The theme of the 2016 St. Louis Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee is “The Dream is Ours,” and the focus of the Missouri Statewide celebration is “The Dream Belongs to ALL of US.”
Mrs. Coretta Scott King declared that the holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. She held that we commemorate as well, the timeless values he taught us through his example; the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. She said on this holiday we remember the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.
Mrs. King also stated, “We remember Dr. King’s inspiring words, because his voice and his vision filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King knew that it wasn’t enough just to talk the talk, that he had to walk the walk for his words to be credible. And so we commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice every day. The man who braved threats and jail and beatings and who ultimately paid the highest price to make democracy a reality for all Americans.”
Most of us are able to name the many songs associated with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ‘60s, and we have heard of the hymns, spirituals and other religious songs that Dr. King believed helped carry him through troubled times.
Some of the songs related to Dr. King and to the crusade are “People Get Ready,” “A Change is Gonna Come,” “Eyes on the Prize,” “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me,” “Round Freedom Highway,” “Oh Freedom,” “Go Tell it on The Mountain,” “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “We Shall Not be Moved.”
There are so many more, but the one song that Dr. King wished for during his marches is hardly mentioned in his memoirs, biographies and life stories. It is a composition by the late jazz pianist Dr. Billy Taylor and Dick Lamb. The song is “I Wish I Knew How it Feels To Be Free.”
Here are the lyrics:
I wish I knew how
It would feel to be free
I wish I could break
All the chains holdin’ me
I wish I could say
All the things that I should say
Say ’em loud say ’em clear
For the whole ’round world to hear
I wish I could share
All the love that’s in my heart
Remove all the bars
That keep us apart
I wish you could know
What it means to be me
Then you’d see and agree
That every man should be free
I wish I could give
All I’m longin’ to give
I wish I could live like I’m longing to live
I wish I could do all the things that I can do
And though I’m way overdue
I’d be startin’ a new
Well I wish I could be
Like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be
If I found I could fly
Oh I’d soar to the sun
And look down at the sea
Then I’d sing ’cause I’d know yeah
And I’d sing ’cause I’d know yeah
And I’d sing ’cause I’d know
I’d know how it feels
I’d know how it feels to be free
Yeah, yeah I’d know how it feels
Yes, I’d know
I’d know how it feels, how it feels
To be free, oh lord
Dr. King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” I believe Dr. King received illumination from this song. It made him feel good.
Now, as the nation celebrates the anniversary of his birth, there is no question whether or not Dr. King’s work will stand the test of time, and while universities and libraries are ensuring his legacy, everyone agrees there is still work to be done. Dr. King realized that by demanding the rights for African Americans also fall responsibilities, so we must keep his dream alive.
Please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday night at 10 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. on KNLC-TV Channel 24.
I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or e-mail at: berhay@swbell.net. Or on Twitter : @berhay.
