I can still remember being a little girl...growing up and hearing Stevie's song celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. He was like this perfect man, this Idol, this figure that should be revered. Yet he felt so distant that I could not understand how his existence affected my life. As I grew older, I found myself beginning to dislike some of Dr. King's practices. Seeing "Eyes on the Prize" and watching my elders learn how to crouch and duck during police beatings and other horrific assaults was not my idea of what the fight for justice should look like.I found myself thinking that he was a passive idealist. It was not until college that I became fascinated with who he really was. I began my own independent research. From there I found tons of books, speeches and articles about Dr. King. I found his complexity, militancy and growing disdain with American politics (especially during the Vietnam War). It was the vastness of his dream that was hidden from me as a little girl. It was more than little white girls and boys holding hands with people that looked like me. He was a man who was brave enough to call out a country that dishonored the very principles it was built upon. As we can see, America has yet to answer his call.
One night I had a long conversation with one of my friends. I was telling him how I admired Brother Malcolm much more than Martin because he went from a hustler and thief to becoming one of the most upstanding and outspoken leaders of his time. My friend then asked me which quality was more admirable - someone who was at the bottom and found the strength to change their ways, or someone who was born into a Middle class family, had a legacy of leadership, stellar education and family support who despite such great fortune was empathetic and giving enough to put that all on the line, and move out of his comfort zone to see that all men are able to be free and seen as equal no matter what color, economic background and circumstances they were born into.
It was at this point that I truly appreciated Dr. King and what he stood for. I pray that as we all continue to seek a life of financial comfort and stability, higher education and build or continue a proud family legacy, that we never forget to reach out to our other brothers and sisters and not be consumed by the selfishness, greed and coldness that permeates the core of this country. Let us celebrate and remember our great elder by remembering what he stood for; living a good life, using our talents to provide service to others and leaving our children and future generations with a proud legacy, something to look forward to, and someone to look up to. I love you Brother Martin and I thank you for your life and legacy.
With love and sincerity always,
Dulce
I appreciate both of these men in their own right I think they were both great men whom died for their beliefs. However not to take away from the mans great deeds Martin was in fact a notorious pussy hound that fact wasn't discussed in polite company for I'm sure it would have applied a tarnish to the ideals he was trying to put forth and not to say like I said the man wasn't a great beacon a rallying point for injustice it's just that I feel some kind of way about a man who is trying to help black people get equal rights and justice but can't bring himself not to cheat on his wife...
ReplyDeletewow! I hear you lady.his vices did not diminish his efforts in my eyes. i have done many things i thought I would NEVER do. (if you wonder what I'm talking about see my post "makings of faithfulness) so I am just trying to do my best not to judge.
ReplyDeletewe all have our shortcomings and down falls so lets hope he attempted to improve upon his actions. not to get too far off topic but one thing i am also wresting with is being a feminist while wanting love, freedom and peace for all people. i dont mean burning bras or death to men because i love them both, but remember that all people of color in this country have been colonized.
this means that we inherited many of the values of western society and one of them is objectifying women. women cry over men, spend all their energy looking good for men, taking care of men, fighting over unfaithful men and base our happiness on men. i really hope i can have a partner that has not absorbed too many of this society's sexist values.
unfortunately behind the glitz and glamour, i have found that alot of revolutionary and "conscious" brothers are some of the most sexist and macho men i've ever met. its wild. thank you for your comments as always my love. :-)
i still value and appreciate Martin and Malcolm. i dont think either of them portrayed an "I'm perfect image" I think they both were battling for balance, peace and answers internally and externally as we all do.