MLK – Is the Dream Important Now?

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. is surely the most famous black person of all time – no debate.  A staple of a figure around the world African American icon in US History. It’s the one holiday in the country named for a black person, and for good reason. He was a young reverend, husband, and father who was blessed by God to mobilize a generation of black folks fighting racial hatred with sacrificial hearts – ready to die, go to jail or both.

According to history when Martin Luther King died there were questions about the CIA being involved on some level.  James Earl Ray was arrested for the crime back in 1968, but was that the end of the story?  What is rarely spoken about for this young pioneer’s federal holiday in observation is the fact that most of that generation was in utter shock for quite some time.  As a matter of fact, many southern communities never recovered at all.

Just imagine the heartache ringing through the streets?  His untimely death sent that same generation mentioned earlier into a frenzy of what some might call a downward-spiral. There were many leaders who sprung up after his death, many of whom worked with him and are still alive, but could never gain the momentum or influence Rev. King experienced during his rise and fall.  Two notables are the Rev. Jessee Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton.

"That's NOT what Martin Luther King Wanted!"

Is Dream Important Now?

Below, you will find a number of videos – Young people from the US speaking their truths about Martin Luther King, Jr, the national holiday and Black History Month sure to enlighten you on how they feel.  Young people are the life-blood of any people, and that’s no different in the African American and folks living the urban experience (many races).

The Hip-Pop Culture and the tanning of America seen throughout the fabric of today’s inner-city streets make it a little difficult for our children and youth to pay much attention to actual history because so much of it has been changed, but why?

Word on the street is that nobody cares!  Many would agree instead of making America great again (when was that), this administration is making America a place where it’s cool to be racist again.  This, even though the US has the largest amount of immigrants in the world, over 45 million and counting.

"How About Horses?"

Before watching a few videos, we’ll take a look at some statistics about Martin Luther King, as it relates to our children and what they are being taught in school.  These statistics should shed a little light on whether or not the dream is important to this current generation outside of classroom projects and school-related themes.

MLK Dates, Times and Stories

• Birth Name: Michael King, Jr. (1/15/29)
• Parents: Minister Martin Luther King, Sr. & Alberta (Williams) King
• Both father and son’s names were changed to Martin Luther in honor of the protestant reformer
• Youngest Person to Ever Win Nobel Peace Prize at that time ()
• Ordained as a Baptist Minister
• Education: Morehouse, BA (1948); Crozer Theological Seminary, B.D.; and Boston University, Ph.D. (1955)
• Wife: Coretta Scott King (6/18/53-4/468)
• Children: Yolanda (11/17/55); Martin Luther III (10/23/57); Dexter (1/30/61); and Bernice (3/28/63)
• Moved to Atlanta, GA to become Co-Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church with his father
• President of the Montgomery Improvement Association
• President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
• Author of 5 Books: (1) Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community: (2) A Gift of Love: Sermons from “strength to love” and Other Preachings;  (3) Martin Luther King, Michael K. Honey’s “All Labor Has Dignity”; (4) Why We Can’t-Wait; and (5) I have a dream

"It's Not Equal for Me - Not Fair!"

• MLK was arrested once for driving 30 MPH in a 25-mile zone, In total, he was arrested 29 times before he died at the age of 39
• I Have a Dream Speech delivered during March on Washington for freedom, Jobs, and Justice (8/28/63)
• Named Time Magazine’s Man of the Year (1963)
• Present with President Lyndon B. Johnson as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law (2/2/64)
• Wins Nobel Peace Prize (1964)
• Johnson signs Voting Rights of 1965 (8/6/65)
• King is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee (4/4/68)
• Alberta King (Mom) was shot and killed in church 6 years after her son (6/30/74)
• Martin Luther King, Sr. was also an author who wrote an autobiography  entitled “Daddy King.”  His account includes his thoughts about his son, his influence on his son. He died on 11/8/84
• Coretta Scott King passed away on 1/30/2006

The above list of accomplishments is not exhaustive – it continues to roll on and on seemingly endless.  There is truth everywhere, on and off the Internet.  However, there’s truth in that the wheat grows along with the tare.  In other words, how do we wade through to facts?

"He was Like the President - A Good Man."

There are countless movies that tell the tale of how this young minister took the world by storm and caused major changes in this country as a result.  Meanwhile, due to all the information over the Internet, muddling through to the truth can be daunting.  Was MLK the only one in the movement?  It might seem that way.

There was not another inner-city urban representative that rose to such heights until President Barack Obama came on the scene and re-charged another generation – More growth within entrepreneurial growth and pursuits that this country has ever seen for blacks.  Now, that’s quite a bit of motivation.

Therefore, when in the position to enlighten young people of the significance of Martin Luther King, Jr. not only to black folks but people all over the world who are familiar with his life’s work, help them to understand the person – who he was?

"No! There's Still Racism."

What’s the Difference Between then and Now?

America is on a fast-track to becoming more racist than it was in the 50’s and ’60s and the playing field is a little different, but the fabric of the US remains the same.  Of the 1,974 members of the United States Senate, only ten have been African-American-Black.

Children all over the world are celebrating the early kick-off to the Black History Celebration and it won’t stop until Feb 29, 2020, when February closes.  Believe it or not, words are power and as long as the media focuses on MLK and Black History month black folks can only benefit.

"The Dream is Complete!"

How many Streets Named After Martin Luther King, Jr?

You can count on almost every metropolitan, inner-city urban environment there is a street (over 900) named after Martin Luther King, Jr., and that’s increasing every year.  Even Israel and Italy have streets named after King.  His home state of Georgia has the most streets named after him, over 100

To date, there are boulevards and/or streets named MLK in 42 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.  With only 11 states in the country that do not report having a street named after the Reverent Doctor King, hands down – Majority rule.

11-States Without Streets Named After Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. Alaska
2. Hawaii
3. Idaho
4. Maine
5. Montana
6. Nebraska
7. New Hampshire
8. North Dakota
9. Rhode Island
10. South Dakota
11. Vermont

Over 70% of boulevards and/or streets named MLK are in these southern states, with the most being in Georgia (his home):

• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Texas

13-Cities Have Named Freeways after Dr. King

1. Akron, Ohio
2. Camden, New Jersey
3. Colorado Springs, Colorado
4. Fayetteville, North Carolina
5. Fort Worth, Texas
6. Louisville, Kentucky
7. Jacksonville, Florida
8. Memphis, Tennessee
9. Norfolk, Virginia
10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Bucks County)
11. San Diego, California
12. Staten Island, New York
13. Tulsa, Oklahoma

More Videos:  What Are People Saying?

In Closing – Food for Thought

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15th, which is the day (his birthday) the community service and non-violent approach to change message are shared through action.  It’s not a day off it’s a day to do something for someone else.  Therefore, take today and run for 45-days, making MLK Holiday the absolute longest Holiday Celebration in US History. Now, run and share with everyone you know.

Remember: It’s All About Perception!

2-gifts for reading this entire article:

1. The Letter from Birmingham Jail – (Audio)
2. I Have a Dream Speech

Thank you for reading this article. Please leave any questions in the comments section below.  If you have a story idea or would like to be a contributor to Urban Academics the Mag, please reach out: contact@urban-academics.com