Columbus, Ohio
April 4, 2008 -- I have
been
bombarded all week with constant reminders during
the run-up to
the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death. The
media has been filled with the stories of
eyewitnesses and various accounts and theories
about whether there was a conspiracy, or if James
Earl Ray acted alone. For many, these are interesting
stories. For others, vivid memories.
I was a teenager and young adult during the sixties. I
recall vividly the school closings, bus boycotts,
freedom rides, the "I have a dream" speech that
ignited within us a determination to live the dream that
Martin so eloquently articulated. There is no way to
describe the emptiness that overcame millions of us,
as the news spread of his death. First, it was like a
kick in the stomach that takes away your breath,
followed by delirium and the first question, "Can it be
true?" Then, as the reality set in, there was a rapid
series of flashbacks trying to capture and hold onto
the memories that we held so firmly within us. Finally,
there was an outburst of anger. They have killed the
dreamer!
That anger soon transformed into a resolve to honor
the dreamer by becoming the legacy that he saw
when he went to the mountain top to look out into the
future. Today, 40 years later, we are asked about the
legacy of the dreamer. We get questions like, "What
presidential candidate would King support?" We
hear, "Is Obama the fulfillment of the dream?" We also
get asked about our own achievements and
dreams, "Has the dream been fulfilled in your life?"
or "What are you doing to live the dream of Martin
Luther King, Jr.?"
I would like to ask the members of the iZania
Community about your dreams and how they honor
Dr. King? Was your dream destroyed with the
dreamer? Are you motivated by his life to do
something about making his dream a reality?
For me and many others, Martin Luther King's death
shocked us into a reality that our dreams are fragile.
Not only fragile, but opposed in a way that perhaps
makes it dangerous to "dream big." I recall the fearful
admonitions of older folks when I was a child. They
would say, "It isn't good for a Black child to be so
smart. White folks won't like that. They may hurt him --
or kill him."
Some of that has even spilled over into
comments about the Obama candidacy. Some have
wondered out loud, "Will his life be in danger if he
runs?" We remember, in quick succession, how King
and Bobby Kennedy were killed, within five years of the
death of John Kennedy. Many of us have memories of
Martin, Bobby and John. As we get older, we can
reflect on the dreams we have dreamed over the past
40 years -- dreams of progress, self-determination,
opportunity, and the legacy that we will leave for our
grandchildren. I listen to young people recite the "I
have a dream" speech, and I instantly feel the tingling
sensation that motivated me to strive for excellence --
even if it means being an excellent street sweeper --
as
Martin urged us to do. My dream is being realized, in
that my life is so very different than the dreams I had
as a child -- far beyond what I could imagine, until
Martin Luther King challenged us, and our nation, to
live up to
its creed. All of us have not been to the mountain top,
but those who have must continue to challenge others
to Dream Now! And don't let anyone stop you from
dreaming big and striving to fulfill your
dreams.
Please let us know what this day means to you.
Click here to share your comments.
Contact: Roger Madison
CEO, iZania
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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