Today as we celebrate the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. I wonder what he would think of today’s America. An America where an African American is president. Where African Americans are afforded all the privileges they once were denied. Where little black boys and black girls are able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I am certain this would be bring a smile to Dr. King’s face. But I wonder… What he would think of those African American leaders who spew hate and division? Who expect the American Dream to be served on a silver platter to those who refuse to work hard for it. To make the sacrifices required to achieve success. Who instead choose a lifetime of crime or welfare.
What would Dr. King say?
“But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy, which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people. For many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low. The rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
We will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual.”
Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty! We are free at last!
Be a VOICE in the deafening sound of sameness!
letsloveothers 