"Why don't they act more like Martin Luther King?"
"Martin Luther King didn't march for this"
"Is this how MLK would want you people to act"
The questions keep coming. People continue to hold Martin Luther King up as a monolith of what black people should aspire to be. The strong willed and passive leader. The man who marched for miles. I admire him and his dedication to the cause, but the truth is, I can't be like be like Martin Luther King.
Martin and I are both black men, that's the most obvious similarity. But that's not where it ends. MLK feared for his life every day. He lived fearing that if he moved too suddenly or said the wrong thing, police or some self empowered vigilante with a gun would kill him. That was in 1955. In 2015 I fear saying the wrong thing to a police officer or not responding to their commands before they're even given. I'm afraid I'll lie on the ground bleeding while an officer tells me "Fuck your breath." I'm afraid that if I decide to cosplay as an anime character I might get shot in the back. Martin was afraid, and I'm afraid. But, I can't be like Martin.
Martin believed that through nonviolent protest, things would change. At this point in my life I can't believe that. Maybe if Martin didn't believe it, he would have invested in a bulletproof vest. As much as people like to remind us that Martin accomplished through nonviolent means, he still died. Martin died 47 years ago, that's more than the years he lived. He died at 39. He didn't even see his 40th birthday. I can't be like Martin. I don't want forever but I want to live past 40 and standing still won't help that.
If we stand still we're nothing but easy targets for peace officers that believe a slow genocide is the most effective way to bring peace. We live in a time calling the police for help can lead to the death of a black man or woman. We live in a time when an off duty officer can pull his gun on a group of people because they were making too much noise, killing Rekia Boyd and have the charges thrown out. We live in a time when 12 year old Tamir Rice can get shot by a police officer who didn't even say a word then be called a thug on national news.
I'm sorry if I don't believe that singing "we shall overcome" will form a magic shield that will stop bullets from killing unarmed black people. I can't be like Martin Luther King. Police have moved beyond water hoses and dogs. Now it's tear gas, rubber bullets, riot gear, assault riffles and tanks. Martin marched against a system. Today, there's a war going on against black people. They're killing black people on camera now, and they don't give a damn how much you march or sing.
Martin Luther King did great things for black people, and I will forever be grateful for that. But I can't be like Martin. People liked Martin because he was peaceful but, that was not the only choice. Malcolm told us that it was the ballot or the bullet, and when they shoot at you, shoot back. Nobody is saying go out and kill police officers, but defend yourself, because they will shoot us while negotiating with Cliven Bundy and his militia.
I look at the news and it's all the same. They take the worst and flat out lie about what's happening. Then they say "Martin Luther King would be ashamed of the way his people are acting." They demonize us. They show police officers attacking students after the trains were shut down, but call the students gang members, because gang members fight with rocks and sticks. They hold up MLK as a picture of what a black person need to be. Quiet, stoic, and smiling in the face of constant death. I can't do that. No matter how much he sang and tried to talk about the issues, they didn't listen. In the end, he got shot, and now he's dead. So no, I won't be like Martin Luther King.
You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
Follow @OriginalKingD
"Martin Luther King didn't march for this"
"Is this how MLK would want you people to act"
The questions keep coming. People continue to hold Martin Luther King up as a monolith of what black people should aspire to be. The strong willed and passive leader. The man who marched for miles. I admire him and his dedication to the cause, but the truth is, I can't be like be like Martin Luther King.
Martin and I are both black men, that's the most obvious similarity. But that's not where it ends. MLK feared for his life every day. He lived fearing that if he moved too suddenly or said the wrong thing, police or some self empowered vigilante with a gun would kill him. That was in 1955. In 2015 I fear saying the wrong thing to a police officer or not responding to their commands before they're even given. I'm afraid I'll lie on the ground bleeding while an officer tells me "Fuck your breath." I'm afraid that if I decide to cosplay as an anime character I might get shot in the back. Martin was afraid, and I'm afraid. But, I can't be like Martin.
Martin believed that through nonviolent protest, things would change. At this point in my life I can't believe that. Maybe if Martin didn't believe it, he would have invested in a bulletproof vest. As much as people like to remind us that Martin accomplished through nonviolent means, he still died. Martin died 47 years ago, that's more than the years he lived. He died at 39. He didn't even see his 40th birthday. I can't be like Martin. I don't want forever but I want to live past 40 and standing still won't help that.If we stand still we're nothing but easy targets for peace officers that believe a slow genocide is the most effective way to bring peace. We live in a time calling the police for help can lead to the death of a black man or woman. We live in a time when an off duty officer can pull his gun on a group of people because they were making too much noise, killing Rekia Boyd and have the charges thrown out. We live in a time when 12 year old Tamir Rice can get shot by a police officer who didn't even say a word then be called a thug on national news.
I'm sorry if I don't believe that singing "we shall overcome" will form a magic shield that will stop bullets from killing unarmed black people. I can't be like Martin Luther King. Police have moved beyond water hoses and dogs. Now it's tear gas, rubber bullets, riot gear, assault riffles and tanks. Martin marched against a system. Today, there's a war going on against black people. They're killing black people on camera now, and they don't give a damn how much you march or sing.
Martin Luther King did great things for black people, and I will forever be grateful for that. But I can't be like Martin. People liked Martin because he was peaceful but, that was not the only choice. Malcolm told us that it was the ballot or the bullet, and when they shoot at you, shoot back. Nobody is saying go out and kill police officers, but defend yourself, because they will shoot us while negotiating with Cliven Bundy and his militia.
I look at the news and it's all the same. They take the worst and flat out lie about what's happening. Then they say "Martin Luther King would be ashamed of the way his people are acting." They demonize us. They show police officers attacking students after the trains were shut down, but call the students gang members, because gang members fight with rocks and sticks. They hold up MLK as a picture of what a black person need to be. Quiet, stoic, and smiling in the face of constant death. I can't do that. No matter how much he sang and tried to talk about the issues, they didn't listen. In the end, he got shot, and now he's dead. So no, I won't be like Martin Luther King.
You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
Follow @OriginalKingD
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Editorials
I cant be like Martin Luther king either, nor should we, this is a new century. All these protests an cries of justice are focused on the big cities, BIG MISTAKE, a small city by city approach is whats needed The tea party knew that, the tea party didn't get big an powerful by campaigning in big cities, big cities will be the first to go into chaos. protests are okay an bring attention, but laying on the ground in front of cops with guns is dumb, oh an since those non violent protests back in the day, we have been checkmated to oblivion. we are still protesting, but they have upgraded to tanks an bulletproof vests an better weapons, what worked in 1960s is not gonna work in 2015, time for different tactics, I'm not advocating violence either.
ReplyDeleteOur hope is the CHILDREN we have had many generations to correct this, the distractions have gotten stronger & numerous, we seem like a glutton for punishment, I should say we since I don't have any kids but u get the point. its time to regroup, family values an family tradition in black people have been thrown away while other races hold onto theirs no matter how wrong an thats the reason they still are on top an the playing field is not level. The reacting is leading us to slaughter in a corner with no exit. Why is our version of justice always after something bad happens? There has to be more than that to justice. This shit is sad, people still symbolicly lying on the ground playing dead, that is a desperate cry for help an attention, thats not justice. Do u understand how comfortable u have to be in this system u claim despise to lie on the ground an play dead/die-in in front of cops with guns!? I'm not even gonna do that in my yard until I check to see if ants are under me!
Great post, great writing, keep it up, its the unique perspective that a few of us share compared to the mass sheeple an sleepwalkers.