As I reflect on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday, so much gets stirred up for me and in me. In years past, I would reflect on Rev. King’s dream for the future, the service projects conducted on that day and the Civil Rights Movement itself. I would categorize those reflections in the context of Rev. Dr. King’s dream and I would ask: what is the status of the dream at that moment?
On yesterday I pondered how the dream has fought its way into manifestation and the dream has become reality. For some, however, Rev. King’s dream is a nightmare and needs to be suppressed or kept unattainable at best. The idea that “little black girls would play with little white girls” scares people. An integration of cultures in all aspects of society freaks some people out! And this fear has led to war, evident in the Civil War. It has always been the fear of the unknown resulting in division and polarization. The dream is a nightmare for some.
As I think about a man who inspired humanity across the world, I do so staring at the shadow of fear in the leaders of these United States. The repetition of fear leads to the repetition of marginalization. Recounting the ‘alleged’ statements that were made behind a closed door in reference to people of color, I see the dream is a nightmare for some. Words with an associated tone of disgust and a sentiment of venom reflects the fear. The homogeneity among the 7 white Senator men around that table, a true reflection of each other even down to their haircut, reminds me that the dream is a nightmare for some.
I will not use this space defending those countries. No, I will trust in the education from a system that many have paid highly for that should have disclosed their contributions in war and civilization as a whole in some history class, somewhere. Nor will I use space to defend my Blackness, because I do not have to. In order for the dream to manifest, there must be truth in all people’s existence and their contributions. There must be a spirit of defense that leads to a form of correction. Where I will defend what is right and correct to inform what is wrong, either morally or factually. Anything void of such action is void of the truth and is a crime that lies in one’s own ignorance.
Rev. King expressed that our Christian responsibility is framed by a moral responsibility to break unjust laws and “to take direct action, rather than waiting potentially forever for justice to come through the courts.” He continued, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.
Rev. King was a prophet first and then an activist. He was inspired by God to speak to people who he had compassion for and from the injustices occurring he moved into action.
While there was great community service being done on yesterday, on today we need to be saying: Time IS Up! It is time for people to write their local, state and federal officials and say such references of our fellow brother and sister will no longer be tolerated. Time IS Up! The people of color that the homogenous Senators were sent to represent were offended and we will defend what is right. The dream may be a nightmare for some, and it is time that they face what many have feared all along: A United Nation of God’s children who will continue to dream and will dream even bigger!
Rev. Krista Forbes,
Acting Pastor