January 18-24, 2007 Page 4 Ms. Perrv's Free Press A "6%,- -.---- -. -- . King's Holiday Must Continue to be a Time for Reflection for America? Every year around this time I reflect back on who Dr. Martin Luther King was and what he meant to this great nation of ours. And every year I come to the same conclusion. We talk a lot about "his dream," but King's life can't be defined by the March on Washington and his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Dr. King's life can not be defined by those who say that he was a womanizer and had a weakness when it came to women. One has to look at his life for what he fought for and how he helped to change the racial landscape of our country. King certainly wasn't the only one who fought against injustice and inequality, but much like Rosa Parks he was the right man at the right place at the right time. He was a great writer and speaker and an outstanding diplomat. He was the perfect man for the job. With a bible in one hand and the Constitution in the other, his intel- ligence and vision were unmatched. And more important than all of that he was extremely unselfish and realized that the movement wasn't about him. Every movement, every cause, every organization needs a leader and Martin Luther King embodied what it meant to be a true leader. At the helm of the most important movement in this country's history - at least in my opinion was a man named Martin. He was a man who wasn't perfect, but as I said earlier was perfect for the job. It was almost prophetic when Dr. King spoke on April 3, 1968, and WI Civil by E.O. Hutchison Last spring immigration r: groups loudly demanded that right groups take part in imm tion rights marches and end immigration reform bills Congress. They branded the ir gration battle the new civil r movement, and insisted tha Martin Luther King, Jr. were he would have backed up claim. It's risky to say what I would have done on that score it's almost certain that given K passionate support of the m Latino led and targeted farm w ers movement in California, his glowing praise of farm w( leader Cesar Chavez, he w have regarded the immigra reform fight as a civil rights bi And that would get him in water today with many blacks some civil rights groups who great offense at comparing immigration reform struggle tc 1960s civil rights move That's just one glaring sign of things have changed in the ne four decades since King's mu and on the anniversary of the ] national holiday celebration. In the 1960s, things were r simpler for civil rights leach Their fight was against big sheriffs and mobs. Civil ri leaders firmly staked out the n high ground for the modem said, "I have been to the mountain top and seen the Promised Land." He went on to say that he probably would not be here on this earth to see it, but he knew that blacks would truly gain equality in this country. Dr. King said, "We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. "And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about any- thing. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." Or to use some of his most popu- lar words, "I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Each year I ask myself if people even realize that the Monday that they got off for MLK day was big- ger than the man? I am sure that some do, but many do not.. Most of us deal with the racial realities of life in America everyday and the reality of human nature, and those realities don't lead me to believe that King's dream may never be truly realized. But then I think about the fact that this has come so far in such a short period of time. Now I can have dinner with friends of any color in any restau- rant we choose. I can pretty much live in any neighborhood that I can afford. And my children can pretty much get into any educational institution in the country if they have the right grades and the right funds. Well I am probably getting a little carried away, there are cer- tainly educational institutions in this country that still discriminate based upon race. African Americans certainly have access to the same financial institu- tions and get approved for loans if we qualify almost as frequently as whites. However, there still are some inequalities in lending that need to be addressed. In fact, a study that came out in 2006 showed that blacks with the same credit score and income received higher interest loans than whites. Blacks can own businesses and be as successful as some, but we still seem to struggle to get opportuni- ties in numerous industries. What about racism and hate, we have certainly move past those issues in this country right? Well, not quite, but we have made tremendous strides, but we still have a long way to go. I always find it interesting the way blacks and whites view racism in America. Studies show that for the most part whites feel that racism is no longer a problem in this country. And of course, blacks feel the opposite, most African Americans feel that racism is still a problem in America. Some of it is real and some of those feelings stem from the history of the black race in this country. I guess if Dr. King was alive today, he probably wouldn't be surprised that we were dealing with some of the same issues some 40 years after his death. My favorite MLK quote comes from his "I Have a Dream Speech" when he talks about the promise of equality given to all Americans by the Constitution. King said, "When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. "This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked 'insufficient funds."' But again, we have come a very long way and Dr. King would be proud of the progress that we (Americans) have made. I can hear him saying, "The line of progress is never straight. For a period of movement may follow a straight line and then it encounters obsta- cles and the path bends." Signing off from the back of this extremely long parade, Reggie Fullwood Rights Leaders Face Challenges That King Never civil rights movement. It was clas- ment and its le ights sic good versus evil. The gory news Many of them civil scenes of baton welding racist own success igra- Southern sheriffs, firehoses, and they broke lorse police dogs, and Klan violence restricted doo in unleashed against peaceful black government ag nmi- protesters sickened many white ties, middle c rights Americans. All, except the most poor, rushed th at if rabid racists, considered racial seg- Four decades alive regation as immoral and indefensi- two black Ame their ble, and the civil rights leaders and comfortab King were hailed as martyrs and heroes Oprah Winfre .Yet in the fight for justice. Bill Cosby, ing's Blacks had the sympathy and Denzil Washin ostly goodwill of millions of whites, of millionaire rork- politicians, and business leaders, entertainers, t and and even a president that shouted professionals. worker "We Shall Overcome," the slogan The black Ar would of the civil rights movement. But fragmented an nation those days are long gone. Instead less. Lacking c battle. civil rights leaders must confront skills and profe ihot the indifference, even outright hos- shunned by and utility, of many white and non-white black leaders take Americans to affirmative action, shoved even the increased spending on social pro- margins of An o the grams, and civil rights marches, chronic problem lent. They confront a Bush administra- violence, family how tion that the overwhelming majori- abuse, the so early ty of blacks regard as an inherent rate of young rder, enemy of civil rights. mounting devs King That points to another challenge AIDS disease that King had only begun to wres- ties, abysmally nuch tle with in his last days. That's the public schools ders. plight of the legions of urban black even worse fo ;oted poor. As America unraveled in the middle-class c rights 1960s in the anarchy of urban riots, times have seel loral campus takeovers, and anti-war to get a handle day street battles, the civil rights move- The political Rita Pe PUBLISH Jacksonville RJ. huftbqr -of Comr-^icet rry ER Sylvia Perry Managing Editor CONTRIBUTORS: Charles Griggs, Camilla Thompson, Reginald Fullwood, E.O.Huthcinson, William Reed, Bruce Burwell, Phyllis Mack, Carlottra Guyton, Brenda Burwell, Rhonda Silver, Maretta Latimer, Rahman Johnson, Headshots ;aders fell apart, too. fell victim to their and failure. When down the racially rs of corporations, encies, and universi- lass blacks, not the rough them. later, there are now ericas. The fat, rich, le black America of y, Robert Johnson, Condoleezza Rice, gton and the legions black athletes and businesspersons and erica of the poor is d politically rudder- :ompetitive technical essional training, and many middle-class , they have been further to the outer nerican society. The ms of gang, and drug y breakdown, police 'aring incarceration g black males, the station of HIV and in black communi- y failing inner city s have made things r them. The mostly ivil rights leaders at med clueless on how on those problems. rise of, and soaring influence of black conservatives, the black evangelicals, and the furi- ous internal fights among blacks over gay marriage, gay rights, and abortion have tormented, per- plexed, and forced civil rights lead- ers, who are mostly liberal Democrats to confront their own gender and political biases. The endorsement of an anti-gay march by one of King's daughters a couple of years ago was another instance of a troubling issue that King didn't have to deal with. She evoked her father's name during the march, and was gently rebuked by Coretta Scott King. Though Coretta almost certainly spoke for King in championing gay rights, he still would have been in a bind over how to deal with a family disagree- ment on whether gay rights is a legitimate civil rights issue or not. Civil rights leaders will continue to walk a tight rope between the competing and sometimes contra- dictory needs of black conserva- tives, gay rights backers, and immi- gration reform advocates, while still trying to be a voice for the black poor. These are weighty challenges that would perplex and frustrate King if he were alive. It was so much easi- er when the challenge was water hoses, police dogs and Bull Connor. DISCLAIMER The United State provides opportu- nities for free expression of ideas. The Jacksonville Free Press has its view, but others may differ. Therefore, the Free Press ownership reserves the right to publish views and opinions by syndicated and local columnist, professional writers and other writers' which are solely their own. Those views do not neces- sarily reflect the policies and posi- tions of the staff and management of the Jacksonville Free Press. Readers, are encouraged to write letters to 'I editor commenting on current events as well as what they wouldlike to see included in the paper. All letters must be type writ- ten and signed and include a tele- phone number and address. Please address letters to the Editor; c/o JFP, P.O. Box 43580 Jacksonville, FL 32203. (No CALLS PLEASE) FE . NAME ADDRESS CITY Yes, I'd like to subscribe to the Jacksonville Free Press! Enclosed is my check _money order for $35.50 to cover my one year subscription. STATE_ ZIP I A Dreamed Of Should Black America be Mad that "black hate" music tops Billboard Chart? -^k- b Wi\lliam Reeed Pop duo Prussian Blue is shocking the nation S \\ ith sales of their End of.-A Black f]orld album. It is the soundtrack on a remake of one of the S nation's controversial race movies. Birth Of . f .\ Nui. Eii o.1.4 Black IworlJ is the third and ." most successful album for 12 and 13 year old *...; .- girls Lamb and Lynx, whose careers have sky- rocketed b) hat seems to be a shift in openly S. displaying open racism. S -:"H The President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund said: "It really\ breaks my heart to see those t o girls spewing out that kind of garbage". Ted Shaw. who plans to actively protest the girls' album sa:, s. "I am shocked that an album advo- cating the extermination of the black race could be so widely received by America". Lynx and Lamb ha.e been nurtured on racist beliefs by mother April since birth "\\e hope to bring about change in our people. "says Lamb. "We hope that our album and the mo\ ie Bith Ot1.4 .\naion will show our people exactly what needs to be done to make this country safe and white." In regards to their inspiration for the album, Lk nx says: "I saw white people hating %white people and \was afraid that America wanted to be black". In their promotional intend ie~s L\ n. and Lamb sa\ the most important social issue fa.icng the \\lute race "is not ha\ ing enough white babies born to replace ourselves and generally not hating good-quality white people being born. It seems like smart white girls w.ho haie good eugenics are more interested in making money n m a career or part ing than genrtng marned d land h ing a family. I'-, hard loi Mr. lhas. et al. to den . Prussian Blue's w white nationalist peciuasion or ihat the ha\e ligh ,'- ) recording sales and a huge and J" growing following. The real ques- ' tion is: Can ,otu dance to their music? Audiences heing able to dance to-- the music should be the sole criterion Prussian Blue Members Prussian Blue Members for Prussian Blue to be, or not to be. in free market system. For example. 20 years ago, N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude w as known as "the % orld's most dangerous rap group" yet, mil- lions of blacks bought and danced to their music. N.W.A. \was formed in Compton. California in 1986 and disbanded in 1991. C)Oer the course of their fie years together. NWA popularized gangsta lap with the groundbreaking Straight Outta Compton (1989) album, a vicious hardcore record that became an underground hit notorious for hardcore l\ rics and "reflection of a rising anger in that city". History shows, N\\ A redefined hip hop in lyrical and instrumental ways and was tfrst among groups ito achieve widespread d commercial success without radio pla. or cont.enlional mainlstrean promotions. With a title help from their friends. Prussian Blue's duo could be multi- millionaires before the\ are 20. NWA's "bo\z from the 'hood" went on to lead successful solo careers. Rolling Stone's 2004 Magazine ranked N.W.A 83 on their list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Easy-E and Dr. Dre became successful commercial rappers and producers. Ice Cube became kno\ n in films as an actor, writer, producer and director. "Cube" is famous and \.ealth\ ionm successful franchises that sprouted from the Friday ( 195 and Barbershop (20021 movies. In 2015. recording industry\ letenues, topped S12.27 billion. Over past years black rappers got some of that. They'\e become multi-millionaires through art and expression celebrating: the notorious "N-word". conspicu- ouis consumption, gunfights, misog, n\ and the crack trade. So. is it justi- fiable to den\ Pluissia Blue lights to record and perform their genre on today's music scene because the\ aren't enamored with African Americans and our culture.' It ma\ be as good foi black psyches, as it is to white's, to consider what the teenagers sa\ they're actually promoting: "Open your heart and \oul mind l o a timo e and place in the future .\\here Pride in who you are and liheie \ou came from. Lo\e.e for your people and Hope for the future arc acceptable for EVERYONE". 79 .1rf ' F L 0 F% I D A\' F I R T C 0 A S T QZ L X L I T 13 1L. A~ C K E E K L Y MAILING ADDRESS PHYSICAL ADDRESS TELEPHONE P.O. Box 43580 903 W. Edgewood Ave. (904) 634-1993 Jacksonville, FL 32203 Jacksonville, FL 32208 Fax (904) 765-3803 MAIL TO: JACKSONVILLE FREE PRESS P.O. BOX 43580, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32203 ___ ~ ;C