Martin Luther King, Jr.

........I've seen the promised land...I may not get their with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land!--Martin Luther King, Jr. 

I get the chills every time I hear Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Mountain Top speech.  The raw emotion coupled with the prophetic vision of that speech reverberates with the same clarity today as it did on the day it was delivered.  On the eve of an historic presidential inauguration, it is only fitting that we reflect on the legacy of King and his vision of a morally and socially just society.  

To me, Martin Luther King, Jr. was the most powerful orator this nation has ever seen.  His ability to use his voice as an instrument of justice--moving from the soft and reassuring to a crescendo of absolute anger of injustice--made him one of the most persuasive speakers of our time.  Aside from his words, King's commitment to Ghandian methods of non-violent protest channeled a collective anger into a focused commitment for social justice.  

The 60's images of peaceful demonstration in the midst of utter chaos have left a permanent imprint on my psyche.  I often wonder if I could've turned the other cheek like other King followers did in the midst of all the hate.  I recall the now famous scene at the diner where a protester has a milkshake hurled at him or the scene where innocent protesters were doused with a fire hose. Would I have been able to keep the same commitment to peaceful demonstration in those circumstances?  An eye for an eye is the doctrine most live by in the 'hood.  With that said, the fact that King was able to harness the collective anger brought on by the historical wounds of slavery makes his story even more legendary. 

Today, people have been called to service to honor Martin Luther King's legacy.  Faith-based institutions, community-groups, school children and their families will mobilize in record numbers to beautify parks, feed the homeless, provide clothing to those in need and to lend a helping hand to our nation's elderly.  The MLK Day of Service is a fitting tribute to a man that valued service to others as the greatest gift you could possibly give.  Through service and volunteerism, we are the keepers of King's legacy to lift others up through our deeds.  

Tomorrow, as President Obama takes the oath of office, I have a feeling Martin Luther King, Jr.'s spirit will be with our 44th president at the mountain top.  The promised land still awaits. However, we as a people will get there through dedicated service and a commitment to keeping King's vision for a morally and socially just society alive.     

    

Si Se Puede! Yes We Can!

Fear can be extremely powerful, leaving those in the shadows feeling helpless and searching for answers.  But, what we found out on November 4th was that hope and optimism are much more powerful.  The people have spoken by casting their ballots in record numbers and the winner is: Barack Obama.  

People were dancing in the streets, weeping without caution and generally feeling intoxicated by the magnitude of this historic event.  So why was this presidential victory so significant? Have we apotheosized Obama to the point there is just too much collective weight on his shoulders?   

Here are a couple of reasons why this victory was  significant.  First, for every Latino, African American, American Indian, Asian American and any other minority group who has felt disenfranchised by our government, the most unbreakable institutional glass ceiling in America was shattered to pieces.  For those who felt that the dream of being President of the United States of America was the unattainable dream---there is now hope.  I can now look at my Mexican-American daughter and say:  "Mi hija, someday if you work really hard, you can be President of the United States"--and mean it.  For those who have been through the struggle there is a beacon of hope.  For those that have not been through the struggle--you may not understand. 

Second, this election demonstrates that "bottom-up" really does work.  Gone are the days of being "parented" by our government and accepting things as they are because we feel that we can't make a difference.  It took me my entire adult life to come to grips with the power of the vote.  I approached politics and the political process with cynicism because I honestly felt that my vote didn't really matter.  Those that were in power were going to preserve their power and influence and there wasn't much I could really do about it.   I remember having a conversation with a friend of mine who left the country to do political work in Bolivia.  My question to him was:  "What motivated you to leave the U.S. to organize in Bolivia?"  He looked at me, gathered his thoughts and said: "People in the U.S. will complain about paying $4 a gallon for gas, but do nothing about it."  "In Bolivia, people will take to the streets and take up arms if they have to for what they believe in."  Now, taking up arms is a little radical for someone like me who prefers Ghandian methods, but the point was well taken. "Don't complain if you're not gonna be part of the solution."

At minimum, this election has elevated the hopes and dreams of those who felt left behind by government.  President-Elect Barack Obama faces some steep challenges for sure.  Can he really change Washington?  Only time will tell.  One thing is for sure, he cannot do it without the same groundswell of concerned citizens that helped him get elected to office.  There is also a significant debt of gratitude that we must pay to Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, Malcolm X and all of the other trailblazers of the Civil Rights Movement who lit the incandescent flame that has guided us to greater equality.  We are not quite at the "mountain top" yet.  But, the panoramic view from where we currently stand is breathtaking to say the least.