Even
today; the mention of Doctor Martin
Luther King Jr.’s name elicits many emotions in American citizenry; for some,
sadness mixed with joy, pride, and remembrance of a seminal period of race
relations in our country; for others, an opportunity to finally speak out, in
force, against the injustices many of them had witnessed being perpetrated on
innocent men women and children; still, for others, the name conjures up
feelings of uneasiness, fear, resentment, anger, and sometimes, downright
hatred; and, of course, there are those who equate Doctor King’s name and
memory with the destruction of American democracy; at least ; their definition
of American democracy.
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People gather to commemorate Dr. King through celebration
and protest
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However; for a moment, let’s forget the
historical significance of Dr. King; let’s set aside his status as a social
justice paragon; let’s discount those who would describe him as a modern day
Moses; lets disregard the notion he was one of the most persuasive and prolific
speakers of the 20th Century; let’s ignore he put himself, front and center, in
a fight he could easily have avoided; finally, let’s remove his race from the
equation. I know; I know, my argument has just lost all credibility; because
persons who lose their minds usually lose credibility as well; but ride this
horse with me for a few more words while I explain. Though in the overall
scheme of things it is hard to separate an iconic ethic symbol from their
ethnicity; however, once we peel away the 2 square meters of troublesome, but
necessary, skin that covers us all, we cease to see everything through that
internal filter through which we invariably view the world. Once that filter is
removed, or, at least, disengaged, we can sing along to the 70’s Johnny Nash
hit “I can see clearly now”. For then and only then, can we see those important
traits; those endearing qualities; those defining characteristics of the person
in question that really matter. That is when you can clearly see a person’s
ideology, talent, drive, passion, morality, character, and humanity in its true
light.
Doctor King, to some degree, deserves all of
the above listed accolades; but I want to look at him as a man; not as a
perfect man, not as a flawless man; but, as a man; as an American Citizen; as
the epitome of what type of man America is, and always has been capable of
producing. Not only was Dr. King a product of the American dream; he was the very
embodiment of the American dream. Below is a short summary of his
accomplishments; and let me remind you he achieved all of this in 39 short
years:
·
King
was born in 1939
At Age 13 he became the youngest
assistant manager of a newspaper delivery station for the Atlanta Journal
·
At
Age 15 he passed an entrance exam for Morehouse College
·
Graduated
Booker T. Washington High School at 16
·
1948
Graduated Morehouse College with a degree in Sociology
·
Elected
student body president of Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania
·
1951
Graduated Crozer Theological Seminary
·
1954
Became Pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama
·
1955
Received his Ph.D. systematic theology, Boston University
·
1955
Led the Montgomery Bus Boycott
·
1957
Co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
·
1958
Authored Stride toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story; a memoir of the 1955-56
Montgomery Bus Boycotts.
·
1958
Narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a book signing.
·
1963
Gave his now famous “I have a dream” speech, one of the most memorable of the
20th century, to a quarter of a million attendees of the march and untold
millions via television while standing before the Lincoln Memorial.
·
1964
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
·
1965
Organized marches that proved instrumental in the passage of Voting Rights Act.
·
1967
He began to speak out against the Vietnam War
·
April
4 1968 King was assassinated
The point is, Dr. King; his life, death, and
accomplishments are NOT an African American story; his – is an American story.
The American Dream is based on the construct that every American can possibly
achieve success; not only was his life the consummation, of the American dream;
his life is every American’s dream; to see and live life, seize the moment,
pursue your dream, maximize your potential, evolve and grow as a person, find a
purpose in life, and perhaps most important, make a difference in your world.
Unfortunately,
for many, the American dream continues to be just that – a dream; for others –
little more than a cruel joke. The concept of the American Dream has never been
presented as a promise in and of itself; the promise is based on an idyllic fairness
and the conviction that opportunity awaits any American citizen; not
necessarily success; but opportunity. Therefore, in theory, no one is
guaranteed the things they want out of life in this country; but are guaranteed
the opportunity to pursue them. When people are even denied the opportunity
afforded others; they can get angry; become resentful; they lose hope and, this
country; our country; America, loses a pillar upon which its very foundation
has always stood.
What
is so painfully disheartening is that in many ways we seem to be moving in the
wrong direction; as if for some; progress; any progress, such as it is;
represents a threat and a challenge that must be dutifully and unquestioningly subdued or even better destroyed; driven into the
dust. So when we question why people are still marching in the streets; the
answer is quite simple; because it’s still necessary.
Okay
now that I’ve gotten that out of my system; I specializes in shooting unrest;
protests, rallies, sit ins, occupations etcetera; I do not see myself as a conflict
photographer; as it implies, at least to
me, war photography and I have not yet been in a war zone.
The
People’s Organization for progress (POP) held their annual International day of
protest; officially called, the Martin Luther King Jr. March for Racial
Equality, Economic Justice and Peace on January 15; which is the actual date of
Dr. King’s birth. The Newark NJ march has traditionally started at the Lincoln
statue that sits in front of the courthouse, just south of Essex County
College; however; this year; while the marchers gathered at the statue; the
march officially started with the participants honoring and saluting a recently
unveiled statue of Dr. King that stands just outside the Hall of Records on MLK
Boulevard.
I shot the march in black and
white; to me it gives them a timeless feel and acts as a homage to the people
who participated in and photographers who covered the events unfolding in the
50’s and 60’s.
As
always; comments are welcomed; even encouraged.
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