Marian Wright Edelman, in a 1999 speech in Colorado, reminded her audience that on April 5, 1968, in Cleveland, Ohio, following Dr. King’s assassination, Robert Kennedy spoke about the mindless menace of violence in America, which again stains our land and every one of our lives.
“It is not,” Kennedy said, “the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. No one, no matter where he lives or what he does, can be certain who will suffer from some senseless action of bloodshed. And yet it goes on, and on, and on in this country of ours.”
Well, neither Robert Kennedy nor Marian Wright Edelman could predict the carnage that is happening in some African-American communities today. Could it be an example of black knowledge versus black ignorance? Dr. King said, “Nothing in the entire world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
Dr. King realized that knowledge is power; the more of it you have, the more power you have. Kofi Annan said: “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.”
Tom Clancy states the control of information is something the elite always do, particularly in a despotic form of government. Information, knowledge, is power. If you can control information, you can control people.
Even Mary J. Blige is convinced. She said she wish she had known that education is the key, that knowledge is power. She revealed, “Now I pick up books and watch educational shows with my husband. I’m seeing how knowledge can elevate you.”
Did Kennedy or Wright-Edelman foresee America’s gun violence epidemic? In America, black men and women are far more likely to be victims of lethal gun violence, and it is equally important to note that the overwhelming majority of these homicides are committed with firearms. Among males ages 15-34, African Americans are over 20 times more likely than whites to be victims of gun homicide.
Despite our best efforts to raise children to live happy, productive and healthy lives, our sons and daughters sometimes go astray. Straying can mean involvement in drug abuse, criminal activity, immorality, and even abuse of parents and others. Other forms of drifting, perhaps less serious but nevertheless troubling, include underachieving, dropping out of school, and finding little purpose or happiness in life.
I suggest some parents and children select the types of amusement in movies, movies and television. If knowledge is power, why can’t more parents direct their children to learn more about African-American history by watching documentaries and movies such as “12 Years a Slave” (2013), “Sankofa” (1993), “4 Little Girls,” “Bamboozled” (2000), “Malcolm X” (1992), “500 Years Later” (2005), “Eyes on the Prize,” “Middle Passage,” ‘”The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975” (2011), “A Woman Called Moses,” “The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross,” “Freedom Riders,” “Slavery by Another Name,” “More than a Month” and “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till” (2005).
In my opinion, some of the movies that should have been rejected and opposed are “Boyz n the Hood” (1991), “New Jack City,” “Menace 2 Society,” “South Central,” “Colors” and “Straight Outta Compton.”
Dr. King was an advocate of free speech who used the media as an open forum to broadcast his views on politics and society and morals. Too often our nation forgets the contributions and sacrifices made by a few of its citizens for the benefit of many, and by honoring them we honor all who followed in their footsteps.
Everyone in the United States knows about Dr. Martin Luther King. He is a symbol of national pride. They know the myths, the legends, and even some of the facts. While much has been written about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and the dramatic events which occurred in the Deep South, a most important and significant part of the story of the Civil Rights movement has largely gone untold.
Much of the truth is obscured by the romanticized mythology surrounding him. But the fact is that he was an amazing leader. I am certain he would be celebrating his 88th birthday by constantly marching and telling us to stop the killing.
Please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday night at 10 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 5:30 p.m. on KNLC-TV Ch. 24. I can be reached by fax at 314-837-3369, e-mail at berhay@swbell.net or on Twitter @berhay.
