The Day King Died

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be proud today, though it took a long time
for it to happen. But a smart, talented and young African American man is taking
the nation by storm through the force of his sheer presence. That journey was
made possible by what was started by people like Dr. King. No, wait a minute.
There was no one like Dr. King. Just look what he did for John F. Kennedy. He
changed him forever. He changed our world as well.

On this day 39 years ago, upon his murder, King’s dream jumped from one man
to every generation to follow. Barack Obama is part of that vision. He represents everything
that so many people have prayed for over decades of heartbreak. But since I’m
just a white Scots-Irish chick, I’ll let Michael Fauntroy take it from here
on just what King’s life living on through Barack Obama means today.

Now that Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy is official, the puditocracy and bloggerazzi will examine his life to find out if he has what it takes to be the leader of the free world. Questions, intelligent and otherwise, will be asked and, in some instances, lies will be printed as fact. Some will wonder whether Obama can bridge America’s racial divide and win over enough Whites to be a serious threat to win the nomination. Others will want to know if his relative inexperience will be a net positive or negative. Still others will want to know why he is raining on Hillary Clinton’s parade. All of these are legitimate and reasonable questions. However, the most interesting question to me is what his candidacy will mean for Black America. Obama’s candidacy, for all its promise, will prove to be an uncomfortable test for African Americans because it will force Blacks to accept someone who is so different from the civil rights-based Black politics to which they are so accustomed. Don’t get me wrong. I believe that Barack Obama, politically and socially, sits firmly in the mainstream of Black America. I also believe that the overwhelming majority of Black America will rally around Obama once they get to know him. Universal health care, technological improvements for poor and rural communities, reforming the political system to make it fairer, energy independence, and ending the war in Iraq are all ideas that will play well in Black America. My point is that Obama, thankfully, represents a different picture of blackness. He is a worldly, well educated Black man married to a strong, well educated Black professional woman. Most rank-and-file Black people haven’t had the variety of experiences that characterize Obama’s life. … .. What Obama’s Candidacy Will Mean for Black America, by Michael Fauntroy

Senator Obama is an electrifying personality. He is the embodiment of King’s
dream come to pass or at least come one step closer to the power King knew he
had the right to wield even though whitey tried to keep him down. Barack Obama
is just beginning his trajectory, which could lead to places King only imagined.
For Senator Obama, it remains to be seen if his talent can manifest
in deeds that will make the difference. We can all dream.

As time passes, one thing we should all hope is that Dr. King’s papers and letters remain in
the estate for all of us to see or read. But today it seems that everything
is for sale to the highest bidder, even Dr. King.

But today we remember. It’s a day we must never forget, because it brings memories of a distant time when our country gave up a generation as well as three of our brightest stars to violence. Dr. King’s stance of nonviolence needs to be renewed. But that won’t happen until the fearmongers and the cowards decide that peace is actually worth living for, not killing for in the name of freedom, especially when no imminent threat is near.

My favorite poet was Aeschylus. He once wrote: “Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black. … … .. … .. Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world. Let us dedicate ourselves to that, and say a prayer for our country and for our people. Thank you very much. Robert F. Kennedy – April 4, 1968

Note: Michael Fauntroy is a frequent expert guest blogger on TM.com. Please check out his book, Republicans and the Black Vote. He’ll also be a guest on my radio show in the near future. I’m so looking forward to it.