On this gray (and on-and-off snowy) Saturday, I have been busy doing things around the house and errands outside of the house. I missed the RRBC “Eyes on the Book” session because I was involved in something else and looked up, noticing that the clock said 12:45 (11:45 CT). I’ll have to watch the recorded version.
I took a pile of papers to the bank to be shredded, then I went to the used bookstore to see if they had a copy of the collected works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow My sister finally came to visit me a couple of days ago (she lives in southwest Virginia now, the town where our dad grew up). She was looking for such an anthology. We had a few poetry collections but not that one (note to self, the English major: Henry Wordsworth is NOT Longfellow!). My sister is staying at a friend’s house and had picked up an Longfellow anthology published in 1893. She was looking for that specific collection, but I’m sure if I tried to find that one, it would be classified as an antique. I ordered her a modern-day version at the location independent bookstore.
In about an hour, I’ll be heading off to do my radio show. I will play several songs to remember Martin Luther King, Jr. for his birthday. On the Boston Common yesterday, the city unveiled an emotional sculpture, “The Embrace,” depicting him and Coretta Scott King. It’s their arms embracing one another. They met on the Boston Common when MLK Jr. was pursuing his doctorate in theology at Boston University. To read an Associated Press article about “The Embrace” and see a photo of it, click on the following link:
https://apnews.com/article/ri-state-wire-boston-365f67444fc676bd6203e6cdee679ff9
I was 19 when he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee and a journalism student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The general sentiment on campus was, in effect, “He was asking for it, but it’s too bad it had to happen in Tennessee.” MLK Jr. was one of my idols back then. He was a man of peace, working for equality and for the poor of our country. He was in Memphis to stand by striking garbage workers, all Black, who hadn’t had a monetary raise for a long time. They carried signs that read, “I am a MAN!” He inspired me to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement myself–a teenaged White girl with a mother from Boston and a father from southwestern Virginia. Boston had its own racism issues, mostly associated with school desegregation at the time.
It is because of this that I honor him every year on my radio show. So many songs have been written for him, and so many people don’t even know about the poignancy of the music and the lives he touched–young and old, Black and White, and everyone in between. He sought dignity and justice for all. He still holds a place deep in my heart.
I learned a lot Wanda! I knew about the sculpture but I didn’t know he met Mrs. King in Boston. He inspired so many. Glad you were one of them. Congratulations on 13 days! Keep going!
Hi Linda–Getting ready to leave the radio station. I ran out of room for all the songs I found to play in his honor. There hasn’t been anyone like him since.
What a beautiful post, Wanda! My nephew wrote a spoken word poem and presented it at an MLK event today. His pieces was all about acceptance and love. Even today, MLK’s message rings loud and clear. Thanks for spotlighting him today.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Wish I could have heard your nephew’s piece. I am hoping to join in on one of the service projects in MLK Jr’s honor on Monday. We’ll see how THAT goes!
Wanda, loved your post and learning a few new things. Dr. king is one of those people who only come once in a generation. Hearing passages from his speeches is chill-inducing , and it’s sad to think of the racial problems still so prevalent today.
Hi, Wanda. Thanks for sharing about that beautiful statue! I read the article and I’m impressed with the design. A dear friend of mine, Donna Carbone, wrote a play about Rosa Parks that was featured at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Rev. King’s speeches were being broadcast as the audience entered, and we learned much about the Civil Rights movement in the play. I would love to have heard the songs honoring that great man on your radio broadcast. I loved your post!
Blessings,
Patty
Detroit had a riot in 1967 that brought out the National Guard and fear within the city. When MLK was assassinated the following year, many residents feared a repeat of the previous year. Fortunately, the demonstrations were peaceful except for a few areas in the city. He was a great speaker with peaceful intentions. Keep going in this conquest.
Wow! You have a bookstore in your neighborhood. The bookstore used to be my favorite place, but it closed, leaving an empty void. There is one small shop that caters to the religious community and the local schools. After I wrote my first book, I asked the store to sell my book. I was excited, holding a few copies in my hand. The woman looked down her nose at my book and said this community doesn’t read about vampires. I grabbed my book and left, never going back. A friend of mine wrote a children’s book with an alien, and they also refused his book. Did I ever mention that I don’t like my snobby neighborhood?
Hi, Wanda,
I am always amazed at how people act when they realized that other people think differently than they do. And I am especially amazed that people don’t see freedom and equality as equalities that belong to all in the human race. We may have different skin colours but we are all human.
Shalom aleichem