Barack and a hard place: In the shadow of Dr. King
Forty five years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I have a dream speech” and changed America. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, one man with a vision exposed America’s abandonment of “justice for all” and pushed basic truths into the light. Dr. King’s dream, that all people would be judged “on the content of their character,” proved so beautiful, so clear and so powerful, that it still echoes intact through the endless, cavernous debates about America’s soul; and probably will continue to for all time. In his time Dr. King was labeled a radical and subversive.
And tonight, Barack Obama, steps forward to accept the Democratic Party’s nomination to become the President of the United States. He is the first self-identified black man to do so. By his presence and new position in society, Barack Obama challenges us again to judge on the content of one’s character and to be very clear about what truths we as Americans hold to be self evident.
It is an awesome thing to witness. For some like me, still imprinted by the emotional ravages of forced busing and personal encounters with the smoke trails of enforced racial segregation; this is a moment to step up to embrace a fuller, brighter reality. My heart celebrates.
But all is not Roses or fields of abundance. I wish I could simply sit back and float on the Democratic electorate’s bold accomplishment and convince myself just for awhile to ignore the events that nag at my heart and my citizen’s consciousness and conscience. But the urgency for honest and transparent discussion won’t wait and cannot be quieted by ignoring the full dimension of Dr. King’s dream and where I believe we’ve fallen short as a nation. I’ve got to do my small part to continue calling attention to injustice as I see it.
What will Barack Obama say tonight? What can he say and still be elected President? Can he talk about how the increasing militarization of law enforcement corrodes public trust and sets the foundation for increasing erosion of Constitutional freedom? Will he share any details about what his vision of a sensible, well-reasoned and humane immigration policy looks like? And if he speaks of “enforcement” would it be too much to suggest that arresting the CEO’s of companies enjoying the profits of using inexpensive, unprotected labor would be the most effective action to stop the hiring of undocumented workers. Can Obama remind us that perpetual expansion of our prison industrial complex is not an honorable growth strategy for the American economy? Can he be explicit about how teachers, unions, taxpayers and parents can work together to forge a brighter future for public education? I really don’t know.
What I hope for, more than anything else tonight, is that Barack Obama speaks true to whatever is in his leader’s heart. This is a moment for him to step into his full measure as a man. I hope he will display the full content of his character.
