What Manner Of Man?

Dr. Martin Luther King's Dream -- Remembered

Dr King was just 34 when he delivered his landmark "I Have A Dream" speech in Washington, DC in 1963. He was just 35 when he won the Nobel Peace Prize. And he was just 39 when he was shot down in a motel in Memphis in 1968.

Dr. King had a dream about African Americans walking down main streets, sitting in the front of the busses, eating at lunch counters and no longer being afraid, no longer being forced to enter through and eat at rear entrances. In fact, Dr. King's back door was often the influence entry of one of America's most powerful leaders.

He was born and raised in Atlanta, and he preached a philosophy of equality and tolerance that has impacted the entire world and recently earned him a rare honor as a Catholic martyr, even though he was Baptist. His legacy lives on today -- not just in history books, but also through the everyday words and deeds of countless people who still believe in and cherish his dream.

Dr. King's dream and struggles for freedom were not just black or brown struggles, they were human ones. He opened minds, hearts and doors in ways no one had ever done. He made us understand we are tied together in a human destiny of life and bound by faith. That's why we celebrate his life and continue to deeply mourn his passing.

2009 Is A Year Of Change

As we move further into the new year, already we can anticipate some changes. The most notable change is the election of the first African-American President. Barack Obama. But there have been and will continue to be other changes in our institutions, government, education, arts, business, radio and music. They all play an important role in advancing multiculturalism. We are, after all, part of an America of many cultures, people and languages. However, obstacles of prejudice and cultural ignorance remind us daily just how lofty a goal "justice for all" really is. Our challenge has become finding balance between the "pluribus" and "unum" of our nation's motto: to become one out of many; to be different, but equal. In a multiracial society no group can make it alone.

The year 2009 will continue to be marked by some of the most revolutionary events in history: a costly war being fought in Iraq, tremendous economic and technological advances, globalization, and the emergence of a new movement that has the power to change the face of today's society. We find ourselves filled with questions. What kind of industry and country do we want to have? Can we remain competitive in this decade and beyond? Can we move forward and still hold on to tradition? Will we continue working toward including rather than excluding those who are "other" from our communities, our schools, our radio stations, our record labels and our businesses?

If African Americans still get much of their information about their communities from black radio, how can we have a strong democracy when most stations are concentrated in the hands of only a few? And it's a few who do not necessarily reflect a growing part of our nation. If we develop into a nation of technological haves and have-nots, divided by income, race and ethnicity, we're going to take a giant step backwards.

The Digital Divide

What is also real is the speed at which things are changing. I call it "the digital divide." It's part of "the digital decade." It's a decade of high-definition television and cameras; enhanced iPods, increased Internet speed and access; digital phones with MP3 capabilities; HD Radio; and Arbitron's new Portable People Meter, which is replacing the diary. The question then becomes how do we make sure the information highway has on-ramps and off-ramps into every neighborhood? This is part of that digital divide. You see it where highways bypassed minority communities or walled them off from the mainstream of commerce. Today you can travel to almost any market in America and see those great superhighways. The information highway can be a bridge that brings us together as an industry or one that continues to divide us.

Today's consumers can shop and buy practically anything, anywhere, anytime. "Going to the mall" without having to be there is turning into a real-time choice as consumers use wireless, web and cable technologies to purchase products. Your best customer is still an educated consumer. Now the question that emerges is, who educates him? Apathy leads to exploitation. The availability in digitized form of any contest, music, software, movies and books has already become a major factor. None of these things were even in the developing stages when Dr. Martin Luther King was alive, but now, thanks to the new technology, everybody knows about King, many through the use of the new technology.

Someone said of Dr. Martin Luther King's murder back in 1968, they have shot the dreamer and now we will see what happens to the dream. Today, in 2009, Dr. King's "dream" lives on. Dreamers and the power of dreams are important, no matter who's dreaming them.

Dreams allow us to see things other people don't see. All of us, whether we want to admit it or not, whether we can remember them or not, have dreams. Some of us are living our dreams. Some of us are still forming our dreams, and, unfortunately, some people have lost or given up on their dreams. As we celebrate and commemorate his birthday, we want to encourage you not to give up on your dreams and to keep the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King's dreams and hopes alive.

Historical Dreams

Let's briefly turn the clock back to August 28,1963, when the world witnessed the largest single demonstration in movement history. It took place in Washington, DC when King delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech. Following the speech and the march, the organizers were invited to a reception at the White House where President John F. Kennedy was bubbling over the success of the march.

Some say the ultimate recognition of Dr. King's crusade to secure equal rights for all came December 10, 1964 when, at age 35, he was the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1966 Dr. King and his family moved to Chicago, so that he could be closer to the poor people in the North who were struggling and suffering. People in the poor neighborhoods in northern cities had problems that were as serious as the discrimination they faced in the South. King planned a Poor People's March on Washington later that year. Shortly before that march in 1968, Dr. King went to Memphis.

When Dr. King visited Memphis in support of striking sanitation workers, he led marchers through the streets to call attention to the reasons for the strike. Violence broke out, and a young man was killed. An investigation was conducted, and it was later determined that the violence was caused by paid provocateurs.

Dr. King was determined to have another, successful march, and a rally was planned for April 3, 1968. That night King delivered his famous "Mountaintop" speech, in which he spoke of his mortality. The next day Rev. Ralph Abernathy joined Dr. King in his room at the Lorraine Motel. The conversation was light. About 6 o'clock they went out onto the balcony. It was there that the Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles heard the shot allegedly fired by James Earl Ray, saw King on the floor, rushed to his side and phoned for an ambulance. At the hospital they waited until the word finally came that Dr. King had passed.

Black people became furious. We were angry not only because Dr. King was killed. We were angry because one of our most respected leaders, one who stressed non-violence, was himself the victim of it. We were angry because we wanted answers. Answers to questions about why, although we were no longer slaves, we were still not really free. We wanted more answers about the life of Dr. King. We wanted to learn more about being respectful. These are the reasons why we celebrate this special day, the dreamer and the reason for the dream.

Dr. King dreamt of a world where elected officials acted more like statesmen than politicians. Where voters or all races realized that matters such as abortion and same-sex marriage are personal, not political issues. Where there are neither red states nor blue states, just United States. Where morality is shared, not legislated. Where Protestants and Catholics work together side by side in Northern Ireland. Where Jews and Arabs share territory in the Holy Land. These are dreams and goals we can keep alive, along with hope as we embark upon what is certain to be one of the most exciting and limitless times in history.

A Holiday In Celebration Of Freedom

"Dr. Martin Luther King's Birthday" is a special day, not only for African-Americans, but for everyone who can relate to another positive story of a civil rights pioneer who worked tirelessly to create conditions for positive change. We're all the beneficiaries of his courage and hard work -- just as we are the beneficiaries of the work of former slaves whose children and grandchildren will pass this day on to their children and grandchildren.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s name is a reminder of the reasons that this holiday was created and kept alive. Now that the celebration of his birthday has been made an official holiday and it has grown with more participation from freedom-loving people around the world, the celebration has become a time for reassuring each other, for praying, gathering and remembering.

Another Quick Look Back

The Civil Rights movement of the '50s and '60s yielded both positive and negative results. While it pulled many of the African-American youth away and into the struggle for racial equality, others linked these efforts to the historical struggles of their ancestors. This was evidenced by student demonstrators involved in the Atlanta civil rights campaign in the early 1960s, who wore freedom buttons. Dr. Martin Luther King was at the forefront of these struggles.

Throughout the '80s and '90s, right down to today, King's birthday continued to enjoy a growing and healthy interest from communities and organizations throughout the country. Institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Henry Ford Museum and others began sponsoring King-centered activities.

As we celebrate today in 2009, we look back and remember Dr. King and celebrate African-American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes on a more national and even global perspective, we work to ensure that the remarkable dedication and life of Dr. King are not forgotten.

You can see King's legacy in every city or town that names or re-names one of its streets or highways in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. You even see it where highways bypassed minority communities; or walled them off from the mainstream of commerce. Unfortunately, today you can also travel to almost any city and see some of those great superhighways transporting jobs and economic opportunity away from the inner city to the suburbs.

Those of us in Urban radio must make sure that, like the information highways with their on-ramps and off-ramps into every neighborhood, that Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday is not forgotten. Just like those conventional highways, the significance of this day can be another bridge that brings us together.

Years later, here are some thoughts on what both Urban and general-market radio stations can do to make their listeners more aware of the history of Dr. King's birthday and the reasons for the recognition movement.

Well-worded liners, news and public service announcements could all contain quick references to the holiday. Weekend public affairs shows should be geared toward recognizing the celebration of Dr. King's birthday, and these shows should be promoted throughout the week preceding his birthday.

Today, in 2009, we still have those stunning visions of racial equality manifested in a simple, yet stirring mantra: "I have a dream." Though Dr. King's cherished utopia has not arrived, it seems considerably even closer and less remote than it did 46 years ago in 1963, when from the Washington Mall, King challenged America to make his dream come true.

African-Americans are no longer relegated, as he lamented, to "a lonely island of poverty" in the midst of plenty. By a wide array of measures, now is a great time - the best time for celebration. This "sunniness" is reflected in the country's popular imagination, which freely celebrates the appeal and accomplishments of African-Americans. There have always been black successes and superstar achievers, but never before has black been quite so beautiful to so many. When did you ever think you would see black men as heroes of white children? Or that white-dominated states such as Iowa would choose to vote for a black for president?

As we look forward and reflect on the dreams and visions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday we celebrate this week, it's also a time to look back and remember. It's a time to reflect on the event that would plunge the nation and the world into shock and mourning. Dr. King had a dream about African-Americans walking down main streets, sitting in the front of the buses, eating at lunch counters and no longer being afraid, no longer being forced to enter through and eat at rear entrances. In fact, Dr. King's back door was often the influence entry of one of America's most powerful leaders.

He was born and raised in Atlanta, and he preached a philosophy of equality and tolerance that has impacted the entire world and recently earned him a rare honor as a Catholic martyr, even though he was Baptist. His legacy lives on today -- not just in history books, but also through the everyday words and deeds of countless people who still believe in and cherish his dream.

Dr. King's dream and struggles for freedom were not just black or brown struggles; they were human ones. He opened minds, hearts and doors in ways no one had ever done. He made us understand we are tied together in a human destiny of life and bound by faith. That's why we celebrate his life and continue to deeply mourn his passing.

More Change Is About to Come

A range of activities should be planned to celebrate, inform and entertain our audience. As traditional King's birthday celebrations and recognitions continue in 2009, there may soon be more than just the typical activities with which most will choose to celebrate this year. Urban radio should realize the importance of these times and Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, and continue to develop new ways to focus on education and self-improvement as a major part of these celebrations.

We have the power to deliver on Dr. King's dream. To do that we have to first recognize that we have the power to create this world. We can do this if we can accept the views of others, even if they differ from our own. We can make this world, our world, a better place.

We need to make this year the one in which we continue to believe in the power of Dr. King's dreams, along with our dreams and wake up to the new realities. If nothing else these defining moments in our history demonstrate once and for all that footprints on the sands of time were not made by standing still. Word.

Word.