Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was 39 years old when he was assassinated. Schools, streets and children are named in his honor in Africa. In America, he is honored with a public holiday.

All over the world, King is known as someone who fought for human causes. At a time when racial violence and arrogance in the United States and elsewhere is experiencing a rapid resurgence, King’s holiday is a reminder that much needs to be done to create a more inclusive global community.

In America, the past two years have been tumultuous and each day the racial crises multiply. In South Africa, unresolved racial problems and deteriorating economic conditions have created uncertainty. In several other African nations incidents of ethnic conflict have multiplied.

But King’s holiday must be contextualized within a larger global struggle against racism and hatred.