Dora McDonald: Dr. King's silent hero

Dora McDonald, who served as secretary and confidante to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the most turbulent years of the civil rights movement, died on Saturday, January 13th at the age of 81. (Read the New York Times obituary here.)

It is almost too fitting for her death to have occured so close to the day we have designated as a celebration of Dr. King's efforts. Dora McDonald helped make Dr. King's world possible. There are the energy forces represented by visible faces that the world recognized and then there are those that help keep the "famous" forces functioning. Dora McDonald was one of those team members who enabled a force like Martin Luther King, Jr. to accomplish all that he did - which was to help change America forever. Her relationship with Dr. King was a real life manifestation of my byline - "Life is too hard to do alone - Reach out." Even someone as outspoken and confident as Dr. King needed help from others to move forward. Dora McDonald was the person to whom he often reached. So on this day, let's not only remember and honor Martin Luther King, Jr., but let's also sing the praises of those quieter - but equally as impactful - voices. Thank you, Dora McDonald.