As a little girl I remember chanting “eeny meeny miney mo, catch a n****r by the toe”, it was the early sixties, I was 3 or 4 and hadn’t the slightest concept of what it meant. Somewhere along the way the “N” word became “Tiger” – I can’t recall an explanation, all I knew was we had to decide whose turn it was to go first, so tiger it was. There wasn’t a hateful bone in my body; my family – decent hard working people who never spoke ill of anyone. It wasn’t the deep south, this was rural Canada in 1963 – parents passing along rhymes they learned as children – nary a thought to meaning.
I believe that “Tiger” was Martin Luther King Jr. Fifty years ago today, close to a quarter of a million people marched on Washington, D.C. Gathered at the Washington Monument, Martin Luther King spoke for nearly 20 minutes, delivering his iconic I Have a Dream speech. Powerful, articulate, compelling – I can’t think of words that do justice to this moment in history.
MLK was a proud American; a man who asked only that people uphold the American constitution, the promise of emancipation, the pursuit of life, liberty and freedom for all citizens. He calls for tolerance, understanding, and peace. He asks that the black community forgive white America and proceed in a spirit of understanding. If you do nothing else today – take 5 minutes out of your life – click below and listen to the words of Martin Luther King Jr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFcbpGK9_aw
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Listen then ask yourself what it is you’re afraid of. Ask yourself what good it does to sabotage every move the Obama administration makes. Ask yourself if a “tiger” is just as capable of settling things as any other animal you could name. Ask yourself why you’re filled with contempt, ask yourself to snap out of the past and think for yourselves. Stop being afraid and ask yourself if America is worth fighting for. One of the greatest Americans in history answered that question 50 years ago today – to think his life was in vain breaks my heart.
notestoponder 
As kids we sung n****** too, then it changed to Tiger… and that was in Australia!
Great thoughts for this occasion. Loved the speeches I heard today. At the other end of the spectrum, sad to say, I have a friend who believes MLK was a Communist.
It’s strange but Communist seems to be the default position in America. If Tommy Douglas had been an American universal health care in Canada would never have happened.
The same guy thinks Obama born in Kenya and is a Muslim. Also believes his town shouldn’t (and doesn’t) honor MLK Day as a holiday because no blacks live in the town.
My mother knows a woman (a Canadian at that) who believes Obama is the Antichrist. I’ll say it again – what are we afraid of?
Exactly … and then some.
I great Canadian!
Reblogged this on notestoponder and commented:
I wanted to write a powerful ponder officially marking the Civil Rights Act 50th anniversary, something able to convey optimism, point out accomplishments rather than travesties. Hours of stalling, searching, feeble attempts at levity – still nothing but a headache and decision to re-post myself from last year.
Words of wisdom