Video: MLK Memorial Emerges From Stone on National Mall

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Video: MLK Memorial Emerges From Stone on National Mall

This past weekend marked the unveiling of the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial on the National Mall. However, due to inclement weather (Hurricane Irene) the ceremony was canceled.  Many were disappointed when they heard the news. Yet it didn’t stop them from venturing out after the stormed passed.  PBS, Hari Sreenivasan had an opportunity to reflect and report.

'Freedmen' Still Fighting for their Dream

'Freedmen' Still Fighting for their Dream 

Excitement and pride have been justifiably juxtaposed with calls to action throughout the blogosphere as media anticipation for the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. monument reaches a climax.

Just three days from now, on the anniversary of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech (audio below), the National Mall’s first memorial for an African American will receive its formal dedication.

While media and bloggers are quick (and right) to draw attention to the aspects of Dr. King’s speech that still ring true –

“The Negro still is not free … the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination … the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity … the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land…”

– some Blacks find themselves fighting discrimination in a surprising and under-publicized situation.

Earlier this week the Supreme Court of the Cherokee Indian nation, the second-largest tribe in the country, upheld an earlier decision to expel its Black descendents, called Freedmen.

The link in question between African Americans and Indians goes back to the 1800s, when the US Government began to forcibly remove the tribes from their land. By that time many Indians had adopted the Europeans’ inclination for slaves, who were forced to accompany them on the “Trail of Tears.”

As the Civil War ensued, the Indian nations freed their slaves and the majority of the ‘Freedmen’ were granted citizenship within their tribes. They received full rights as citizens, including access to health care and education benefits. With the repeal of said citizenship, thousands of ‘Freedmen’ descendents will lose those benefits and find themselves once again shunned for a history of subjugation.

This time, however, it’s at the hands of another historically abused minority group. Which begs to question:

Is camaraderie and understanding between minority groups a moot expectation?

MLK "I Have a Dream"

For more information on the ongoing legal battles visit the website for the “Descendants of Freedom of the Five Civilized Tribes.”

To The Left: Memorial Me This

To The Left: Memorial Me This

The National Mall is filled with memorials. There are iconic memorials to presidents, such as the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. There are memorials dedicated to wars and the people who served in them, including the The District of Columbia War Memorial (WWI), Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Women in Vietnam Memorial and the newest, the World War II Memorial.

And when you think about it, you can make the case that the Washington and Lincoln Memorials are also war memorials as they were wartime presidents. Okay, Washington wasn’t officially a “wartime” president; however, it was his extraordinary leadership during the Revolutionary War that won his election to the presidency. The point is, in a lot of ways, the National Mall can be construed as a memorial to America’s warring ways.

How is it then that a memorial to one of the country’s greatest advocates and speakers for peace and justice is perfectly set amongst those of war?

The answer is quite simple, while Dr. King may not have held a rifle or stormed a beach, his battles against systemic racism were no less significant and his victories over injustice were no less sweet.

What battles have you won without firing a single shot?

Photo: Marvin Joseph/Getty Images first appeared http://abcnews.go.com/US/mlk-memorial-million-shy-reaching-goal/story?id=14309127

King’s Dream of ‘Equality’ Still Unrealized

King’s Dream of ‘Equality’ Still Unrealized

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in something far greater when he delivered his August 28, 1963, “I Have a Dream Speech” from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. King sought equality of life for all men and women as he spoke from our nation’s capital, a place where decisions are to be followed by actions to aid the greater good. Earlier this month, we honored King’s dream through service but how have we bridged the equality gaps—particularly in education and health equity? Today’s Washington Post blog post “On This We Should Agree,” presents glaring statistics on critical education and health gaps among African Americans, American Indians, Latinos and the poor. This serves to remind us what happens when dreams attainable become dreams forgotten. Someone once said, “It’s not how you start but how you finish.” But, how can we finish if we haven’t even started? What do you think?

Highlighted Clip for Friday, January 28, 2011:

"On This We Should All Agree"

By: Sean SladeThere isn’t likely to be peace in the education world over charter schools and standardized testing, but on this we can and should agree: The need to focus attention on disparities among our youth in education and in health.