Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: The Torch Is Passed, But Is It Still Burning?

Today is of course the day that our country observes Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.

Tomorrow, our nation will inaugurate the first black man, Barack Obama, to the office of President of the United States.

King was a courageous and unwavering advocate for the black community.

More so, he sought social and economic justice for all men and women regardless of race.

Barack Obama, I believe, can be seen on some level as the embodiment of the continuation of King’s dream.

But my friends, in those forty years in between the MLK assassination and Obama’s election, many an African-American has promulgated the dream of King and others.

I think today is a good time to acknowledge some of those of African-American heritage that moved King’s vision forward to where we are today with the inauguration of Barack Obama.


Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth…Rev. Shuttlesworth will be 87 this year. He was a close associate of MLK, and was instrumental in the Civil Rights movement in Alabama.

He was a survivor of three assassination attempts in the late 50’s. In the 60’s, he started a church and civil rights network in Cincinnati, Ohio.

I had the honor to act as his assistant for a church service back in 1998.

I was at his side the entire time, as well as having breakfast with him prior to the service.

It was both exciting and humbling to be standing next to, and talking with and assisting such a giant.

There are quite few other notables as well who promulgated the King dream.

Sammy Davis, Jr…He proved to every African-American kid that being a black, short, one-eyed Jew, doesn’t have to prevent you from headlining in Vegas.

Jimmie J.J. Walker…He made housing project life tolerable for many a black family during the 70’s. His cutting edge…um…comedy, was infectious. I guess it helped that he looked like an Ethiopian.

Maya Angelou…A beacon of hope to young, less than talented black women everywhere.

Angelou has demonstrated that if a black woman speaks in a halting, professorial style while reading her incredibly bad poetry, white folks will still pay good money to listen to her painfully bad prose.

Al Sharpton…Are you an alleged rape victim? Is the man keeping you down?

Call Brother Al, he’ll get the media to cover your plight in a minute. Fame and money are guaranteed; the truth is optional.

Eh, I guess I’m just in a pissy mood on this day that honors a great man such as Martin Luther King, Jr.

There are to me, no more Kings, Shuttlesworths, Patrick Henrys, or Ben Franklins in the world. There is no greatness.

Of course, every generation probably has said and will say the same thing, but I think we as a society, have learned to settle for mediocrity.

Time will tell the level of greatness in Obama, and for him, I hope nothing but the best. But man…

When are we going to step up and demand more from our leaders, and more from ourselves? When are we going to demand a little King from all of us?

It better be soon, because our country really needs that type of vision and that type of courage.

Have a great MLK Day, all.

Cheers!!