For African-American and Black History Month in 2015, we have explored some of the impacts made by our brothers and sisters of African descent on folks with different cultural heritages. In entries below, read about a Greek-American, a Mauritanian, the famous Gloria Steinem and three members of the Ku Klux Klan. In addition, there is a long-awaited entry (for me) about the powerful story by Richard Wright, Native Son. We are all natives, somewhere. And we all belong. Our lives matter. I hope you enjoy these entries. I’d be honored to hear from you at: Tim@Bentari.com
Equal rights. Worker rights. Peace. To allay the endless grinding gears of the war machine that “civilized” society has become.
Dr. King made these goals his priorities. We can think of none better.
To honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we offer his words[1] as both a prayer and a promise:
King said, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
And we said, “We care!”
King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
And we said, “We love!”
King said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
And we said, “We speak out!”
King said, “No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied ’til justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”[2]
And we said, “We are marching—justly and righteously, like a mighty stream.”
Peace be with you!
Image: Excellent photo of the Martin Luther King Jr. Statue at MLK Jr. Blvd. and Holladay, Oregon Convention Center; found on-line at Portland Oregon Photography – Images and Dreams from the Oregon Street – A Photographic Landscape of Urban Oregon[3]
[1] For more quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., see: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html
[3] For more fantastic photos, see: http://www.portlandground.com/archives/2005/04/martin_luther_k_1.php