Martin Luther King, Jr was an awesome man. And a wonderful role model for anyone, of any color. And I would bet every cent in my bank account that he would be disappointed…more likely, embarrassed…horrified, even…at what his “brothers” have morphed into.
He would be indignant, at first…watching the news: “Why are they arresting that young black man?? Oh…he took that bicycle that didn’t belong to him? And the police saw him do it? Oh. Well, why’d he do THAT? Hey…why are they arresting those two young black women? Wait…is that them there? On that film…you call it a video? They…they’re…shoving a gun under that boy’s nose and taking money from a sandwich store? Why’d they do THAT? Hey, now…why are they telling the police and the public to report any three young black men standing outside a convenience store? That is not right…it’s called racial profiling? Well, good name for it…oh, you say there have been seven robberies of convenience stores in that area in the last week…and they were all committed by the same group of three young black men? Again, on tape? Oh…well, then…”
Then he would find out how the victim mentality and the gangs have all but taken over a once proud race. He would be ashamed to learn that after all this time the leaders in this community continue to blame all their problems on being put into slavery…which stopped a hundred years ago. And segregation, and fewer opportunities…both of which have not only stopped, but reversed many years ago. When he was told about the Miss Black America contest, he would want to know why on earth anyone ever started a Miss White America contest…”Oh, well, there wasn’t…a black woman can win that, too!” The same with scholarship programs. Some programs available only to certain minorities, but none are “just for whites”. Because. That would be “racist”.
I’m not saying anything should be “just for whites”. So get over it. And don’t even go there. I am the least bigoted person you will ever know. My issue, and I am POSITIVE Rev. King’s would be too, is reverse discrimination. It is NOT fair. You can’t use the same wrong done to a group of people over and over…and keep calling olly-olly-oxen-free on all the wrongs you commit.
What do I want? I want people, of all colors, all races, all languages…to teach their children respect. Respect for their elders. Respect for hard work. Respect for right and wrong. I want to know that when I hear a news report that two black men punched a woman in the face and took her purse, that those men would have Mamas at home that would be ashamed. Instead, I guarantee their Mamas would be proud of those boys. They’d be at the courthouse telling everyone how it’s not their boys’ fault. It’s probably the woman’s fault for having a purse.
Well, their Mamas may be proud. But I bet Rev. King wouldn’t be.
