Mumia Abu-Jamal from death row
America's Martin & Martin's America
Published Feb 7, 2008 9:40 PM
From a Jan. 11 message played at a rally following the Jan. 21 Martin
Luther King march against racism in front of the CNN/Time Warner building in
New York.
As millions of people ready themselves for a (hopefully) paid holiday in
remembrance of assassinated civil rights leader, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr., we are forced to come to grips with who the man was, rather than
who he has been projected to be.
In the words of noted historian (and once King’s close confidant) Vincent
Harding, “America has largely chosen the path of amnesia rather than true
remembrance of the man. It appears as if the price for the first nationalist
holiday honoring a Black man is the development of a massive case of national
amnesia concerning who that Black man really was.
“At both personal and collective levels, of course, it is often the case
that amnesia is not ultimately harmful to the patient. However, in this case,
it is very dangerous, for the things we have chosen to forget about King (and
about ourselves) constitute some of the most hopeful possibilities and
resources for our magnificent and very needy nation.
“Indeed, I would suggest that we Americans have chosen amnesia rather
than continue King’s painful, uncharted, and often disruptive struggle
toward a more perfect union. I would also suggest that those of us who are
historians and citizens have a special responsibility to challenge the loss of
memory, in ourselves and others, to allow our skills in probing the past to
become resources for healing and for hope.
“In other words, [if] Martin King cannot challenge those who make him a
harmless Black icon, then we surely can raise such a challenge—assuming
that we are still alive.” (Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero,
1998, Orbis Books)
What distinguishes the life and work of King towards his latter days was his
dedication to Black poor folks, a group that seems to be all but forgotten in
the years since his passing.
While today’s America seems to be on the brink of electing a Black person
(or at least possibly nominating one), the plight of the Black poor could
hardly be more perilous.
For it is on them that the twin weights of poverty and state repression are
dropped, with little relief from a civil rights leadership which occasionally
seems overwhelmed with the threats and conflicts facing those of better means
and resources.
Indeed, much of that leadership is, as was Dr. King himself, quite highly
educated, and seeking entree into the highest levels of state and corporate
power; levels virtually impenetrable to millions of Black poor folks.
For them is reserved the worst of public education; the worst housing; brutal
treatment by cops; ignored by political leaders (at least until election time
rolls around); highest rates of joblessness; the highest incarceration
rates—we know this list can go on and on.
King Day may be remembered, but the man behind the name is fast
disappearing.
It is virtually forgotten that he sacrificed his life on behalf of striking
garbage men, Black workers who wanted a decent wage to be sure, but also wanted
simple, human dignity.
In 1967, one year before his assassination, a perceptive journalist, the late
David Halberstam, wrote in Harper’s magazine his impressions: “King
has decided to represent the ghettos, he will work in them and speak for them.
But their voice is harsh and alienated. If King is to speak for them truly,
then his voice must reflect theirs; it, too, must be alienated, and it is
likely to be increasingly at odds with American society.”
America establishes a holiday, and promptly forgets what he lived for.
From death row, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Go to www.prisonradio.org to hear Mumia’s audio messages.
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