Thank you Ms. Coretta for the grace, strength, and dignity that you displayed. Since your wonderful husband was assassinated by the bullets of fear and hate. You know they killed him because of their ignorance. Thank you for not allowing bitterness and anger to engulf your very existence.
Now that you are reunited with Martin tell him that they are stripping our rights away, day by day, but his fight was not in vain.
Tell him that although my generation glorifies drugs, debases black women in song, and calls us vulgar names - that his dream still remains.
Our men no longer celebrate our natural black beauty - we have to have long weaves, small waists, and big ole booties.
The videos are so degrading, they mirror soft porn. Us Blacks own television stations now, but that's all that's shown.
Tell Martin that my generation apologizes for its lack of respect for his legacy and the dormancy of our elders, we might as well call this the Civil Rights of Unmovement Era.
Tell him that although we as black people make more than we've ever seen, that we squander it on diamond clad teeth, 24 inch rims, and designer clothes due to our sagging self-esteem.
Tell Martin that our babies are growing up without fathers, while the mothers are catching buses just like he remembers. Our children take to the streets in droves, not to march or proclaim the injustice of this nation, but to pledge their gang affiliation. I can't rhyme to this next line. On any night thugs hang out while bullets ring out - not freedom. And yes we continue to be judged by the color of our skin by America but I wonder most about the lack of the content of our character.
Advise him that the grand-daughters of the Civil Rights era are making their money as strippers. The Grand-sons of the marchers are ignoring their sons and daughters and hanging and slangin' on corners. They're going to jail in mass numbers, not for protesting, marching, or defying racism, but because they commit illegal acts to gain materialism. Our children are making babies, ignoring education, committing felonious capers, I'd wish they'd read his Birmingham Jail Papers.
Tell Martin that those in the ghetto are not the only ones forgetting his dream. There are those who've forgotten where they came from because of a little cream. Who refuse to give back to the community, because their motto is 'More for me'. They've forgotten how to lend a helping hand, to help their fellow man - all the while thinking, 'If I can make it, they can'. Looking down without offering a leg up, getting on elevators with their noses up. Some of us are even republicans now, but that's a very exclusive black crowd. Striving to get to the top of the ladder, to make their pockets fatter - instead of doing something that truly matters. Leaving the 'hood' in droves and only moving back when Whites buy up all of the homes.
Tell Martin that we still like to dance and sing, but not Negro spirituals cuz we've got Beyonce grinding and shaking her thing. Ms. Coretta, this may hurt poor Martin the most - it just may seal the deal, we as a people don't attend church anymore. Cuz we've gotten a little education and found out that God wasn't real. For those of us who still believe, it makes us want to holla, we've got a pimp named Bishop and a Bishop named Dollar.
I don't know Ms. Coretta, maybe you'd better not tell Martin that for all that he's done to make us free, equal, and just - that we still migrate to the back of the bus. I'll bet looking down - he doesn't recognize us. We've forgotten how to march, protest, and vote - but be at the club, standing in line for hours - in the freezing cold. Sporting the latest gear; stilettos, hoochie clothes, teeth that's froze, and Tims - driving cars with less tire more rim. Dying to get in so that we can 'shake it fast', drop it like it's hot' - forgetting the respect and dignity that we were taught.
I neva' thought I'd think this thought, but please don't eva' give Martin your report. Ms. Coretta, maybe you should just avoid mentioning my generation all togetha'.
Bitter B
Released: January 31st, 2006
Now that you are reunited with Martin tell him that they are stripping our rights away, day by day, but his fight was not in vain.
Tell him that although my generation glorifies drugs, debases black women in song, and calls us vulgar names - that his dream still remains.
Our men no longer celebrate our natural black beauty - we have to have long weaves, small waists, and big ole booties.
The videos are so degrading, they mirror soft porn. Us Blacks own television stations now, but that's all that's shown.
Tell Martin that my generation apologizes for its lack of respect for his legacy and the dormancy of our elders, we might as well call this the Civil Rights of Unmovement Era.
Tell him that although we as black people make more than we've ever seen, that we squander it on diamond clad teeth, 24 inch rims, and designer clothes due to our sagging self-esteem.
Tell Martin that our babies are growing up without fathers, while the mothers are catching buses just like he remembers. Our children take to the streets in droves, not to march or proclaim the injustice of this nation, but to pledge their gang affiliation. I can't rhyme to this next line. On any night thugs hang out while bullets ring out - not freedom. And yes we continue to be judged by the color of our skin by America but I wonder most about the lack of the content of our character.
Advise him that the grand-daughters of the Civil Rights era are making their money as strippers. The Grand-sons of the marchers are ignoring their sons and daughters and hanging and slangin' on corners. They're going to jail in mass numbers, not for protesting, marching, or defying racism, but because they commit illegal acts to gain materialism. Our children are making babies, ignoring education, committing felonious capers, I'd wish they'd read his Birmingham Jail Papers.
Tell Martin that those in the ghetto are not the only ones forgetting his dream. There are those who've forgotten where they came from because of a little cream. Who refuse to give back to the community, because their motto is 'More for me'. They've forgotten how to lend a helping hand, to help their fellow man - all the while thinking, 'If I can make it, they can'. Looking down without offering a leg up, getting on elevators with their noses up. Some of us are even republicans now, but that's a very exclusive black crowd. Striving to get to the top of the ladder, to make their pockets fatter - instead of doing something that truly matters. Leaving the 'hood' in droves and only moving back when Whites buy up all of the homes.
Tell Martin that we still like to dance and sing, but not Negro spirituals cuz we've got Beyonce grinding and shaking her thing. Ms. Coretta, this may hurt poor Martin the most - it just may seal the deal, we as a people don't attend church anymore. Cuz we've gotten a little education and found out that God wasn't real. For those of us who still believe, it makes us want to holla, we've got a pimp named Bishop and a Bishop named Dollar.
I don't know Ms. Coretta, maybe you'd better not tell Martin that for all that he's done to make us free, equal, and just - that we still migrate to the back of the bus. I'll bet looking down - he doesn't recognize us. We've forgotten how to march, protest, and vote - but be at the club, standing in line for hours - in the freezing cold. Sporting the latest gear; stilettos, hoochie clothes, teeth that's froze, and Tims - driving cars with less tire more rim. Dying to get in so that we can 'shake it fast', drop it like it's hot' - forgetting the respect and dignity that we were taught.
I neva' thought I'd think this thought, but please don't eva' give Martin your report. Ms. Coretta, maybe you should just avoid mentioning my generation all togetha'.
Bitter B
Released: January 31st, 2006
This was awesome..... me of all people is almost speechless.... I would beg of Ms Coretta to not mention a word to the good Reverend.. Because he came to do what the Lord had instructed him to do. He alone made a lot possible that even I can't believe the way we are today. Just in my passing of my hood every morning, on any given corner you'll find a slew of young men standing and selling drugs at 6 in the morning...And the sad thing is these young men can't tell you that they've been out of this one lil city in their entire lives...Our young girls have no respect for themselves.... And OMG.... if Dr King road a bus today with school age children he would just kill over and die again...It hurts my 32 year old heart to hear and see teenagers cussing like sailors in front of other people, adults and especially elders... Whose teaching these kids respect? Nobody,,,, so this is one generation.... what happens to the next? Dr Kind did good...I say let him rest in peace, because if he only knew....that would be the death of his soul... which is much worse than losing your life....Because we are what he died for....
ReplyDeleteGood Post..
~RED~
awesome post, Dr. King would be rolling over in his grave right now.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who Bitter B is but be/she was on point!
ReplyDeletepeep this one...
ReplyDeleteI saw this & don't give a damn what Rev Al & 'nem say, this was on point as well.
ReplyDeleteNawl, DON'T TELL HIM! :-|
ReplyDeleteAWESOME post!
I agree!
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with the spirit of this post, I disagree with the assumption that if you are black or minority that the right party to align yourself is democratic. Yes, they are a growing number of black republicans, but I don't believe they are somehow wrong in their choice. At least they are participating in the political process and for that Dr. King would be proud.
ReplyDeleteThe second part I found myself disagreeing with is this notion that if you're aren't giving back to those without means makes you a bad person. There are plenty of folks that deserve assistance, but there are far more who wouldn't appreciate it. Case in point, everyone got on Oprah's case about her school for girls in Africa, complaining that her money would be better spent here. Many folks don't even realize Oprah is a big contributor to an all girl charter school right here in Chicago, so she is giving back locally. It's her money and she should do with it what she chooses. But just the same, we know quite well that in some of our communities education, teaching, and learning is not valued. Our kids, even in the poorest and roughest areas, are very spoiled and have an expectation complex where they feel someone owes them something, even though they already are walking around 200 dollar gym shoes and rocawear this and that, and can soulja boy with the best of em, but won't put the same effort into reading a book..
I'm sorry, but the author of this piece was on point for the most part, but way off base in the other parts.
Have a happy King day regardless! And that Boondocks clip was real as hell!
"There are those who've forgotten where they came from because of a little cream." ~ AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH!!!
ReplyDeleteSad but true.
No need to apologize for your feelings!
ReplyDelete