Given that it is school vacation week and we are celebrating Presidents Day, I thought I would share what I learned from my daughter.
History is not just a series of events; it is a living legacy shaped by the courage of those who dared to do what is right, even in the face of uncertainty. My daughter wrote an essay when she was applying to ninth grade at a private school. Even though the essay was only three paragraphs long, I found it to be quite profound.
We had been to Gettysburg on vacation and had just taken a private tour of the White House — a structure built in part by enslaved people — the week before Barack Obama was to be inaugurated. While in Washington, D.C., we visited several historic landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial.
The essence of her essay was as follows:
As President Lincoln reflected on the lives lost at Gettysburg, he had no way of knowing that one day there would be a memorial in his honor in the nation’s capital. He could never have imagined that from its steps, a Black minister — himself a descendant of slaves — would deliver one of the most famous speeches in American history: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream.” Years later, from that same memorial, Barack Obama, the first Black president of the United States, would also deliver a speech.
The Lincoln Memorial became more than a monument; it became a stage for justice. Marian Anderson, once barred from singing at Constitution Hall because of her race, performed there in 1939 before an audience of 75,000. Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest and most influential Black women in the world, spoke from its steps. Coretta Scott King, Andrew Young, Rev. John Lewis, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Maya Angelou, and even Stevie Wonder all spoke before the Lincoln Memorial, using their voices to inspire change. One of the most significant gatherings in American history — the Million Man March — took place there, as hundreds of thousands of Black men assembled to demand justice and unity.
In the spirit of Lincoln, and King, if you do the right thing today, you have no idea of the future impact which might extend for several generations.
Lincoln’s Legacy and the Power of Moral Conviction
One day, I noticed something on my daughter’s bedroom wall. It was a prayer from Lincoln:
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for that day.”
At that moment, I knew she got it. When faced with difficult decisions, there is only one place or person to go to.
Like many presidents, Lincoln carried the immense burden of sending men and women into battle. For him, this weight was even heavier as he grappled with the moral and human toll of the Civil War. In moments of reflection — such as after the devastating losses at Gettysburg — he could not have foreseen the full extent of his legacy. He did not know that his leadership would reshape the moral fabric of the nation, paving the way for a future where his ideals of justice and equality would continue to inspire.
Nearly a century after Lincoln’s time, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, invoking the president’s vision in his call for civil rights. Decades later, the election of Barack Obama symbolized the progress that Lincoln and King had fought for, proving that change, though often slow, is always possible. Each of these moments in history is a link in a chain of progress, each link forged by the sacrifices of those who came before.
The Ripple Effect of Doing What is Right
History teaches us that actions taken in the pursuit of justice have consequences far beyond what any one person can predict. Lincoln could not have foreseen that his fight to preserve the Union and end slavery would lead to a day when a Black president would stand in front of his memorial. Dr. King did not live to see his dream realized, yet his words continued to inspire generations long after his death. Barack Obama, standing on the same steps where King once spoke, acknowledged that he was only there because of those who had come before him.
The lives lost in the Civil War, the marches for justice, the voices raised in protest — all were part of a greater movement toward equality. Their sacrifices remind us that doing what is right is never in vain, even when the path forward is unclear. Courage in the face of uncertainty creates ripples that can shape history for generations to come. I can’t help but think the lesson my daughter learned then has inspired her to fight for health care equity and her actions will have an impact well into the future.
From Marian Anderson breaking racial barriers in 1939 to Dr. King inspiring millions in 1963 and modern activists continuing the fight for justice today, the Lincoln Memorial stands as a monument to progress, resilience, and hope. It is proof that history is not just about the past — it is a living legacy that continues to unfold.
Would Lincoln have ever imagined the impact of his choices? Perhaps not. But that is the nature of justice: When you stand for what is right, you may not see the fruits of your labor, but the world will be better because of it.
Ed Gaskin is Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and founder of Sunday Celebrations.
