Dr. Christine Farris

Just hours after hearing the soul-crushing Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action programs at colleges, came the news that Dr. Christine King Farris, the eldest sister of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had passed away at the age of 95. Dr. Farris was a teacher of mine at Spelman College. As a civil rights activist and educator at an HBCU, Dr. Farris spent her life fighting for equality and against racism. She would always emphasize to us students that we were to excel in our studies and never take the blessing of a good education for granted. Of course, Dr. Farris knew that so many students have been denied opportunity and opening doors is what will bring equality. How disappointed she would have been at the #SCOTUS ruling. But, one thing Dr. Farris was not - and that was a quitter. On this day, she would say, “Be like Martin”, carry on and never give up the fight!