Monumental images of ourselves are housed in the minds and hearts of those who understand the African American community’s struggle along with our admiration into perpetuity for Martin Luther King Jr. and what he represents to so many. Yet the most despicable reality is that we ourselves have not taken the message from Dr. King and embraced it as it relates to our life’s commitment, and being a pillar in the community. Our lives should be a lighthouse leading us to our purpose and commitment beyond our personal, selfish and materialistic desires.
It is the “my stakes” that everyone is interested in. The collective thought of African Americans is not seen beyond the paycheck that one receives, or the attention that one individual gets. It is a sad reflection that we as a community continue to exacerbate the negativity, constantly repeating that old chorus “We can’t work together,” or “We can’t make progress,” when, in fact, we can.
At this moment the rise of the phoenix is embodied in erecting and dedicating a monument to a man who made the ultimate sacrifice -— his life. And of all the 18 quotes chiseled and inscribed on his statue, who among us has memorized 10 or four and committed even those to our memories, like we do rhymes from Jay-Z? What part of Dr. King’s teachings have we memorized so that we can share them with others, like we do rap songs with no redeeming value, and that add to our persecution and discrimination?
We abdicate our power when we neglect our responsibilities to the poor and the downtrodden, the hungry and the infirm. We ignore and belittle the uneducated. But we would not call Dr. King “doctor” if he had not earned an advanced degree and with it the right to the title. We would not call him “doctor” if he had not entered college early in life, at the age of 15. Do we share facts like this with our children, so that they are aware of the 10 most powerful facts about Dr. King, and will carry them with them their entire lives and recite them to their children?
We must have a constitution instituted in the African American community that will allow us to mobilize and be proud of the moment we take action. It is critical that the relationship that we have with each other and the pride we extol for Dr. King be demonstrated by attempting to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him.
Desire to get an advanced degree. Desire to be a leader in the community. People do not erect monuments for has-beens and those who are shallow in their pursuit of leadership and the development of their character. The individuals who found themselves on the Mall in the capital of these United States are those who have come to see the monument to the African American man whose life is a testament to the greatness of his commitment. People from around the world came to Washington, D.C., to catch a glimpse, immortalize in pictures and get on film the images that they will transmit and take back to their native lands and remember forever.
Can you communicate 10 reasons you are like Dr. Martin Luther King? Banish the idea that you can be somebody as a high school dropout. There should be viral texts every day saying “Take someone who has dropped out of high school and teach them a craft. Or adopt someone who is struggling and having difficulty making it.” It’s critical and we are at a critical point in our nation and as a community. Our collective thought and our collective objectives are not at the top of the conversation.
We don’t need the politicos and the politrick-cians or to associate with those who get paid for keeping us in the same situation that we find ourselves in now.
Follow Dr. King’s agenda. Stand up and have a spiritual life. Get a solid education and pursue an advanced degree to the best of your ability. Fight for change, respect yourself, and do something for others. Stand for something great and don’t die for any useless non-reason.
Promote an educational agenda and be proud. Let us not be docile and apathetic about who we are as a people. Commit to memory at least one of the quotes on the King monument and share it on a regular basis. Remember what Dr. King said and what you read.
Take the challenge or die with the knowledge that you won’t be remembered and your passing will be like a bad, but brief commercial on life’s airwaves.
Peace.
Munson Steed
