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January 19, 1989 • Portland Observer • Page 9
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I
The Courage Of Martin
Luther King, Jr.
by Beniamin F, Chavis. Jr.
“ But I want you to know tonight,
that, as a people we will get to the
Prom ise Land. I’m not worried about
anything. I’m not fearing any man.
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the
com ing of the Lord.” These were
som e of the last public statements
m ade by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. It was on April 3, 1968 at the
Masonic Tem ple in Memphis, Ten
nessee, that Dr. King gave this fa
mous and last speech. Dr. King af
firmed that he had been to “the
m ountaintop” and he encouraged the
huge crowd present to continue to
make a stand for justice. On April 4,
1968, an assassin’s bullet attempted
to silence the dream and the dreamer.
Dr. King’s tragic m urder has had a
continuous impact on the civil rights
movement during the last twenty years.
W e are still in need of the kind of
leadership that Dr. King exemplified
with his ministry and life.
As 1989 begins and as the nation
focuses on the birthday celebrations
of Dr. King, we believe that it is im por
tant to re-em phasize what we believe
to be one of the essential qualities of
Dr. King's leadership the courage to
struggle. Dr. King’s courage to wage
struggle on behalf of the downtrod
den was based on his faith and the
God of liberation. Dr. King’s religion
did not prevent him from being an
activist and an outspoken articulator
of the interest of the oppressed. In
fact, it was Dr. King's religious beliefs
and faith that enabled him to take
unprecedented risks in behalf of the
cause of justice, freedom and peace.
W ithin the African American com
m unity across the nation, as well as in
other racial and ethnic communities,
there is a deep void in the kind of
leadership that is present. At a tim e
w hen our com m unities are facing a
m ultifaceted resurgence in racism,
we are in need of bold and coura
geous leadership in the tradition of
Martin Luther King, Jr.
How will a new generation of lead
ers em erge to take up the torch of Dr.
King? This will only be possible if a
serious effort is organized by the major
civil rights organizations to recruit,
train, network and nurture thousands
of youth who are out there searching
for a meaningful future. If the freedom
Birthday presence.
What would you give
Martinon his birthday’
Can you separate the man
from his ideas’
m ovement remains reluctant to put a
priority on youth leadership develop
ment, then the possibilities of future
victories for racial justice will be se
verely limited.
The courage of Dr. King to m obi
lize the powerless in order to effec
tively challenge the powerful was one
of Dr. King’s remarkable characteris
tics. Dr. King was not interested in
just getting his name in the newspa
per or his face on television. Dr. King
used the media strategically to heighten
the national consciousness not only
about the extent of racial discrim ina
tion, but also about the determ ination
of African-Am ericans and others to
fight against racial injustice.
Unfortunately, today there are too
many leaders who allow the media
and the system s of oppression to use
them against the interest of the poor
and the downtrodden. We will not
engage in name calling but suffice it
to say if Dr. King were alive, he would
denounce some of the cowardly,
bumbling baffoons who are just pre
tending to be civil rights leaders loyal
to Dr. King’s dream.
W e believe if Dr. King were a'ive,
he would be courageously struggling
to lead a national movement against
the racial bigotry that has been en
hanced as a result of the Reagan-
Bush years. Dr. King would simply
not com prom ise the truth,about the
injustice of current domestic and for
eign policies. It is our prayer, in the
advent and wake of the national cele
brations in tribute to Dr. King’s leg
acy, that more of us will be inspired to
shoulder more of the leadership re
sponsibilities toward an effective socio
econom ic transform ation of this soci
ety. W e all should contem plate and
take up the courage of Dr. King’s
leadership.
How do you gift wrap a dream’
Can you put Peace in a box’
Maybe you could send him
a world of people who are
glad that he lived,
who are trying
to live the lessons
of compassion
of courage
of a right and wrong
where truth does not discriminate,
but can be found in the soul;
A world of people trying simply
to do what is right.
-Those lessons
that he left us
Happy Birthday, Dr King
ad ,-Loio ¿.--¿8
Postal Issues Honoring
Martin Luther King Now
Available
A special memorial collection of
postage stamps is being offered by
the International Stamp Collectors
Society to mark the birthday of Dr.
Martin Luther King.
The collection includes two com
plete uncancelled large com m em o
rative stamps called Souvenir Sheets
issued by the United Arab Emirates,
plus the 15-cent Unitdd States stamp
commemorating the fallen civil rights
leader. Those ordering these items
will also receive at no extra charge,
the U S. stam ps which pay tribute to
president John ft. Kennedy and Robert
Kennedy.
'* X
Checks or money orders for $14.95
should be sent to the International
Stam p Collectors Society: P.O. Box
854, Van Nuys, California 91408.
Telephone: (818) 997-6496 (24 hours).
Dr. M a rtin L . K ing, Jr..
A finely-detailed
porcelain portrait bust,
by Olvero
L
Height: 10 Inches
Width: 8 Inches
Ebony Color
Weight: Including Solid
Walnut base is 2 Lbs.,
8 Ounces
Please Allow 5 Weeks
For Delivery
This attractive porcelain is yours for only $7 15.
Oliver Tracy, Box 14265, Portland, Oregon 97214
For more information please call (503) 235-0481
Martin
Luther
King
1929-1968
u
We have a responsibility to help
our children understand and
appreciate not only the charisma,
commitment and courage o f
Martin Luther King, Jr., but
his dream as well. ”
muLTnomRH co u rrrv
( (
I I
His Dream to Live on
‘ •
* *1 •
What begins with a great idea sometimes takes a dream to
see it through. We're proud to honor the man who gave
Americans, both black and white, a share of his dream.
II
* * * *
• » - • " Î ’
j,
„» A.iVi W 'l' à ***>’ ’
T
•
*' A. .
I,
.have
a dream that
one day the
nation will
rise up and
live out the
true mean
ing of its
creed...all
men are
created
equal. 11