In Celebration of the Legacy...I Believe in the Power of Love

I Believe in the Power of Love

I believe in the power of love

His power of love.

No matter how hopeless it seems,

I’m going to hold fast the dream.

Do you believe?

Because I believe

I believe in the power of love,

His power of love

Someday Martin’s dream will come to pass

We shall be free at last

I believe

Yes, I believe,

Believe in the power of love,

His power of love.

If I can believe,

You can believe

We all can believe

We must believe

We can make his dream reality

Just you and me

I know the day will come

Freedom will be for everyone

No matter what color, race or creed

We shall all be free

We must hold fast the dream,

No matter how hopeless it seems

When it’s all said and done,

One day we shall live as one

I believe.

We all must believe,

Believe,

Believe

In the power of love

His power of love

What good is it to tear down the walls of hate,

And stand firmly apart?

Change has to begin in the heart.

I must believe,

You must believe,

We all must believe,

Believe,

Believe

Believe

In the power of love.

His power of love.

copyright 2010 Patricia Newman-Harris

Matters of the Heart

Celebrating the Dream-Happy Birthday Dr. King

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!