dr. King teach?”

He thinks for a second. Cocks his head sideways and puts his hand to his chin. He looks up at me with a solemn expression on his face and says,

“Don’t hit.”