He died prematurely. While the world mourned John F. Kennedy in 1963, my sights were closer to home on a vociferous man whose messages were premature, but no less destined for the masses. I was an inquisitive 12-year old and a voracious reader, even then. I wandered through pages of my mind wondering to what extent, and how far could he traverse practicing and preaching on a non-aggression platform…and STILL live. Five years later he was dead. After countless marches, sit-ins, social sabotage and violent confrontations, they were able to silence a voice that was too loud and too logical. Could they afford to let this man live? Of course not! It was proof positive that forces of a different persuasion deemed him a threat. The ‘they’ I speak of is all too evident. But what manner of man was this?

No greater satisfaction than that of humility born out of heroism can we apply salve for our wounds in life. Hero to many, perhaps misunderstood by those hell bent on keeping control, he was a giant of a man! In my mind he was much more than a dreamer…but in our communities he was a visionary of hallowed hope, one who was an erudite scholar and an eloquent speaker where wit and wisdom personified. Moreover, he was much more than the proclamation of wanting to overcome against overwhelming odds. For me, he lives in my heart and a constant reminder of an icon with substance, and I refuse to talk about him as a past participle, or an awed verb of vanity. He’s still with me — a real MAN!

Today and tomorrow as Americans and the world over will honor his celebrity, let us not forget that his mantra was not only for Black folk, but also for those who continue to find fault in not preserving peaceful practices. I wonder if King’s legacy of social activism is still alive in the communities that he fought to save. Do we still care? Much to my chagrin, too many of us have been silent and nonchalant in taking initiatives to elicit continuity for change. How long will we defer the dream? The sad truth is — social change has been slow and tedious where it should count most since 1968. MLK preached sermons for everybody. Time is no respecter of man, but his messages will withstand the timeliness of truth. What manner of man? A man, that if allowed to live would have espoused coalition building, regional collaboratives, neighborhood enhancement, and other attempts at equal parity. Of this I’m sure.
As much as the “I Have A Dream” speech continues to inspire me, my heart is heaviest when it cannot, or doesn’t inspire others to make the dream a reality unless and until it is emulated through great resolve, hard work, tenacity, faith, and a whole lot of love.

Commemorating King’s birthday is fine, but again, how can we do so much more to help the lot of us? This essay is not a reprimand as it is a plea from one voice viable in my mind of what we should be doing both individually and collectively to improve pathological prominence. I do my part by mentoring to the boys that I endeavor to transition to men, and find the monies to see that they are properly educated. Role models we seek still, knowing that Mathatma Gandhi was his mentor, the world his battlefield, and God his Emancipator. In my freshman year at Morehouse, I felt so honored knowing that he also walked the same halls, but for only the chance to do half of what he accomplished would my own dream be of realistic value. Let the manner and legacy of this pretentious man manifest the dreams of YOUR destiny in making the dream happen!!