Today is Monday, January 21, 2008 and 45 years ago African Americans would never have dreamed of such a day. On this day we celebrate the life and accomplishments of a great man. We celebrate the spirit and soul of a man who lived his dreams. Even then we knew that his star burned a bit brighter than our own and because he led the way we were proud to march with him. His cause was just and it was not only our caused but one of oppressed people everywhere.
We were and still are trying to obtain the fulfillment of a promise made to us as early as 1863 with little success. Many rights that other fellow americans took for granted we longed yet to taste. All these things and more happened, were documented, televised, denied and embraced. No wonder some of us are still unsure.
The man I speak of was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His dream was our dream given voice. My great grandmother told me once before she died at 94 years old in 1998 "I never thought I'd live to see the day when white folks would have a holiday for a black man." Despite her knowledge that this had come about it remained almost inconceivable that it had happened in her life time. What is it that still lurks in the hearts of so many that impossible dreams can be achieved? Many will tell you that we live in an enlightened time and that racism doesn't exist anymore. The people who say this have never had a cross burned in their front yards. They've never lived in a state where its' own Governor has sworn to the world and to the Presiden that 'Negroes will go to this school over my dead body!" These people have never had to explain to their children while wiping their tears away why they are hated so by strangers.
These people's children are not 45 to 65 students in a dilapidated classroom with a disinterested teacher. These people's children are not using outdated textbooks and their parents usually do not have minimum wage jobs. By now it should be very clear to all of us that this is a problem that will ONLY be remedied by the parents and the communities of these children and not the 'system'. How do we do this? We return to what we know best. God, unity and purpose.
Once upon a time we were not allowed the freedom of voting nor of freedom of speech ... I could go on forever but, I believe I've started the picture for you. You finish connecting the dots.
WE have VOICES but are NOT using them. For every one of us who vote there are five who say 'my vote doesn't count, so why go! If we are not apart of the solution then we are apart of the problem. How many more years must pass? How many more of our children will fall by the wayside because we've given away their futures for our own comfort today?
If you have not already decided to vote for Barak Obama because you see in him a great spark that will benefit not only African Americans but millions of overlooked people in the country then I fear we may be lost for some time. How many of you have said to yourselves "I can't vote for him just because he's black?" IF you have said this then I challenge you to step outside of yourself and investigate ANOTHER reason why you are NOT voting for him. DON'T vote for him because of the color of his skin but for the CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER!
Vote for him because you are drowning in a sea of blind sorrow that knows not daylight. Vote for him because he speaks for change. Vote for him because he knows more about your life and your exeperiences than the other candidates do. YES, he went to good schools but your child can too but, you MUST FIGHT FOR THEM TODAY so that they will have BRIGHT TOMORROWS!
Simply food for thought.
