A subjective perspective lends objective perception to political neglect
By Derek Joy
Soon, America will celebrate the birth – Jan. 15,1929 – of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sure. The National Holiday will be recognized Jan. 19, 2015. Took a journey in hell and high water to make his birthday a National Holiday.
It took much more, even longer for America to elect its first Black American President. Barack Obama first won that office in Nov. 2008, and again in Nov. 2012.
It’s interesting how Black History Month is recognized in Feb., the shortest month of the year, less than three weeks after his birthday and two months before the day – April 4, 1968 – King was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tenn.
King and Obama will be the focus of many a Black History Month programs. Both are recognized as dynamic orators.
King’s speaking ability was recognized as a Southern Baptist minister, leader of the Non-Violent Civil Rights Movement, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and more. Obama’s gifts were acknowledged in undergraduate school, Harvard Law School, in Illinois politics, the U. S. Senate and his Presidency.
All of this, and more, reflected the essence of what was conveyed by three prominent Black Americans when they appeared on WPLG/Local 10’s This Week in South Florida with Host Glenna Milberg.
- Willard Fair, President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami, City of Miami District 5 Commissioner Keon Hardemon and Rev. Dr. Walter Richardson, pastor emeritus of Sweet Home M.B. Church in Perrine and member of the Miami Dade County Community Relations Board.
There they were, responding to questions about the ever increasing number of Black Americans being wounded and killed by gunfire. Most are perpetrated with automatic and semi-automatic weapons.
The problem is one that Hardemon describes as domestic terrorism, according to the Patriot Act. He would like to get federal assistance and employ some of the techniques used by the federal government in its war on international terrorism
“Parents must be involved,” said Richardson, who noted, “When I was in school teachers lived in the neighborhood. You saw them in different places in the community. Parents need to be educated, too.”
Hardemon and Richardson, like Fair, agree that education is a vital key to progress and success.
“Those of us who know that, must preach that. Education is the key,” said Fair, while acknowledging indignation at the parents whose kids were shot at 2 a.m. in the morning at an apartment complex on Liberty City.
It is a haunting reality that all too many parents, for whatever reason, allow their children to be out at all hours of the night. Another haunting reality is just how little some parents discipline their children, demand study and progress in school, in church and in the community.
So, when people of color celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Black History Month, none of the people recognized were not slovenly in their responsibilities in life.
Get up on the responsibilities associated with first getting an education, and second, constructively being productive in the application of education.
