Speak, Sistah, Speak! By Dr. Safisha Nzingha Hill Adeleke

I often wonder, if he were alive today, what would Martin do, say or think about the state of Black folks.
Would he rejoice in the fact that a few Negroes have "overcome," while the masses of Black folk are classified as "economically disadvantaged" (another term for poor)? Would he have spoken out against the brutal beating of Rodney King, the horrific murder of James Byrd, Jr. and the terrifying rape of Tawana Brawley? Would he have come to the aid of Shoshona Johnson? Would he have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan calling for a million men or for a million more? Or would he have lost his Black mind, put a handkerchief on his head and changed his name to Tom? I wonder, do you?
I can’t help but wonder if Dr. King would have continued down the path of standing up for the people, and speaking out against injustice everywhere. I wonder if he would have been a positive and powerful influence today, or would he have been like many of our civil rights warriors who simply faded away in a few paragraphs of a history book. I wonder what he would have to say about our brothers and sisters who were victims of Katrina. Do you think he would publicly agree with Kanye West that "GEORGE BUSH DON’T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE"? Or would he be hanging with the likes of Clarence, Ward, Armstrong, and J.C. and professing that "George loves everybody?"
It has only been in the last 20 years or so that Dr. King’s birthday has been "recognized" as a national holiday. Radio and television stations seem to think that the only speech he made worth promoting was made during the march on Washington where he spoke of a dream. They also believe that the most important part of the speech suggested that more than anything, he wanted his four little Black children to hold hands with little White children, whose ancestors were slave owners, murderers and rapists.
The media never mentions the portion of the speech warning that as long as there was no justice for "the Negro," that there would be no peace for those who continue to oppress, rape, beat and murder "Negroes." No discussion of the part, which suggests the results of this continued oppression, could be fatal (and fatal refers to death). Broadcast media also fails to give airtime to the part of the speech, which says that America wrote a check to the Negro, which came back, marked "insufficient funds." Hmm, I wonder.
I know that Martin would be tired from the years of fighting. I think he would be somewhat pleased with the progress, but perhaps disappointed that the reality of the dream of holding hands ultimately led to the destruction of the Black family, decreased Black owned businesses, and was instrumental in a majority of Black folks losing their Black minds. Just can’t help but wonder.
Remember the words of Dr. King who said, "When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative," and never forget, Aluta Continua, the struggle continues.