I keep wondering when are we ever going to get to the place where a person is judged for the content of their character and not the color of their skin, and in today’s world the size of their wallet.
I remember it all too well. I was 22, living at home in Chicago, going to Chicago Teachers college and working part time at Sears. We were white, lower middle class. My dad was an assistant precinct captain for the Democratic Party. I would go on to teach in a Chicago Public School. Today I will be sitting at the desk welcoming and consoling Democrats at the Green Valley Democratic Club in AZ twenty miles south of Tucson (Democratic). I live 40 miles from the border and my church, Good Shepherd UCC works with migrants waiting for asylum in Nogales Sonora south of the border. We have a Samaritans group that does rescue searches and puts out water for migrants who are lost and close to death in the desert north of the border. I fear for the cruelty that is coming to this area. People who left their homes and just want to live their lives in peace. Will it ever end?
Carol, is there anything our grassroots can do up here in Phoenix? I’d be happy to reach out to my legislative district members or our Indivisible group.
Beautifully written about a time I well remember. I was in college when Dr King and Bobby K were shot. It was a devastating time/experience. It now seems as if all the changes those (and other) events wrought, are to be trashed. “We Shall Overcome again someday” remains to be seen.
But for a few small details, the start of this post describes my life in eastern Ohio, so this hits very close to home for me. I remythis time with many of the same feelings. Add into that being a sophomore at Kent State University on 4 May, 1970 and it's easy to see why this letter echos my life., but much better written.
Fantastic job! And ending, as it does, in a very powerful and positive note for our future.
Amen. 'need to listen to the song "For what it worth" .... Buffalo Springfield c. 1966. " We need to stop children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's goin' down!"
Thank you Earl. Your words always evoke so much emotion. I’ve spent the weekend thinking about Dr. King and will continue to today, after a good cry (I can’t help it). Then I will not give anymore energy to that abomination today.
I thank God everyday for this platform and the people here, we need each other.
Thanks purely to luck I had a high draft number. Some of my buddies were not so lucky. Those who went and survived combat were scarred for life. Once again today I shed water for the dead and wounded of that war. The country survived that war and Nixon. Throughout those years I never feared that our democracy was in jeopardy - I do now.
Thank you so much for these words. I just read the text of the I Have a Dream speech and plan to get Letter from Birmingham Jail down from the top shelf and read it too. Not watching any tv today because I cannot bear to see that fraud’s face or hear his unpleasant voice. Wishing you a good rest of the day.
You have outdone yourself again, Earl, by gifting us with what is probably your most beautiful essay thus far. We are about the same age, so I remember vividly the events of 1968 in much the same way you do, as I was living in the neighboring state of New York. What happens after this truly sorrowful and shameful day is anyone’s guess, but overcoming what faces us can only be done together.
I also believe today is MLK DAY and nothing else. I was in high school during the beginning of it all. I graduated in 1969 and remember as you do no problems then suddenly the winds changed. We had blacks in our sand no issues till 1968. And like you it did not make sense. This was west central Florida along the coast. I do have a certain amount of fear being dependent on Medicare and social security to survive. Hopefully it will be ok for the next 4 years. Your column helps me stay balanced. Thank you
You have brought back to me memories of what was lost from my youth.
Growing up in a vibrant working class neighborhood in the north sections of Staten Island our villain was Robert Moses. Another demagogue with unfettered power to reshape NYC and parts of upstate NY in his image.
His progress was building roads and bridges that deliberately divided the haves from the have nots.
But I also have great memories of the white and black children playing together on the acre of concrete that was the playground of PS19. We all walked there together, played softball and touch football together with little thought of black and white.
I'm there with you. Today is for Martin Luther King. Nothing else gets in the way.
Amen, Ramona.
I'm right with you 💯
I keep wondering when are we ever going to get to the place where a person is judged for the content of their character and not the color of their skin, and in today’s world the size of their wallet.
For some of us, it is dream.
For others, it is a nightmare.
Me too.
I remember it all too well. I was 22, living at home in Chicago, going to Chicago Teachers college and working part time at Sears. We were white, lower middle class. My dad was an assistant precinct captain for the Democratic Party. I would go on to teach in a Chicago Public School. Today I will be sitting at the desk welcoming and consoling Democrats at the Green Valley Democratic Club in AZ twenty miles south of Tucson (Democratic). I live 40 miles from the border and my church, Good Shepherd UCC works with migrants waiting for asylum in Nogales Sonora south of the border. We have a Samaritans group that does rescue searches and puts out water for migrants who are lost and close to death in the desert north of the border. I fear for the cruelty that is coming to this area. People who left their homes and just want to live their lives in peace. Will it ever end?
Will it ever end?
No.
Have you done what you can?
Yes.
Thank you Carol for your good works. I appreciate that you live your faith, we have too few examples of it.
Carol, is there anything our grassroots can do up here in Phoenix? I’d be happy to reach out to my legislative district members or our Indivisible group.
Beautifully written about a time I well remember. I was in college when Dr King and Bobby K were shot. It was a devastating time/experience. It now seems as if all the changes those (and other) events wrought, are to be trashed. “We Shall Overcome again someday” remains to be seen.
But for a few small details, the start of this post describes my life in eastern Ohio, so this hits very close to home for me. I remythis time with many of the same feelings. Add into that being a sophomore at Kent State University on 4 May, 1970 and it's easy to see why this letter echos my life., but much better written.
Fantastic job! And ending, as it does, in a very powerful and positive note for our future.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you.
The ONLY thing I give attention to today is the celebration of MLK. I am glad to have someone to look up to today.
Amen. 'need to listen to the song "For what it worth" .... Buffalo Springfield c. 1966. " We need to stop children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's goin' down!"
A song of the times ...
OMG that was beautiful and brilliant. I hope Curtis is out there alive and okay. And I thank you for such a wonderful thing to read on this day.
Thank you, Kira.
Thank you Earl. Your words always evoke so much emotion. I’ve spent the weekend thinking about Dr. King and will continue to today, after a good cry (I can’t help it). Then I will not give anymore energy to that abomination today.
I thank God everyday for this platform and the people here, we need each other.
Peace, Jenn.
To Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his enduring legacy.
Thanks purely to luck I had a high draft number. Some of my buddies were not so lucky. Those who went and survived combat were scarred for life. Once again today I shed water for the dead and wounded of that war. The country survived that war and Nixon. Throughout those years I never feared that our democracy was in jeopardy - I do now.
I wish I could say I felt differently ...
Thank you, Earl.
Thank you so much for these words. I just read the text of the I Have a Dream speech and plan to get Letter from Birmingham Jail down from the top shelf and read it too. Not watching any tv today because I cannot bear to see that fraud’s face or hear his unpleasant voice. Wishing you a good rest of the day.
As I do you, Pat.
-Peace
You have outdone yourself again, Earl, by gifting us with what is probably your most beautiful essay thus far. We are about the same age, so I remember vividly the events of 1968 in much the same way you do, as I was living in the neighboring state of New York. What happens after this truly sorrowful and shameful day is anyone’s guess, but overcoming what faces us can only be done together.
So we fight together, Janet ...
I also believe today is MLK DAY and nothing else. I was in high school during the beginning of it all. I graduated in 1969 and remember as you do no problems then suddenly the winds changed. We had blacks in our sand no issues till 1968. And like you it did not make sense. This was west central Florida along the coast. I do have a certain amount of fear being dependent on Medicare and social security to survive. Hopefully it will be ok for the next 4 years. Your column helps me stay balanced. Thank you
We lean on each other, Teri.
Earl,
You have brought back to me memories of what was lost from my youth.
Growing up in a vibrant working class neighborhood in the north sections of Staten Island our villain was Robert Moses. Another demagogue with unfettered power to reshape NYC and parts of upstate NY in his image.
His progress was building roads and bridges that deliberately divided the haves from the have nots.
But I also have great memories of the white and black children playing together on the acre of concrete that was the playground of PS19. We all walked there together, played softball and touch football together with little thought of black and white.
Love this, Harold.
Moses was a real bastard.
Hate and racism are taught, and Republicans have turned it into big business.
Loved Robert Caro’s book on Moses, “The Power Broker.”
A good but tough read for non New Yorkers. Akin to War and Peace in its detail.