No question about it. That was one heck of a speech. I was there in August 1963, which actually doesn't seem like all that long ago. Dr. King was an extraordinary leader, murdered in his prime. But there were many others, now all gone, without whom the vast changes in American society that laid the groundwork for Barack Obama's election to the Presidency might not have happened: A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, Jim Farmer, Roy Wilkins and Whitney Young, among many others. The only principal March speaker still alive today is John Lewis, then Chairman of the the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and now a Georgia Congressman. Still, King was Primus Inter Pares and handily the best orator on hand that day. Everyone expected his speech to be the high point of the March, and no one was disappointed.
Monday, January 19, 2009
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I often wonder what King would think of his people today? He laid the groundwork for opportunity and success, and so many of his people have yet to get onboard. Instead of doing the hard work, they are still content to blame "whitey" for their lot in life, and take full advantage of the easy, free government giveaways. I doubt MLK would be happy with the rate of drug use, illegitimate children, black on black shootings and school drop outs to name a few.
ReplyDeleteSo impressive that they can memorize MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech, and then go on to do nothing more.
^Good grief, thanks Anonymous for yr stellar contribution to the post.
ReplyDeleteKing in 1963 is History for me--I'm too young--but I'd be interested if our host had further thoughts or reminisces of the March on Washington, or the links from that era to '09.
Chris
You're welcome. BTW...you must be in your 20's/30's. Reality hasn't opened your eyes yet.
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