Keeping Rev. Martin L. King Jr., Dream Alive! (Valdosta, Georgia 2007)

Food for thought! My hometown news paper "The Valdosta Daily Times published an article on January 7th, 2007 that read;

“Remembering MLK Founder’s Banquet keeps the dream alive. This commemoration Association Founder’s Banquet at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center drew 600 people. This proves that Dr. Kings dream is preserved and celebrated by all walks of life.”

Six-hundred (600) people at a ceremony sitting around tables, eating, drinking, listening to speeches, and receiving prizes is not proof that Dr. Martin L. King Jr., dream is alive.

I would rather see those highly honorable 600 outstanding Valdosta-Lowndes County citizens taking out a membership in 48 hours in the SCLC, NAACP, Operation PUSH, Peoples Tribunal or some other organization of good will with a people commitment.

So those who may not be middle class and suffering will truly honor and respect them as WE honor and respect Rev. Martin L. King Jr., for his work in the struggle until death helping others.

This would be more of living the dream and following MLK legacy. Then these 600 honorable citizens hopefully will begin asking why? Out of twenty-three department heads in Valdosta, and Lowndes County. There are only three Black Department heads in a city that is fifty-two percent Black. Out of five city schools only one is named after a Black person. Is the number of Black Judges in Lowndes County Circuit remotely reflective of the population?

How can local members of the clergy ignore eighteen deaths for whatever reasons in or surrounding the Lowndes County Jail? While many citizens bury their head in the sand like the legend concerning the ostrich to the many problems in our community. That Dr. King gave his life trying to resolve.

Or when a Black candidate was threatened with racial slurs and an alleged firearm was said to be at a polling place. The local media ignored the incident and never reported the candidates name to the general public. When fifteen citizens were arrested, held in jail without bail for twenty-four hours. For trying to change the name of a park from a man who refused to allow blacks into this city facility.

Ignoring these issues in Valdosta-Lowndes County is not carrying on the dream of Rev. Martin L. King Jr., therefore the published comments seem to be wishful thinking. The whole MLK Celebration not only in Valdosta, the State of Georgia but also across America has co-opted his legacy.

Dr. King took the hard, unpopular road because it was the right road. He did not court popularity, he courted danger.

He changed a nation, not for himself, but for his fellow human beings. Every MLK Celebration should be a call to continue his mission everyday, not a call for photo opportunities and to be seen among hundreds of people. Jesus said, and ye shall know the truth and the truth will make/set you free.

GEORGE BOSTON RHYNES, A concerned citizen and brother of humanity, Retired United States Air Force Veteran (From Active Duty)