carson - Blogs - TheBlackList Pub2024-03-29T15:59:18Zhttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/carsonLetter to Dr. King
Originally Published: Jan. 31, 2005
January 17, 2011
Raynard Jackson
You didn't know me when you were here,But through your words I feel you are near.I was too young for the demonsthttps://www.theblacklist.net/profiles/blogs/h2letter-to-dr2011-01-17T06:11:37.000Z2011-01-17T06:11:37.000ZRaynard Jacksonhttps://www.theblacklist.net/members/RaynardJackson<div><h2>Letter to Dr. King</h2><h3>Originally Published: Jan. 31, 2005</h3><h3>January 17, 2011</h3><p><b>Raynard Jackson</b></p><p><br />You didn't know me when you were here,<br />But through your words I feel you are near.<br /><br />I was too young for the demonstration,<br />But I learned about you in my education.<br /><br />You said we all were created equal,<br />But maybe now we need a new sequel.<br /><br />Because I don't know what happened to the dream,<br />Nor the members of your team.<br /><br />Yeah, Andy's made a name,</p><p>Jesse got some fame.<br /><br />But what happened to the vision?<br />Seems it's been lost to indecision.<br /><br />Do we continue to blame whites for our plight,<br />'Cause it's easier than to stand and fight?<br /><br />Do we need integration to survive?<br />We did pretty good without it, to my surprise.<br /><br /><br /></p><p>Should we attend college at an HBCU,<br />Or go to Harvard, Princeton or even Purdue?<br /><br />You said we should not be judged by the color of our skin,<br />Does that apply to the political party I'm in?<br /><br />Some ask me, "How can you be Black and Republican?"<br />Because, like you Dr. King, I believe in the "I CAN"<br /><br />You were invited to the White House for conversation,<br />Because everyone saw your dedication.<br /><br />Now we call the president bad for blacks,<br />But look at how these leaders act.</p><p><br />They call him evil and a racist man,<br />Though his cabinet shows he understands.<br /><br />Did you ever dream of a Black secretary of state?<br />We've come a long way from that era of hate.<br /><br />Did you dream of a Black national security advisor?<br />Maybe white folks have gotten a little wiser.<br /><br />To put Blacks in a position where a lot fail,<br />Because most of the time we excel.<br /><br />Lenny Wilkens in the NBA,<br />DeWayne Wickam at USA Today.<br /><br />Barack Obama in the Senate;<br />Ran because he thought he could win it.<br /><br />Dr. Ben Carson with the knife,<br />Saves life after life.<br /><br />But how did we come to this place,<br />Where we now curse our own race?<br /><br />Rappers call our women bitches and ho's,<br />Where it will stop, God only knows.<br /><br />Our teenagers are committing crimes,<br />And getting locked up for a helluva long time.<br /><br /><br /></p><p>Who is there to show them the light,<br />'Cause their fathers are nowhere in sight<br /><br />So our women accept living with anger,</p><p>Which is only one letter short of danger.<br /><br />I have kept my nose clean and finished school,<br />But, I am becoming the exception to the rule.<br /><br />Marriage before kids is how I was raised;<br />Why are women so amazed?<br /><br />Having a family is a serious thing,<br />No kids without a wedding ring.</p><p><br />We have allowed drugs to devastate our lives,<br />Preachers, where are your righteous cries?<br /><br />We have cursed Bill Cosby’s name,<br />When he should be in our hall of fame.<br /><br />Dr. King, please explain your dream,<br />I am not sure if it's what it seems.<br /><br />Everyone is now invoking your name,<br />Just to get political gain.<br /><br />Some say you would be for gay rights,<br />Was that really part of the fight?<br /><br />Some say you would be Republican or Democrat,<br />But neither is born out by the facts.<br /><br />You just wanted the powers that be to be accountable,<br />Because back then, the mountain seemed so insurmountable.<br /><br />We have more education in our head,<br />But more of our people are ending up dead.<br /><br />We have more freedom to move around,<br />But our quality of life seems to be going down.<br /><br />Among our people are so many divisions;<br />Whatever happened to your heavenly vision?<br /><br /><br /></p><p>Dr. King, if you were here today,<br />I would be ashamed of what you would say.<br /><br />We have strayed so far from the path.<br />How much longer can this stuff last?<br /><br />We must get back to the dream,<br />But, please tell us what does it mean?<br /><br /><i>Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (</i><a href="http://www.excellstyle.com/"><i>www.excellstyle.com</i></a><i>) & U.S. Africa Magazine (<a href="http://www.usafricaonline.com">www.usafricaonline.com</a>). </i></p></div>