Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: A great hero or maybe a greater weapon?

I remember playing the role of Dr. Martin Luther king Jr for my 4th grade Black History Month play. I stood on stage, in a suit & tie, with a crowd of kids behind me and recited a chunk of the more memorable parts of his historical "I have a Dream" speech. I wasn't nervous, but I was never afraid of public speaking. Maybe I was more proud than afraid, proud of the fact that I was able to represent a man, who I was told, was probably the best black man to walk the face of the earth. (At that time I thought Jesus was white)

I mean, what man do you know, that was never a president and still able to get us a day off from school?...Christopher Columbus...well...what black man? Exactly, there were and are none! Only him. The United States made Martin Luther King the black standard. Shit, the way they promoted him, you would've thought that he was the only person that did anything during the civil rights movement. Forty plus years after his tragic death, you can ask any child going to public school to name the five great black leaders and more than likely you'll hear:

"Martin, Martin, Martin, Martin and Martin." (Dylan voice)

And therein lies my problem. I'll explain position in a bit, but let me get to my Selma experience.

So I'm sitting in the movie theater watching Selma with a thousand thoughts running through my head. For starters, from a cinematic standpoint, the movie was average. Apart from it being your usual "We shall overcome" black movie, it was slow, methodical, enlightening and at some points very intense. David Oyelowo delivered an Oscar worthy performance as MLK. But the movie was far from a classic.

However, for me, this was much more than a movie. I wanted insight into the man behind the legend, before I wrote this blog. I was eager to see how the film depicted Martin Luther King, as well as the message behind his movement. And as I watched, who was supposed to be every black kids hero, being undeified right before my very eyes, I felt great.

For years we were force fed the story of MLK as this saint of a man trying to do what was best for his race. When in truth, what you had was a man who used a philosophical method of non violent resistance, which he himself struggled to maintain, while becoming somewhat of a political puppet in order to achieve change. In the midst of all that, he was a man, with vices and flaws. He was strong and weak at the same time. The man behind the legend was much more admirable. It took an enormous amount of strength to hold steadfast to a belief that renders you defenseless. But from a pragmatic standpoint, it may also make you a fool. And while Dr. King was no fool, his legacy has become more important to the oppressors, than it has been to black people.

I can't and will not take anything away from MLK's tremendous contribution toward the progression of black culture and civil rights in America, however I fear that his approach might have be our very undoing.

Think about it.

Martin Luther King Jr was a pacifist, and while that granted him entry in the political realm to facilitate change, it also made him the subliminal image that the oppressors present to black people of what is acceptable behavior.

The subliminal message implanted, is that in the face of injustice, we are supposed to remain, docile, poised and tolerant to verbal, physical and legislative abuse of the oppressor. And if you're meek and humble long enough, we will give a little piece of what you truly desire. You pump that message to the poor minority children across the country and those who are fortunate enough to make it out of the hood, into the world of affluence as well as a position of influence, are likely adopt that approach.

In short, Keep Calm and be the safe, acceptable nigger.

Now who's to say that a more "militant" approach akin to that of a Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael or Huey Newton wouldn't have facilitated a much greater change in the long run. While access to the political arena may have been limited, the galvanizing(I always wanted to use this word) of our people could have struck fear into the hearts of the oppressors and could have went a long way into how we're treated.

In layman's terms, people would realize that black people are not to be fucked with.

Is that a stretch to think that way? I mean, do they fear or respect your docile ass right now?

A person with a Malcolm X like mentality would not simply make speeches about injustices of the Ferguson and New York non indictments. A March and a protest would not be enough. Taking tear gas to the face while locking arms would not be enough. The old me would've sat on the sidelines waiting for the black anger to fade, as it usually does, but no more.

My question is, why not be a bit more "militant"? Were the founding fathers of the United States of America not militant? Was any successful revolutionary movement sparked by a sense of militant train of thought? The belief to stand up for yourself, defend what is rightfully yours while fighting for what you believe you deserve.

Now, while we live in a world where education, entrepreneurship and wealth are better than they've ever been for blacks historically, the racial undercurrent of the injustices of the poor minority are ever more present. It's foolish to think because you see the wealth of a few folks on TV and a black president, that the race has been won. You really don't know how small 1% is.

Come on now, they're shooting us unarmed, choking us unarmed, beating us, unlawfully arresting us, with no penalty. There's a contrarian reading this going "We do that to each other, so what's the difference?" Ummm...the difference is that when Tyrone kills Jamal, Tyrone gets life, and rightfully so. George goes home and makes love to his wife. This is 40 years from the civil rights movement. How civil are we as a nation with this going on? And now when black people voice their displeasure about are treatment, what is the first thing that's said?

"Let's try to remain calm, let's approach this peacefully. Dr King wouldn't approve of the looting and rioting."

Really? Do you know that? No one truly knows. Who's to say that MLK wouldn't have gotten fed up with the role of the "docile nigga" because of snail paced movement to get a bill passed while citizens died on the front lines of the movement. What if he got hit with one too many bricks and decided to throw one back? Now while I don't condone looting or rioting of our own communities, it is the language of the voiceless.

The idea of a "militant" mindset is not that of a person who's willing to attack, but of someone willing to defend. Of someone who will unify and protect his/her home. So what's wrong with that, especially when every other race and/or culture are willing to do the same thing. Try running a muck in a Jewish community and see how fast you'll regret that decision, before the cops even make it. Would that be considered militant or united?

Unfortunately Dr. King is the damn poster child for black civility in the face of blatant injustice. So much so, that the rest of the leaders of the movement, pre and post MLK are lost in the history books. The educational system rarely speak on the accomplishments of others greats and we clearly don't have enough effective leadership today. Sprinkle Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks and you've done your part for those 28 days in February. Thank you school system. They'll teach about Nelson Mandela before they will introduce you to Malcolm X or James Baldwin. Those were the unacceptable niggas. The dangerous ones. I was lucky enough to have an awesome middle school teacher. She planted the seed that allowed my awareness to flourish. There are plenty of young kids out there with the same seed that needs to be watered, but not enough.

This needs to change, we need to change. He was brave, there were many others that were brave. Why aren't we brave? Push for change and equality. Find a method. And whatever our approach in this new equality movement needs to be from us, not what those above you want it to be. Sometimes things need to be uncomfortable before you can truly be respected.

Take a long look at ourselves, take a look at what our predecessors have done. We as a people have failed to live up to Dr. Kings dream. The progression of race relations would have been further along if he were alive. The progression of how we treat one another has a people has taken even a further step back. We're probably too busy being distracted or afraid to lose what little we've gained. Drugs, prison, poverty, lack of accountability and capitalism have created a division amongst black people bigger than any Jim Crow law. The question is no longer why are we this way, but what can we do to change?

So remember on this day what Martin Luther King Jr stood for. Remember that he stood for equality, for all races. Remember that he stood for change in a non violent way. Remember that through it all, he never wavered in the face of his enemy. He didn't compromise his beliefs and was always willing to extend his hand in unity.

And Remember that they still shot him in his fuckin face anyway.

Black & Poor: The crimes that Eric Garner died for.

The American justice system has been broken for a long time. It's been broken long before I was born, and it will remain that way as long as those who control it hold racist and/or ruthlessly capitalistic views. I'm warning you now that this may not be the most eloquent and I will run off on a tangent, but I will try and tie it together at the end.

The recent events of the Mike Brown & Eric Garner verdict, coupled with my views of race relations in America has lead me to the belief that being black in America is considered a stain. Being black and poor is even worse. 

 

Now do I believe my skin color is a stain? No. My race, my complexion, my bloodline is a thing of unparalleled beauty. I look upon our people and see kings, queens and gods walking the earth. Unfortunately I also see the fallen. Some of the damage done by our own hand, but the hands of others have also contributed to our demise. Blacks in America have gone from property to second class citizens, to citizens. But the one thing we've always been, was a target.

Ask yourself how President Obama, the most powerful man in the free world(or so we'd like to think) has been one of the most openly disrespected president we've ever seen. Political colleagues, and the general public have taken their shots. I'm not an Obama supporter(for my own reasons) but to deny the existence of a racist undertone from some of his political colleagues would be a flat out lie. His color is a stain in many of their eyes. Never heard of a presidential candidate asked for verification of his U.S.citizenship. I can't recall any past presidents having their daughters (ages 13 & 16) likened to tramps at a bar.

I can list a few more rich or powerful black figures that have been treated unfairly strictly on the count of race (Magic Johnson, Oprah, Jay-Z), they've all encountered it. We can look at pundits, critics or your nearest YouTube comments section and it'll be littered with the most vile slurs. I don't feel particularly sorry for those I've mentioned, because  they've made it past the biggest hurdle in America, poverty.

If being black is a stain, then being poor in America is a crime, and prison is big business. It doesn't matter what color you are. 

There's a level of respect that comes with wealth. You live well, dress better, and your values maybe different because frankly your world is vast, you're exposed to more. You're treated differently, with a certain reverence, depending on the circle you're in. There are issues that you can focus on that you otherwise wouldn't be able to, if you were poor. Money isn't happiness, money is freedom, and that gives you to chance at happiness. Everyone wants to be wealthy or least comfortable, doesn't matter what color. 

You can live with being black and affluent, because that at least makes you a citizen. But when you're black and poor, you're no citizen, you're cattle. 

Eric Garner was black and poor. 

Mike Brown was black and poor.

Both were killed in circumstances that would ultimately not exist if the system was built egregiously unfair. A system that has historically targeted your race and socio-economic class with equal force. A system that wasn't designed for us.

Systemic poverty affected their values, the choices they made, as well as Police treatment. Their skin color made it only easier for the police to get away with it.

Since the Mike Brown situation is shrouded in doubt, with the one blatant fact that he was unarmed and several feet away from Darren Wilson, lemme tackle some arguments that I've heard about the Eric Garner incident.

He was breaking the law:

Selling untaxed cigarettes is a crime, but so is selling fake mortgages. Where's the eagerness to arrest the folks that sent the country into a tailspin? Was any one arrested? I wonder if they resisted arrest

would they have gotten choked? What's funny is that in the video, the police were responding to a fight, a situation that Eric Garner diffused prior to their arrival.

An unhealthy diet and pre-existing conditions lead to his death:

I hope by pre existing, you mean the fuckin knee that the cop had in his back along with having his face pressed against the concrete. 

*I could make a case about his years of eating genetically altered food approved by our government, as well as not being able afford shopping at Whole Foods, which isn't as readily accessible in his neck of the woods, like any fast food spot, but that's weak.

He could have resisted: 

He could've. But watching the entire seven minute video (not the 30 seconds that they show on TV) you saw that Eric Garner was frustrated. The cops that arrested him, knew him. They harassed him, if what he was doing was so terribly wrong then he would've been arrested every single day. But like every shop that sells loose cigarettes or fake bags in China town, the cops pick and choose who to harass. 

Eric was fed up because he wasn't killing anyone, he wasn't stealing. He purchased the pack of cigarettes he decided to resell. A product that knowingly kills you, but since you can tax it, it's all good. 

He was simply tired of the harassment. He had six kids, he hustled, just like the cops hustle for overtime by arresting people and call it cleaning up the streets. 

He was tired because all he was trying to do was keep his head above water so that he and his family could breathe. But like he told the police officers, 11 times, I Can't Breathe.

We can get into the logistics of the actually arrest and say that the chokehold was not a legal maneuver. Some might say that once it was a applied, Eric could've laid down. But if he moved forward, the cops grip would've tightened, leaning backward ultimately swayed him off balance because the murde- I mean officer was shorter and was pulling him backward. So explain to me again how can a man simply lay as soon as he was put in a hold like that?

I'm not gonna make Eric Garner or Mike Brown out to be saints, when you're living in hell, how can you be? But I shouldn't have to make a case for them to have rights. 

Basic human rights.

Eric Garner had a right to live. He had a right to voice his physical distress and have a cop do his job and monitor his condition so that excessive injury doesn't occur(that falls under the guidelines of serve & protect). He wasn't a savage, thug, or mental patient. It's sad. 

Jesus, he was killed on video.

There's a hash tag floating around that says "Black Lives Matter". And while all lives matter, black lives have unjustly swirled in the oceans, soaked the roots of trees, and stained the concrete far too long. Police brutality is real and the country has turned a blind eye.

When a man can be killed on video, his death ruled a homicide and still not get an indictment, something has to change. It starts now. It starts with us.