really real talk: Long Live the King: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

All this week and for the rest of the year, you will read stories linking the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King to the incredible campaign of Sen. Barack Obama (other than the controversy surrounding the remarks of his rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton). You will read stories with headlines that read "The Dream Realized" or something like that say Dr. King would be proud of the Democratic Senator from Chicago and that this is the day King spoke about in his famous speech. And maybe it is. But as we celebrate the legend and legacy of the man who dared to stand up for what he believed, let us look beyond the immortalized words of his text book biography. Because what Dr. King really is is a part of each of us, at our greatest potential. Indeed, we have come a long way. But from this point forward, let us dig deeper into ourselves to see the manifestations of everything Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said and stood for.

With that said, I present reallyrealtalk's guest essayist, Jamilla Webb, who wrote a poignant letter titled "For Martin...." about her own personal experience understanding King and put together the following package of references and links. Read it. Absorb it. And live it.

I can still remember being a little girl…growing up and hearing Stevie’s song celebrating MLK’s birthday. He was like this perfect man, this Idol, this figure that should be revered, but yet so distant that I still could not understand how his existence affected my life. As I grew older, I found myself beginning to dislike some of Dr. King’s practices. Seeing “Eyes on the Prize” and watching my elders learn how to crouch and duck during a police beating and other horrific assaults was not my idea of what the fight for justice should look like.

I found myself thinking that he was a passive idealist. It was not until college that I began to become fascinated with who he really was and I began to do my own independent research. From there I found tons of books, speeches and articles about Dr. King. I found his complexity, his militancy and his growing disdain with American Politics (especially during the Vietnam War). It was the vastness of his Dream that was hidden from me as a little girl. It was more than little white girls and boys holding hands with people that looked like me. It was a man who was brave enough to call out a country that dishonored the very principles it was built upon. As we can see, America has yet to answer his call or even attempt to come up with a worthy response.

One night I had a long conversation with one of my friends and I was telling him how I admired Brother Malcolm much more than Martin because he went from a pimp, hustler and thief to becoming one of the most upstanding and outspoken leaders of his time. However, my friend asked me, which quality was more admirable, someone who was at the bottom and found the strength to change his ways, or someone who was born into a middle class family, had a legacy and heritage of leadership, a strong education and family and still among his fortune was empathetic and giving enough to put that all on the line, to see that all men were able to be free and seen as equal no matter what color, situation or economic background they were born into.

It was at that point that I truly appreciated Dr. King and what he stood for. I pray that as we all continue to seek a life of financial comfort and stability, higher education, and build or continue a proud family legacy, that we never forget to reach out to our other brothers and sisters and not be consumed by the selfishness, greed, and coldness that permeates the inner core of this country. Let us celebrate and remember our great elder by remembering what he stood for, living a good life, providing service to others, and leaving our children and future generations with a proud legacy, something to look forward to, and someone to look up to. I love you Brother Martin and I thank you for your life and legacy.

Here are some literary, audio, and other resources for you to delve into if should choose to do so. Peace and love everybody. Sankofa! (and may we never forget!)

With sincerity always,

Jamilla

Music (Songs)

Eddie Kendricks – people (hold on)
The Temptations - A message from a black man
Curtis Mayfield – we the people who are darker than blue
Curtis Mayfield – move on up
The Impressions – Choice of colors
James Brown – Say it Loud!

(I’m Black and I’m Proud)
Stevie Wonder – Happy Birthday (of course)
Chi-lites – Yes I’m Ready
Donny Hathaway – Someday we’ll all be free
Spinners – Ghetto Child
Marvin Gaye – What’s going on
Temptations – Take a look around
Aretha Franklin – Wholly holy

(if you take the time to listen, you will be amazed, as I, that these songs are still just as relevant today – can this fact be used to measure our so called “progress,” regression, or stagnation?)

Books