He Had a Dream Too

My sons and I had a wonderful day today.

I thought I had to go into work even though it was a national holiday but late last night the Director of Events called me and told me I didn’t have to come but she would appreciate if I could stay late one night this week to assist her with last minute preparations for this event. I told her that I would try because I don’t have anyone to pick my sons up for me afterschool.

So I had the whole day to spend with my boys and we had a great time hanging out and watching TV as I told them what I knew about Martin Luther King, Jr.

“If he’s dead how come he still has a birthday?” my 5 year old asked.

“Well, sometimes there are people who do great things to help change the world and make it better. That’s what I’m trying to do and that’s what you should try to do too. Dr. King was one of those people who made a big difference and even though he’s dead, we still celebrate his life. Even when I die, you can still remember me on my birthday as a way to say I’m glad she was here.”

Who really sits back and focuses on Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr? Not too many Blacks do once they leave grade school but I think that it is important to reflect on the man, who I believe was the most popular Black leader in history. All across the country we get a day off to celebrate and most of us just get drunk or high and go to the MLK parade to show off our new outfits and flirt.

Regardless of how he came to be our leader, he rose to the occasion and stood up for all of us. He was scrutinized. He was targeted. He spent many nights away from his family all so that this fantasy, this dream of his could be made public. Many Blacks at that time had never dared to dream such a thing, much less speak it aloud to the multitudes. He dreamed and as he shared his heart with us, we began to dream too. Racial unity and desegregation became a realistic goal for us because Dr. King SPOKE it and gave this dream life.

He wasn’t the first big dreamer in history and he won’t be the last. Until we learn that our spoken words create our reality we will be bound to believe our circumstances dictate our future.

Dream. Dream loud. Dream strong. Dare to believe it.

Speak. Speak loud. Speak boldly. It’s not just a fantasy unless you decide that it is one.

We escaped slavery but we are still bound in our thoughts. We limit ourselves. Our shackles are self inflicted. We hold the key to unlock them but we don’t even want to try.

Speak life. Speak healing. Speak love.

Thank you Dr. King. Because you had a dream, I have one too. If yours could become a reality, so will mine.

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After many years of pain and helplessness I finally decided to stand up for myself. Check my Audioblog for details as I face one of my biggest fears tomorrow morning.