It has become a tradition with me on the day of the King Day Celebration to take time to reflect on what Dr. King did for us. I think, as a people, it is something we should do both individually and collectively. One year, while doing my reflecting, I wrote a piece called Keep Dreaming. I'd like to share some of those thoughts with you. As I reflected on Dr. King's life and the things that have transpired since he was killed, I found myself wondering what Dr. King would say if he were here today? What would he say if he could see our children dying on the nation's streets as they fight brother against brother? What would he say if he could see so many of our young men physically rotting behind bars, and mentally locked behind bars imposed by drug and alcohol abuse. What would he say to learn that in spite of all of his efforts, racial prejudice and hate is still alive and well today?
I think if he were here today he would tell us that we are the only ones who can place limitation on our dreams, that we have to dream high and reach higher. I think he would say to us, keep the dream alive and never stop moving forward. I think he would want us to do more than wait for our 40 acres and a mule. I think he would want us to strive towards personal excellence by educating ourselves and seizing every opportunity that life has to offer. I think he would fight to eradicate gang violence and unite gang members for a positive cause. I think he would seek to help us realize the significance of returning to familiar values and morals in order to strengthen and rebuild the family unit. I think he would tell us to that in order to save our children, we as parents, must invest our time and develop an interest in securing their future. Finally, I think he would say, my people keep marching, keep striving, keep praying and keep dreaming!
The privileges we embrace came at
great cost
Lives were lost
Men, women and children
Were scarred and battered
Their dreams shattered
They suffered and endured the pain
For our gain
We have no right to cry woe is me
By God’s grace we are not hanging
from some tree
We can’t forget from whence we have
come
All that was done
for our gain
How can we not say thank you
For all that was done?
For the battles that were won
For our gain.
For our gain
They did it all for our gain
Men were
sent to their graves
Not as free men, but as slaves
For our gain, Rosa took that ride
For our gain,
For our gain,
The Freedom Riders stood with pride
If we look back at our history,
We can’t help but say
Thank God for every victory
For every obstacle that was overcome
For everything that was done.
For our gain
For our gain.
We cannot fall asleep
There’s a promise to keep.
A debt we owe.
In case you didn't know,
If we are to honor our past,
There is a baton to be passed
A hill to be climbed by all
It is our destiny and our call
Martin shared his dream
Believing we’d know what it means.
Oh that he could have seen
All that we have seen
The defeats
that have been swallowed up in victory
Because he labored tirelessly.
In faith he gave his life
He made that sacrifice,
For our gain.
For our gain
For our gain.
He did it all for our gain.
copyright P. Newman-Harris