Celebrating MLK

I think there needs to be a moratorium on the "I Have A Dream" speech as a remembrance to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As if this one speech defines this man. As if this is the only speech he ever gave in his life. He was much more than this one speech and he certainly wasn't killed because he had a dream of racial equality. We need to overcome, as a nation, our short-term memory of the man, who fought, not just against racism and prejudice, but against poverty, the Vietnam War, and other injustices. A Baptist preacher, a husband, father, son, friend, activist, most likely a real down-to-earth brother who felt just as comfortable talking to people in barbershops and street corners, as he was talking to heads of states in oval offices and boardrooms. In other words, a human being of flesh and blood, who was a voice of the common man, as much as he was an international leader.

In trying to come up with things to write about for this blog, I came across the following article this morning, which much more eloquently says all that I'm trying to and wanted to say in this post. And I hope those of you who read it will come to feel the same way. If we truly want to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., let's remember him beyond the 2-minute soundbites of "I Have a Dream"; let's remember him as he wanted to be remembered--as a "drum major for justice". Justice in all of its forms. 'Nuff said!

http://www.alternet.org/story/74337/?page=entire