Dream on

Black and proud?

By Drew Evans

"He had a dream so I could too." This was my Facebook status last year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I didn't really think much of it at the time. I wrote it because it sounded cool, and I knew people would like my status. What do you know? They did. A lot of people liked it, and I walked away feeling clever for my little status, but now when I think about it, he did have a dream so I could too. I know a lot of people feel that this is just a day where they don't have school. It's a great day to relax, but it is so much more than that and not many people can see it. I remember I was texting someone and I told him I didn't have school that day because it was a holiday. He texted me back in surprise. "Really?" he said, "What holiday is it?" That shocked me. We are so caught up in our own lives that we can't even take a moment to think about how much King changed and affected our lives. I am an African-American woman and without King, my life would be so different. I'd have to go to an all-black college and I'd probably not be going to UC Blue Ash. I would have a whole different set of friends. I wouldn't even be dating the guy I'm dating right now because he is white and there's a good chance that if it weren't for King, we would never have met.

But that's not the case because King was here. He gave us all hope and a future, but do we as African-Americans take advantage of it? Many African-Americans before us fought for the right to sit at the front of the bus and to be treated like any human being should be treated, but most of the time if a group of African-American kids gets on the bus, they all run to the back of the bus. Many African-American civil rights leaders fought for us so that we would have the right to read and write, but those who read are sometimes mocked and looked upon as "uncool" by peers or even worse by other fellow African-Americans. During the time of slavery, slaves would change the way they talked to trick the slave owners into thinking that they were stupid and the slave owners felt that they had more power over them. But in reality, they talked like that so that no one would think that they were doing anything sneaky like plotting to run away to freedom. The way they talked was called slang, and we still use slang today, and people who use slang heavily are still looked upon as ignorant. So why do we as African-Americans still use it so heavily? Or like in jail, wearing baggy jeans can show other inmates you are willing to have sex with them, so why do black men, who are straight, still doing it? Why do we as African-Americans do things that seem to undermine the fact that civil rights leaders fought so hard for us to be treated better but we act as though it doesn't matter? I know many African-Americans know and understand what has been done for their freedom and try to show respect but are still ridiculed. I have heard many people say why do you "talk like you're white" to an African- American person. It seems that so many wrong messages have been spread telling us how we are and are not supposed to talk. But with all the messages being spread today by the media, African Americans are sounding more and more idiotic and no one seems to care.

This is something I wrote a while ago and it seems appropriate for this occasion:

Black and Proud?

"We are of a race so proud and so bold

From generation to generation our stories are told

Fredrick Douglas, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks

A few people with amazing stories watch the lights that they spark

What about our generation now?

How would the King feel if he was still around?

They fought for our right to read

But now we look at books like they have some type of disease

We were once a force so strong

But the passion is dying away, how could we let it, it's so wrong

How can a black child see?

What being black is truly meant to be?

Not "being cool," "hip," "gold chains," and "cars."

But strong men and women who would reach for the stars

Am I truly alone in a battle so right?

Its seems like I am because I am constantly being asked why do I talk like I'm white"

What I come to realize is that we can't forget what Martin Luther King did for us. We can't forget what changes in our lives he had helped bring us. We can't forget because we cannot and should not live in ignorance.

A True Leader

Dae'Shawn Gordon

Martin Luther King to me was someone who broke down racial barriers every time he spoke. He was a true leader that led with his acts of courage and his demanding presence whenever he took the podium.

I credit a lot of where I am today to King's efforts and appreciate the fight he fought until he was sadly taken away from us. He's part of the reason why I can attend a university, live in a non-segregated area, and have equal rights.

If  King was alive today, I'd tell him thank you and the dream that he has once had, has finally become a reality.

Rebel without a pause

By Zachary Lucas

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is probably one of the most under-celebrated holidays in the United States. King is an American icon, someone that should be heard more about in our schools and churches.

King wasn't fighting for my civil rights, but everything he preached is universal. The things he said don't apply exclusively to black Americans. He preached loving your fellow human beings and judging people not based on their race or creed but on their moral fiber, and who can't relate to that?

If more people had that sort of mind-set the world would be a different place. Martin Luther King was a rebel without a pause. He didn't stop for anything or anybody and preached his message of love and brotherhood until the day he died.

Completing the dream

Michole R. Smith

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., impacted history with his "I have a dream" speech.

In honor of King's memory, there is a monument to him Washington, D.C. Atlanta has preserved his church and several other landmarks, including the burial sites of King and his lovely wife Coretta Scott King; there are several other memorials and foundations dedicated to his legacy.

One question that bothers me is this: Has the dream reached completion? In 2012, can we fairly say that the aspirations that King had for our nation have been fulfilled?

 After reading through the speech, I can fairly say that a great portion of the dream has come to pass. The voice of racism has been muffled, compared to the days when she spoke loudly and boastfully paraded in the streets. Even though racism has rooted herself into our society with incidents here and there affecting the lives of many, nevertheless her grip has been loosened on our hearts and our minds.

Liberty and justice occupy the territory she left empty. Even though racism still rears her ugly head and belts out her piercing voice, the right to stand up against her, to wrestle her viciously down to the ground, exists more than ever in our present day.

The proof is our 44th elected president, Barack Obama. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 was a day that many thought we, as a nation would never see, a day that King, William Lloyd Garrison, and many other American abolitionists longed to see. Regardless of whom you voted for or what you think about the job that our president is doing, you have to admit as a nation we made history that day.

It is the kind of history that proclaims we are a land of equal opportunity. Granted, this opportunity comes with a great fight, but anything worth having is worth fighting for.

Again, has the dream been completed? In my opinion, no, though as a whole, we have made great progression towards the finality of the dream.

The completion lies within each of our hearts. It is up to us as individuals to continue to strive for more, to demand respect regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and the many other things that are harshly judged.

We must get out of this slothful inactive attitude we have taken, especially African Americans who are the descendants of the slaves. So many have died and sacrificed for this day that we now live in. So much was gained through their loss. I speak to all who had an ancestor that took part in this struggle: It is our duty and privilege to make sure that their work continues to progress towards completion.

The speech rings on

Gabby Sims

When I think about Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I try to picture not being accepted by people just because of the color of my skin. And it would be really hard to deal with, but if it was the way the world was, I would deal with it. Life would still have to go on.

I'm thankful for his hard work and sacrifices, and am sorry that he couldn't be here today to see that white and black children can be equals and not pitted against one another. He's honored by a memorial dedicated to him in Washington D.C., and his speech will forever ring in the ears of every freedom fighter and those who were against its views.

I feel that King is honored by this national holiday and that his teachings are still taught today. But do I personally do anything to honor him? No, I just say a prayer as usual because I'm grateful for what he did to make my future brighter than what it probably would otherwise have been.