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By J. MATTHEW COBB MILLIONS OF AMERICANS are celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this Monday in observance of his January 15 birthday and the national holiday. The renowned civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner who fought for equality for all races and the end of segregation during the 1960s was far from realizing his dream when he was assassinated in 1968, but signs of progress have been made over periods of time for African-Americans as well as other minorities in the United States. Still, it was not just Dr. King’s vision to see America evolve into a beloved community rested upon the principles of non-violence and Christ-like love, but to see fundamental changes towards democratic socialism and economic justice across all cultural and racial lines. Towards the end of his life, King’s vocal opposition towards the Vietnam War and poverty had publicly escalated with great momentum; giving him such universal acceptance and appeal with other countries. While the March on Washington in 1963 and the staged protests and boycotts in the Deep South remained substantially effective and relevant to the progress of fair treatment towards blacks and in human rights, it wasn’t until King’s death that the climate in America began to make great effects of change in the work force; becoming the driving motivation to evolving into a better country. But have their been great significant signs of progress towards the envisioned dream of one America explained in Dr. King's infamous “I Have a Dream” speech and “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech delivered in Memphis, Tenn. days before his assassination? On the day of President Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration, it seems as if King’s dream has reached something that resembles a great awakening. One of America’s greatest rewards to becoming a better country was actualized when Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) won the 2008 election to become the 44th president of the United States and the first African-American elected to such a position. For many traveling to Washington, D.C. this Tuesday, they not only feel a moment of history being created but also history being revisited. On Monday, Obama indicated that he viewed his election as the culmination of what Dr King lived, and died, for. "Tomorrow, we will come together as one people on the same Washington Mall where Dr. King's dream echoes still." To add to such historical banter, Obama will be sworn in a day after Dr. King’s holiday transpires.
In certain corners of reality, the dream still seems to be on a moral decline or on hiatus. In 2008, there was such an astronomical lack of black actors and black-oriented sitcoms in television programming. Renowned comedian and activist Bill Cosby continued to preach about the hardships of the African-American community; admonishing blacks to not assist or concern themselves with the individuals who are involved in crime or have counter-productive aspirations. His lectures in the urban communities against high school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, illegal drugs, Black Entertainment Television, anti-intellectualism, gangsta rap and vulgarity remain areas of dire importance for change and moral consciousness. These negatives eat at the very core of the black culture and is continuing to grow in opposition to Dr. King’s rich legacy. And in the world of politics alone, the scrutiny of fallen leaders and far embarrassing public officials including former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Washington D.C.’s Marion Barry’s drug scandal of 1990 and Larry Langford (of Birmingham, Ala.), whom was arrested by the FBI on a 101-count indictment alleging conspiracy, bribery fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns in 2007. And when warm voices rise up against these depressing images of unmoral decision making that include Bill Cosby, Tavis Smiley and even Barack Obama, there’s seems to be no serious support system from the immediate black community to help aid their important voices. During the campaign season in 2008 when President Obama was speaking at a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla., he was interpreted by three African-American men who stood up with a banner that read: “Barack Obama, What are you going to do for the black community?” The crowd tried to drown out their chants of ignorance, but the three protesters persisted. When the time permitted for the protesters to finally speak and ask the former Illinois senator questions, they asked why hasn’t he [Obama] not one time spoken in the interests or even on behalf of the oppressed African American community. It was as if Obama failed to identify with his race or with the issues of his culture. After the crowd booed the protester, Obama responded, “I think you’re misinformed when you say not one time. Every issue you’ve asked about, I have spoken about. That doesn’t mean I’m going to always satisfy the way you want these issues framed.” The protestors on site were members of the International Peoples Democratic Uhuru Movement, which fights for the democratic rights of the African people. While their spark for necessary change may have been in the right place, their divisive spirit in interpreting the meeting with disrespectful chants and inappropriate signage according to the regulations of the Obama campaign proved to be quite disrespectful. One blogger Vanessa on an ABC news blog commented about the whole fiasco, “Certain African Americans fail to realize Obama is running for President of the United States not President of the NAACP.” During the election season, some African-Americans raised questions if Sen. Obama was black enough for the black community since he also identifies with his white identity and he made a withdrawl from Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Obama's former pastor and spiritual advisor, after Wright made headlines in March 2008 for controversial viewpoints made during his sermons that many pundits and critics labeled anti-Semitic and unpatriotic. When it comes to activism, It seems as if black America has been in a torpid comatose. When the opportunity arises for black America to voice their hopes and dreams for change and great aspiration, the ugly face of greed, ghetto-fabulous living, vulgarity, deceit and ignorance rises up with a haunting, quirky smile. At one time, the NAACP and the SCLC had a strong, vibrant voice; leading countless minorities towards a non-violent road to justice and a better way. Even the future of those organizations remain silentness with struggling membership and a lack of new age relevance. William Reed reported in the Hudson Valley Press in 2007 that the “NAACP’s stellar legacy had fallen on hard times” due to “lack of money and membership.” Michael Massie, chairman of the black conservative group Project 21, claims the NAACP is “a dinosaur that needs to come to grips with the fact that America has changed since the civil rights movement of the 1960's.” He went on to say that they have truly lost their way and have failed.” Also making major headlines, the non-profit organization Charity Navigator listed the NAACP as number 7 on their list of “10 Highly Paid CEOs at Low-Rated Charities.” The NAACP elected its youngest leader in its history, Benjamin Jealous, to be their president in September 2008. They hope that his appointment will bring in a new wave of young activists, a leap towards technology and online recruiting and an influx of new members. Dr. King, if alive today, would have been vocal against the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and in Gaza City. He would be heartbroken to see the U.S. economy in such broken shape and knowing that our unemployment rate is at a 16-year high. But he would be just as disappointed to know that world economy faces far worse predictions and all-time lows. He would have called for righteousness to reign not only in our homes, but in our churches. Where preachers are turning their ministries and super-sized pulpits into pimp-like institutions, Dr. King would have been cried out “enough is enough.” He would have rejected the nonsense messages of dirty hip-hop as it continues to pump out its vile agendas of misogyny, promiscuity, violence, gang-related crimes, drug dealing, materialism and homophobia. In King’s last message, delivered at Mason Temple in Memphis, he spoke of the promised land. He injected, “I may not get there with you. But I want you to know...that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.” He knew the conditions of the world, at the time, were far from great and decades away from right. While we have made great deals of progress, we still have yet to enter into that land of promise that Dr. King envisioned. There is still much work, even in the black community, that needs to be done.
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