Monday, January 16, 2012

A Tribute to Dr. King

Hotep,
This is a day in which we celebrate the life of a monumental figure, a man who spoke action and walked the walked.  Leaving his footprints in the blood-stained dirt roads of the south and he stood tall on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to speak his dream to the masses.  The epitome of:  “No progress without struggle.”  Ya heard? 
James Baldwin once wrote, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” Racial injustice has been our cancer long enough.  Let’s stand as one and inject the antidotes that will sure our society.  Feel me?
Asante, Dr. Martin Luther King.  Your contributions have inspired me to stand tall when I feel I’m at my lowest.  I’m compelled to face what many believe can’t be changed, but I pride fully refuse to cower to the greatest of adversities.  Happy King Day, blogosphere.  I’ve spoken my peace; I’ll leave the rest to you Mr. Blue.
Keep on Keepin,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2012 by Leroy Elwood Mann

A Tribute to Dr. King 
As we honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, on his birthday, we should not only reflect upon his contribution to civil rights and the African American community, but also on his impact upon human rights and the world.  Dr. King shined his light upon the dispossessed and disenfranchised people of all races.  He castigated injustice everywhere.
He is mostly noted throughout the world for his, “I have a dream” speech made famous during the 1963 march on Washington that resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited segregation in public accommodations as well as discrimination in education and employment.  But, Dr. King was so much more than simply a man with a dream.  He was a man of super-human courage, conviction and an indomitable faith; Dr. King was a man of action.
Today, in the age of spin and political correctness sometimes we forget the harsh reality Dr. King faced on a daily basis.  He stood up and spoke out on loving his fellow man when hate was the order os the day.  He preached non-violence and the dignity and equality of all human beings and was investigated by the FBI, beaten by angry mobs and jailed.  He envisioned a day when all of creation could enjoy true brotherhood, while receiving thousands of death threats.
Dr. King was fully aware of the threats on his life, but he recognized that his noble purpose was greater even than his own life.  He made the ultimate sacrifice for an ideal of a better world.  He believed in the goodness of humanity, his faith never wavering even as a bullet slammed into his brain ending his life.
His spirit – his legacy lives on.  Dr. King blazed a trail.  He was the face of the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s.  However, ironically it wasn’t until he revealed plans to organize a “poor people’s” march, one that transcended race, that he was assassinated.  Dr. King was a universal icon.  Happy birthday to you.
A memorial was recently erected to Dr. King on the National Mall in Washington D.C.; the first non-president to be so honored.  That’s a very cool thing.  We’d do so much better to honor this great man of action with our own actions.  Sadly, the day Dr. King envisioned has yet to arrive.  Memorials, speeches and accolades are all very nice things, but to truly honor Dr. King, we should follow his example.  We can all make a difference simply by extending our hand in true brotherhood to our fellow man.

Mr. Blue
Copyright © 2012 by Paul Brown

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