In appreciation of MLK, Jr.

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L.D.S.

The Bakersman
Aug 14, 2006
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Mizzourah
#1
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

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 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 their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, 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.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, 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!"

I bow my head in silence in the memory of that great man. If it weren't for him, sites like this wouldn't have been possible. Thank you, Mr. King, for your vision, wisdom and sacrifice.
 

Defy

Cannabis Connoisseur
Jan 23, 2006
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Rich City
#7
^that's lightweight bullshit, we have a black man running for and possibly able to win the election for the United States of America, that's an accomplishment that is almost directly due to MLK


Much respect to the man, RIP
 
Jul 10, 2002
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#8
RIP to one of the greatest men of 20th century and of all time.

Let's bring Non-violent Civil Disobedience and carry it's powerful potential into the 21st century.
 

L.D.S.

The Bakersman
Aug 14, 2006
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Mizzourah
#11
I disagree, as well. There are a few key points that he made that aren't under practice, but every time an ethnic person walks into a restaurant MLK's vision is being enacted.
 
Feb 9, 2003
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#13
^that's lightweight bullshit, we have a black man running for and possibly able to win the election for the United States of America, that's an accomplishment that is almost directly due to MLK
Obama is not whom I would consider a true representative of the black community, regardless of what he says his stances are. Obama is a puppet. He is there to gain the black southern votes for the Democrats if he were to get the nomination.

You can thank Dr. King for blacks having even the chance to be used as puppets by either major political party but its not like the was the only civil rights leader.

Secondly, the majority of all the modern black leaders do now is hurt the community: Al Sharpton, Obama, Jackson, Cosby. Where are your X's? Your Kings? Your Newtons? Your Du Bois? Same goes for white leaders who do nothing but promote corporate interests over those of their constituents. Because Dr. Kings dream was not a black dream. It was a dream for the people of the United States.

MLK's dream is dead. The rampant racism that the white community inflicts on the black community and the hatred the white community has for the black community is proof, his dream never reached fruition. Read his "I Have a Dream" speech. Then compare it to the here and now.

The war on terror. Racism and Social Classism. Prejudices against life styles and sexual orientation. Religious intolerance towards Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, etc. Genocide around the world (and especially in Africa) and our inability or disinterest in actually doing anything. The self destruction of the black community by the black community. Low ratio of high school graduates, lower life expectancy, higher incarceration rates. Just because you can walk into a Burger King and not be called a nigger or made to eat in the colored section does not mean his dream is alive and well. If you think so then I believe you're either complacent or just don't know enough about him to have an opinion.
 

L.D.S.

The Bakersman
Aug 14, 2006
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Mizzourah
#14
This is an appreciation thread. While I appreciate you dropping knowledge, I'm disinclined to think that whites hating blacks is the biggest threat to the human race. However, this thread is in dedication to him for his courage and ultimately his sacrifice. This isn't the racism/politics soapbox thread. I'm sure there are enough of those already. Rest in peace to Dr. King.
 
Feb 9, 2003
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#15
I happen to be under the impression that I actually appreciate the man enough to bring to light the truth that his dream is NOT thriving. MLK day should not be a day of thanks and going about our lives. It should be a day where we realize that there is much work to be done.

I'm disinclined to think that whites hating blacks is the biggest threat to the human race
Funny how I made no mention of such a hyperbolic statement.
 
Oct 16, 2006
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mylot.com
#17
I happen to be under the impression that I actually appreciate the man enough to bring to light the truth that his dream is NOT thriving. MLK day should not be a day of thanks and going about our lives. It should be a day where we realize that there is much work to be done.


Funny how I made no mention of such a hyperbolic statement.
MEXCOM, I think we can all agree that much work needs to be done as you said, but Dr. King's influence is something that deserves recognition and tribute.
 
Feb 9, 2003
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#20
MEXCOM, I think we can all agree that much work needs to be done as you said, but Dr. King's influence is something that deserves recognition and tribute.
Ok, seriously, you're the 3rd or 4th person that's said this to me.

I am not minimizing who the man was. Quite the contrary. I personally think he was one of the greatest figures of civic engagement the world has ever seen. What I am minimizing is what we've done to his vision. It's a damn shame when people want to praise him and just as easily forget his message. The proof is in this post: Please Mexcom, take your BS out of this thread. Please Mexcom, do not argue with us. Please Mexcom, we know only what was thought to us in elementary about Dr. King. Please Mexcom, let us have this day off.

MLKs dream =/= accomplished.