Rhetoric Race and Religion
R3 Contributor
Black History Month has begun and it has been everything but exciting. In fact, I suggest it has been somewhat embarrassing. Embarrassing for both America and Black America. These past few weeks have shown us the diminutive growth of America as a whole. From stereotyping a young black Suma Cum Laude graduate from Stanford to the demoralizing interview on Super Bowl Sunday between our POTUS and the belligerent and pugnacious Bill O’Reilly. The dominant culture has once again crashed our celebration. However, the dominant culture is not all to blame because we as African Americans have canceled the celebration or simply never showed up.
One of the most embarrassing things I have noticed in the past few days is the family feud over Dr. King’s prized possessions: his Nobel Peace Prize and his Bible. It’s no surprise that when Black History Month comes around that Dr. King’s name is mentioned. In fact, Dr. King’s Birthday is somewhat the pre-party that prepares us for Black History Month. But Dr. King is not being celebrated this month, not at least by some of his children. Because of a political assassination, Dr. King no longer possess the Nobel Peace Prize he earned in 1964 nor does he possess the Bible he preached from the night before his demise. The possessions fell into the hands of his wife and after her death they fell into the hands of his children. For the last 8 years, these possessions were safely kept, but now there seem to be some serious discussions on who should care for these items (the sons or the daughter). Not only is there discussion but this has now become a legal matter and accusations of monetary gain over possessions that neither child labored for.
There is a unique parallel between the story of Jesus (King of the Jews according to the soldiers) and the story of Martin Luther King, Jr. In no way, am I saying that Dr. King and Jesus is similar in character or even in their lifestyle. However, I do think there are some similarities in their deaths that are worth acknowledging. Both being political assassinated and both having their personal items gambled. The soldiers gambled Jesus possession at the cross and King’s children gambled his possession in the courtroom. Both parties cheapen the possessions of the decease for their own monetary gain.
I think there is something to be said about the depreciation of one’s possessions especially possessions we did not suffer or labor for, or people becoming possessed over someone else’s possession. Be clear, although the deceased men did not overvalue these possessions when they were alive, they did however take pride and acted as good stewards over their possessions. Perhaps both men had a bigger treasure in mind, a treasure where “neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”
What is it that cause us to be so possessed over things that we really don’t value? I suggest, that sometimes we become so possessed that we truly lose the possession. Although this saga between the King siblings is depressing and seems to be only get worse as the story unfolds, I do believe there is a lesson for you and I as stewards of history. The history we possess is not for our personal gain nor is it by any means our ticket to prominence or our reason to become a race of indolence. But we have this history for the sake of reminding us where we’ve been, helping us recognize where we are and allow it to direct us to where we need to go. This is history is not for sale nor will we gamble it away with our degradation of one another. We will not gamble it away with our classism and sexism. We will not gamble our history away with our “crab-like” mentality or our idiosyncratic mindsets.
If we gamble our history away then we wipe away the Sojourner Truth’s, W.E.B Dubois, Fannie Lue Hamer, Thurgood Marshalls, Medgar Evers, Harriet Tubman and so many more to name. It is demoralizing, degrading and demonic to gamble away possessions that others have labored and suffered for. Let us change the tide of this month and months to come. Let America do what she does best but let us make sure we don’t give consent to America’s actions by battling one another. Coretta Scott King shares these words about her husband’s National Day:
“The civil rights movement, which Martin led, gave fresh emphasis to the timelessness of our ideals and inspired countless millions around the world. With Martin’s holiday, we celebrate those heroes and heroines, not only blacks, but of all races and religions, who struggled, suffered, persevered, and helped to change our Nation for the better… Martin called upon peoples of every nation to join together in a common struggle against the enemies of humanity: Tyranny, poverty, racism, disease, and war. The national holiday is a time for personal re-commitment to do something about these evils.”
Let us not gamble our history away.
Follow Reginald on Twitter @RSBoyce
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