It is appropriate for all Americans to stop and observe Black History Month. The history of Black Americans is inextricably bound to the history of our great nation. We are saddened by what prejudice has done over the years to divide our people. Studying our history gives us perspective for the future. We all have a dream, but that dream needs to be bound to the dreams of Martin L. King, Jr. Maybe we are getting closer to those dreams, but we must continue, with diligence, our quest for freedom and equality for all Americans. As Dr. King put it in his “I Have a Dream” speech of 1963:
“From every mountainside, let freedom ring. And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, we will be able to speed that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
I have spent most all of my life around Black people. I usually felt very proud that I was not as prejudiced as my school chums. I have found that a little prejudiced is very much like being a little pregnant. It has taken a lot of effort on my part to rid myself of those stereotypical beliefs. A white guy born and raised in the South seems to be expected to be racist. Even though it is expect, it is further from the truth. My home State Senatorial District elected a candidate who happens to be black. His opposition, white, had been re-elected many times. During the campaign the ex-Senator used the underhanded campaign tactics of the Christian Right. My new senator keep the high road and talked about issues and his dreams.
I can only say that we are "free at last!" from the abuse and racist ideas of our former Senator. Just remember these words "free at last, free at last, thank God Almight,we're free at last!" are true for everyone. We all have to be free for any of us to be free.
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