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There will also be a tribute to the sanitation workers whose strike for dignity and respect was supported by Dr. King and was the reason his last days were spent in Memphis.A who's who of black America is here, including the Rev. Al Sharpton who has convened the National Action Network's 10th annual convention at the Peabody Hotel. On Friday, Sharpton and Martin Luther King III will lead a "recommitment march" for economic justice to the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated.
Dr. King's last march was along historic Beale Street. I retraced his steps and later walked along the Mississippi River. I thought about his prophetic "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech and wondered what he would say about an election in which a black man may be on the cusp of becoming President of the United States.
If Barack Obama gets the nomination and wins in November, does that mean that "we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land?"
Feeling inspired, I ran up a flight of stone steps and came upon a park with carefully manicured lawns and a spectacular view of the Mississippi River. As it turns out, it is the Confederate Park in the middle of which is a memorial to Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America.
It was a rude reminder of America's "birth defect." It also underscored that Dr. King was more than a dreamer. He was a radical visionary and a "drum major for justice."
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By: Andrea on 4/03/2008 9:32AM
Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King was one of the most brave, intelligent and forward thinking people that ever lived. I love what he stood for and what he preached about.
He would be so proud of Barack Obama and all the advancements that African-Americans have made. While African-Americans have many areas to improve upon, we still have come a long way, thanks to people like Martun Luther King. Rev. King, wherever you are, we love you so very much and are grateful for your courage.
Andrea
I work from home. Please visit my legitimate work at home jobs site:
http://www.jobs-from-home.com
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By: LL on 4/03/2008 10:31AM
GEE MR AOL BLACK VOICES I WONDER WHY YOU CHOOSE TO "HOMOGENIZE"THIS SITE BY OMITING SOME PAGES THAT ARE NEGATIVE BUT LEAVING OTHERS ON FOR WEEKS,LIKE SAY THE DUNBAR RAPE INCIDENT IN CALIFORNIA IN WHICH A SO CALLED REVEREND AND SO CALLED BLACK LEADER,SHARPTON AND THE NAACP SPOKE AGAINST THE TREATMENTS OF THE TEN BLACK GUYS WHO DID NOT RAPE THE BLACK MOTHER BUT FORCED HER TO HAVE SEX WITH HER OWN SON WHILE THEY TOOK PHOTOS AND THEN POURED NAIL POLISH INTO HIS EYES AND BLINDED HIM ALL WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCALL NAACP?WHERE IS IT AOL?IN THE WEEK OF THE REV.MLK'S ASSASINATION(OF WHOM I WISH NO DISRESPECT)HE WOULD BE ROLLIN IN HIS GRAVE!OH YEAH THE BLACK/REV/CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER/ALSO WOULD NOT ASSIST THE BLACK FEMALE VICTIM AND HER SON CAUSE IT WAS OUT OF THE "SCOPE OF HIS SERVICES"BUT GAVE THE CRACK HEAD WITNESS IN THE SEAN BELL TRIAL $10K TO LIE ON THE STAND?DOUBT THIS WILL BE PUBLISHED BUT REAL LEADERS LIKE MLK SPOKE OF UNITY/LOVE/JESUS...IM NOT HEARING THAT FROM SHARPTON OR THAT GUY WRIGHT!LOOK IT UP BEFORE YOU ATTACK ME.ONCE AGAIN I RESPECTED MR.KING AND IM SURE HE WOULD HAVE HELPED THIS POOR VICTIM NOT ABUSE HER FOR MORE PUBLICITY LIKE SHARPTON!
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By: LL on 4/03/2008 10:44AM
DONT HAVE TO BELIEVE ME GO TO "ELECTRONIC VILLAGE"BLACK WEB SITE AND LOOK IT UP?THEN TELL ME HOW SHARPTON CAN TRY TO WALK IN MLK'S FOOTPRINTS?DONT THINK SO AL!YOU OPPRESS AND SUPPRESS YOUR OWN RACE UNDER THE GUISE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE CHURCH!
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By: josephine on 4/03/2008 3:45PM
Where is Rev. David Manning in this line up? Black people have made the wrong choices for decades following like sheep the one with the mostest set up. Why is not Booker T. Washington one of your heros?
If obama is elected will you tear down Jefferson Davis's monument and rename the Confederate park. i think you would if you could. The black activist leaders like sharpton and jackson of that ilk are terrorist.
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By: MZZTLOVE on 4/04/2008 6:40AM
" TRUTH CRUSH TO EARTH WILL RISE AGAIN WILLIAM COLLARD BRYANT IS RIGHT...THE BIBLE IS RIGHT YOU SHALL REAP WHAT YOU SOW" MAY NOT HAVE THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER.. BUT ANYWAY YOU SLICE THE MESSAGE IS THERE FOR ALL TO HEAR.. HE SAID IT DR. MARTIN L. KING JR.. YOUR DEATH WAS NOT IN VAIN... HERE WE SIT IN 2008 AND AS WE REMEMBER YOU AND THE STRONG FORCE YOU WORKED BRINGING US WHERE WE ARE TODAY AWAY FROM THE HOSES, AWAY FROM THE DOGS, AND AWAY FROM THE RACIST IN AMERICA WHO FEEL THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO HOLD US DOWN. OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008.. BRING HIS DREAM BACK TO LIFE.. BACK TO REALITY!!!!! SAY IT LOUD!!!!!
I'M A FREE AMERICAN AND IM PROUD!!! YOUR COLOR MAY ONLY REALLY MATTER TO YOU .. QQN
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By: TheLight315 on 4/04/2008 8:28AM
On this date, 40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. It's a day when many of us will celebrate his legacy, the values he espoused, and his vision for a better America. Some will talk about the King who challenged America's unlawful war in Vietnam, who found common ground with Malcolm X, and who became more aggressive in his push for improving America. But the media will likely focus a great deal on politicians who give speeches where they try to align themselves with his legacy.
We wanted to make sure that today when Senator McCain speaks, you and your friends and family know who's talking.
McCain will bring his "Service to America" tour to Memphis on Friday, but many people don't know the service he touts includes voting against the federal holiday honoring Dr. King. In August 1983 he fought the holiday, voting to block a piece of bipartisan legislation honoring him that was supported by even conservative Republicans--including Dick Cheney--and signed into law by President Reagan.
McCain went on to resist recognizing a King holiday in his home state of Arizona. When Arizona's state legislature failed to pass a bill recognizing a holiday honoring Dr. King, the governor at the time, Bruce Babbit, created the holiday by executive order. Babbit's successor, Gov. Evan Mecham rescinded the order as his first act in office, doing away with the holiday. John McCain's response? He defended the governor, not Dr. King. (After undoing the holiday, the same governor went on to publicly support referring to Black people as "pickaninnies").
In 1990, seven years after his initial vote, McCain went along with establishing a King holiday. On the campaign trail in 2000, facing questions about his history on this issue, McCain declared he had "evolved."
Looking at the rest of McCain's public record, even recently, it's hard to see much evidence of an "evolution". In fact, McCain has consistently opposed a civil rights agenda:
He voted an amazing FOUR times against the Civil Rights Act of 1990--a bill designed to make it easier for employees to prove job discrimination and imposing harsher penalties on bosses who discriminated.
In 2004 he opposed affirmative action in college admissions--a key component of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that is among King's key legislative victories.
He has voted at least 8 times against raising the minimum wage.
And as recently as last month, he argued against federal intervention to help Americans, disproportionately Black Americans, who have faced foreclosure during the housing crisis.
If John McCain has evolved, he hasn't evolved much. Instead, we see a consistent and troubling pattern. From campaigning against Dr. King's holiday to undermining important civil rights laws, John McCain has not stood side by side with King's vision, he has stood in its way.
Today, we hope that everyone will take a moment to pause and remember Dr. King's legacy, recognizing his contributions of words, deeds and ultimately his life. And we hope that all can see past political posturing (regardless of who it comes from) and embrace the bold, challenging vision that King actually projected. We believe that in doing so, we honor both his legacy and his sacrifice.
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By: karma on 4/04/2008 9:39AM
This is why we have so many problems because we combine all of the issues. These are all seperate issues and should be handled accordingly
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By: Kathy Valentine on 4/04/2008 9:50AM
THANK YOU DR. KING!
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By: LILMAMMA on 4/04/2008 12:43PM
Being a 63 yr young black female I just had the privalage to visit the Civil Rights Museum in Feb of this year and I must say it was a very touching and memorable visit. Dr. King truly ment a lot to the Black community and he gave his life for us all. If you have not been please GO SOON. I have a better appreciation for the movement, and Dr. King. All the nay sayers out there please lay down your guns and fight for the justice for all.
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By: Ethel Munson on 4/04/2008 12:50PM
Let us not forget what Dr. King stood for in our modern day plight. Racial tolerance certainly would have been among his highest priority. Cann't we all get along - regardless of our skin color. We are all human beings who feel the same fears, joy and uncertainities. The time has come - now - 40 years after Dr. King's life was stolen. Don't we owe him that little?
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