#MLKDay2014: Reflections From the BOP Team
Youth Speaks – Bringing the Noise for Dr. MLK jr.
The 17th annual bringing the noise for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr presented by youth speaks was nothing less than creative, inspiring and phenomenal. The word play from the poets was awesome. The musical/poetic vibe forced me to nod my head and snap my fingers in agreement. There were rappers, singers and poets all reppin’ for the legendary Dr. MLK. I really enjoyed the relevancy from one of the sisters, she said “tuition rising so only the rich can afford education” I’m sure the majority of our youth can relate, I know I can. Some spoke about power, some about love. Some spoke about unity, and some spoke about blood. But there was a common message “speak out on what you believe in.
By Halee Mosley, BOP Youth Member
I Have a Dream
Last night, like any other night, I watched the 10 o’clock news to be abreast of what’s going on in the Bay. In between all of the 49ers headlines the mainstream media managed to cover a story that ripped my heart out of my chest.
“Oakland family loses second son in space of two weeks.” The mother of 13-year-old Lee Weathersby III lost her oldest son yesterday afternoon, 19-year-old Lamar Broussard. Words could not start to articulate how I felt for Ms. Dinyel New (the mother of both victims) who now has none of her children. In the same breath that took to gasp for air after hearing the story, is the same breath that I exhaled and called upon the spirit and power of God for healing and protection for the family of the victims, Oakland’s community and more importantly the children in Oakland- our future.
After feeling helpless and grief stricken I was reminded today about the power and strength of God and what a little bit of faith can do. BOP had the pleasure of attending and tabling at the 16th annual MLK Day event organized by Attitudinal Healing at West Oakland’s historic McClymonds High School. The auditorium was filled with families and community, people of all races and ethnicities celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who used his ministry to work towards racial and social justice.
One of the main takeaways I have from today’s event is from one of the speakers. She was telling a story about her 27-year-old son who told her he was not like Martin Luther King Jr. or the other prominent figures his mother looked up to. She told him “we are all leaders.” I was reminded today why organizing matters, why creating spaces to develop Black leaders matters, why Martin Luther King Jr. could have such a dream 51 years ago, and why I can still dream today.
I dream that we will all be able to live in safe healthy communities free from gun violence and environmental violence and where all of the community has access to healthy food and your zip code does not have to be an indicator of our life expectancy. I have a dream, I have a dream, I have a dream.
By Jasmine Jones, BOP Community Organizer
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Together We Will Win
Today we celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Whether you choose to see him as civil rights leaders, a human rights champion, a visionary dreamer, a racial justice freedom fighter, an outspoken peace activist, a voice for economic equality, or a powerful minister often depends on your perspective.
If he were still alive, what type of issue would be on his agenda? What call for justice would echo from his pulpit? Well we can only speculate: Education? Violence? War? Economic Justice? Mass-Incarceration…so much work still left to be done.
However we choose to see him today, the truth is that long before he was loved by all and made into a national holiday, he was hated by many. He was spied on and lied about by the United States government. He was incarcerated, ostracized, threatened, beaten and eventually murdered. Remembering that part of the story is as significant as remembering the complexity and beauty of the powerful orator that we now celebrate. The other side of the story is what not only tells us about our country and our past but it also holds insight into our present and our future.
Dr. King not only had to endure incredible external obstacles but, he, like many others that organized under incredible hostility and threat, had to have faced a constant internal battle. And that internal battle is often the hardest warfare of all. How many times was he too exhausted, frustrated, lonely and afraid to do one more thing? We will never really know.
If the question is, how did one man lead such an incredible movement in our country? The answer is -he didn’t. Dr. King was wise enough to know that he was nothing if he depended on himself. His power was centered in his faith and the faith and commitment of those that walked in front, side by side and sometimes behind him. To celebrate him should mean to celebrate the power of a collective community coming together and organizing with a faith that could not lose. He was a spiritual man, he was a community man, and he was a connected man. Connected to a beloved community.
No matter what the issue is, no matter what the challenges are, no matter what we are up against, let history be our lesson. We will win. Together we will win.
By Jackie Byers, BOP Executive Director
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The Struggle Creates Change
As Yerba Buena Center filled with people to celebrate a man who changed the 20th century, the great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I cannot help but think about struggle and the tragedy that led to this great man’s demise.
As the choir started to sing “We Shall Overcome,” my mind traveled back to all those times I sat in history class listening to my teacher talk about the civil rights movement and how this young preacher arose from ashes and led this movement that eluded change in our nation.
I thought about the marches that were organized for change, but ended with canines being unleashed on the people, water eruption, arrested, assault, and on occasion even murder on individuals who believed that one day it will get better.
The change that took place in the community spread like wildfire, ended up changing an entire nation. A nation that was divided by black and white; a nation that told little black boys and little black girls that because of the color of their skin, they could never amount to anything.
Now I’m not knocking his great achievements because without him paving the way, we would not be celebrating America’s first black president.
What I am trying to say is that without the struggle that Dr. King and those great warriors for change and their sacrifices, we as a people would not have some of the liberties that we take for granted today.
We live in a country whereas much as we have done, there is still more work that needs to be done. I believe that if Dr. King were still alive, he would encourage us, the younger generation, to stand tall and be proud of who you are, be proud of the skin you’re in, and keep fighting until the war is won.
So, in honor of this hero, we salute Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the small time preacher from Atlanta Georgia, who stood upon the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and belted out the words: “Free at last, Free at Last, thank God Almighty, we are Free at Last.”
By Precious Neil, BOP Member