Eyes by Jerra

Eyes by Jerra - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

Eyes are a body part that almost everyone has. Some are blue, some brown, some even mixes of different colors. Eyes have never been discriminated against based on color, people aren’t looked at differently based off the color of their eyes. So if I had an opportunity to sit down with my historical figure for dinner, I would look him in the eyes.
One look up and I am gazing into the eyes of a legend. The eyes of a fighter, a pursuer, an inspiration, and a dreamer. A man that never gave up no matter the consequence. One that fought for what he believed in and never let anyone tell him differently.
One look up and I am staring into humble eyes. Eyes that wouldn’t show animosity to the people who discriminated against him.
One look up and I am gaping into the eyes of a father. A man with a family of six to care for, and protect from the world’s terrors.
One look up and I am looking intently into the eyes of a leader. Someone who stood up for not only their well-being, but the well-being of others.
One look up and I am seeing truth in the eyes that other’s never took the time to look into. People that were too distracted by the color of one’s skin to look into their real character.
I am looking into the eyes of Martin Luther King Jr.
They say in your lifetime you meet nearly 100,000 people, but I’d like to think that I have never come across a man with so much to offer to a nation. King brought a viewpoint into perspective that millions were perplexingly blind to. He fought for the truth that at the time, seemed so wrong.
I know firsthand that it’s extremely hard to stand up against a group of people, because you believe differently. King stood against an entire nation with his beliefs.
I would want to have dinner with Martin Luther King Jr. because he wouldn’t look at the color of my skin, but look into my eyes, to see the content of my character.