Civil Rights Leaders Reflect On Obama, Dr King's March On Washington

Many civil rights leaders and prominent African-American activists who came to Washington, D.C., almost 46 years ago for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s March on Washington are returning to D.C. to witness President-elect Barack Obama's historic inauguration.

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Comments

[SouthPrairie]

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. I wrote this poem last year:


The Baton of Hope

As we look to the hope of another New Year
we cast away fear
draw our loved ones near
perhaps shed a tear
as we join in the cheer
We prepare for deeds of hope by looking at our past
holding progress fast
effecting change that lasts
challenging old casts
with our potential vast
There’s a baton of hope we pass to you that leaves behind subjugation
forced humiliation
violent degradation
silent desperation
to replace with education
We honor King by letting you know this baton is intergenerational
its principle foundational
the golden rule’s transformational
like Rachel’s challenge, motivational
and we see you—as inspirational
Our baton is made of human voices and eyes so deep with need
and hands that do believe
they can succeed
resisting greed
and crimes that bleed
to form a creed
and truly lead
“America the beautiful, God sheds His Grace on thee
“and crown thy good with brotherhood
“from sea to shining sea.”
Can we be
King’s dream and free
those changes made for equality?
The answer lies in we not me.

[stell]

Woo-ee, those are a couple a ugly mugs; and bootlickers to boot! Lewis said that it was tougher to switch from Hillary Clinton to Obama than marching to Selma, Alabama. LOL

[newpotusplease]

I know that Dexter and Bernice and MLK Jr are suing each other right now

but I do wonder why Dexter is not participating in the inauguration

does anyone know why?

Dexter looks just like his dad and I hoped he would be there

[DelvinMcGee]

What a huge disappointment those children have turned out to be. Greedy.

[FernandoRuiz]

Much like your political party, a greedy, bigoted disappointment

[edwarvir]

This a great day, tomorrow will be even
better. I know the spirit of Dr. King is
going to be near President Obama. He
is the right man for this job.

[loria]

I saw a t-shirt today that said so much:

A picture of MLK which said "The Dreamer"

A picture of Obama and underneath - "The Dream"

[thankulord13]

Part of the Dream is being fulfilled!

[schicklett3]

CNN has all day coverage - and it is excellent coverage.

[apoliticalchick]

Turning A Dream Into Reality:
http://democralypsenow.blogspot.com/2009/01/his-dream-our-reality.html

[olephart]

Years ago, too many in fact, I was helping to register Black voters in East Texas. This was the time when the Klan was still dynamiting Black churches a few miles away in Louisiana. I remember walking into the Presidential caucus with a group of Black women from my precinct. That was also a time when the only person lower than a Black person was a White person with a Black person. We were greeted by the Wallace delegation; you all remember George Wallace, the Kracker with a krunch who stood in the doorway of schools with an ax handle to stop integration. The men grumbled amongst themselves and I remember one old woman who pointed at us and shook her head, her wrinkled cheeks flapping as we walked in and took our seats. Well the Wallace delegation won the voting that day but for the first time these people were confronted with a new reality. We were there and we weren't going away.

Now Barack Obama has won the Presidency but I don't think of it as a Black man winning the Presidency. I just think that the Nation has made the best choice. And with this choice I hope that all of the "considerations" Black, White, Brown Male, Female, Gay, Straight go away and we can continue to make the best choices.

[Operation-Nation]

Any man who advocates ALLOWING your enemy to murder and manipulate you, is no hero of mine. It is because of MLK that "blacks" destroy their own stuff when protesting as opposed to going after the enemy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5A0elHr_BY

[SmellyOne]

Your theory is simplisitc and laughable.

[thaneb]

Non-violent resistance is not the same as advocating "allowing ..." There is so much more to it. Also, what is the logic of your notion about blacks destroying their own stuff?

[edwarvir]

Operation Nation going after the enemy with what?

[thatsitfortheother1]

CONGRATULATIONS REPUBLICAN AND RIGHT WING MISCREANTS! This is your day. You bought it, you own it. Revel in it, roll in it. This day is the last of the ugly days, of the ugliest of days the country has seen since I was born an American over half a century ago.

Tomorrow will be a day of triumph for freedom loving people across the nation. And you will have ensured that triumph by ceaselessly proving the right wing to be morally, ethically and philosophically bankrupt during each and every one of the ugly days. Without your tireless efforts, the triumph of tomorrow may have taken another 50 years or more.

Own the bitter dregs of your own making. And get out of the way after today.

[Toutlaguerre]

These two look like Jay-Z and Beyonce after many years of...toget­herness.

[theiccemann]

What I think is sad, is that the young generation seems to not fully understand what is going on. It doesn't phase them. Is ti that the older generations have failed them, once again?

Even my generation, that one, after the baby boomers, ... we don't really have a grasp of what is happening. You can't even say, "it has been a long time since..." , because it has NEVER happened.

What I hope everyone does, is look into the eyes and the faces of the elderly; the ones who have been through the 40's, 50's, and 60's, ... and even before that. Look at the emotions on their faces, and in their eyes. They will tell you a story, without saying one word.

For all of those, who have passed on, and were so unfortunate to see this day, and probably never thought this day would come, ... here we are.... the future.

[wpiv926]

I think of all in the older generation that endure so many hardships that we can get to this point in our society. While I am overjoyed at the election of Obama, at 33 years old, I never knew of the 60's. I always went to integrated schools, have been interracial relationships, even attend a mostly african-american church on Wednesday nights.

But I can only imagine the stirring feeling for those who lived during those times. As bad as those days were, they are part of our history. Let us give thanks that those old times are just that - history, and no more.

A new days is dawning.

[munki]

I thank GOD for the new chapter in our History...
This will reflect in Global Change!
Unity and Global Unity and Peace...

[kcolema2]

Gobal Peace and unity because we elected a black guy? Hamas will sop firing rockets because Obama is black? You thinking is flawed in so many ways.

[FernandoRuiz]

Your cynicism is what got us into this current mess we are in, that is your flaw. You refuse to believe in a better world and choose to live in one of fear and war. All we ask is that you let the dreamers dream for two days and keep your negativity at bay.

[ishok]

I started to make a comment about how little support Obama got from some of these leaders. I would have followed that with a comment like: "Maya, Bob Johnson and Tavis are probably all gonna watch on TV from home... if they watch at all". But in the spirit of ML King and BH Obama I decided not to do that.

Have a Great MLK Day!

[dct1999]

Trugh is always welcome. Some of these people were so deep in the Clinton's pockets that they're still gasping for air.

[dct1999]

should say Truth...

[VegasBabe]

you ain't never lied and some won't soon forget which side they were on, like me!