LeadTrac Photography: Local Organization Commemorates MLK Jr.’s birth with a Protest March

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.

People gather to commemorate Dr. King through celebration and protest

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.