I watched the ceremony unveiling Washington's 30-foot monument to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Touching. Moving. Profound. And indeed we have progressed since he delivered his "I have a Dream Speech" on the mall. History was right before your very eyes as the President spoke.
It is most befitting that this great man who was never elected to office, used his voice to change America and make it live up to its written creed. His voice of change was clear and not mistaken. King represents Black Americans on the mall, where in the buildings and halls of our national lawmakers there is little black representation.
King, probably never in his wildest dream and his utmost moment, would have said that this day would come, especially on the Washington Mall.
Bravo and applause to the Alphas for making it happen. Beautiful black men came together for their frat brother and gave the world a monument.
There were two key moments for me. Retired, newscaster Dan Rather, revealed that CBS had difficulty in covering King, as he lived and marched and demonstrated. There was conflict and even censor between what was seen nationally and locally in Atlanta or Alabama. Some news that appeared nationally did not appear locally. Some news was shut out, completely. This makes the case of the absolute necessity for the Black press. Even in this day and age where information flows easily and abundantly with social media to mainstream and niche formats, black "news" is still missed. His admission was glaring. The black news niche still requires special attention.
During King's day, the black press, mostly newspapers and radio played a very significant part in communications. The newspapers let it be known where protests, marches and rallies were being held and who was being jailed and what the jailers were doing. Jet Magazine became the national voice. King no matter how tired, no matter how small the town or how weak the radio signal, he found his way into radio studios to share his viewpoints to a mostly black audience.
The most touching moment of the King tribute was Stevie Wonder. He wanted to "see" the Monument. On Friday in a somewhat private moment, he was lifted to "feel" and "touch" King's face. NBC, Brian Williams, covered the moment exclusively. Wonder worked harder than any individual to make the King holiday, and the King monument national. How touching for him to feel King's face in stone in his very own way. Stevie sees King. Here's another man, who used his voice of song, to make a difference.
In this day and age where party and big money politics, a lifted voice can still be heard. That is, as much of the King legacy as the stoned monument, that will stand forever. Let us not forget.