Category Archives: Martin Luther King

The Massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church: A Year Later — Lest We Forget!

Recently I read a piece in the AARP Bulletin, the June 2016 issue, on the Charleston Massacre: A Year Later, “The Long Road to Forgiveness.” As a student of history, I almost always think that we don’t remember what we … Continue reading

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PROSECUTORS, POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, THE CONSTITUTION, THE KKK, POSSES, AND THE RULE OF LAW

I’ve been thinking about when state prosecutors fail to do their jobs in police-involved killings of unarmed individuals, that is, fail to get indictments – though we all know, those of us who have studied the criminal criminal justice system, … Continue reading

Posted in crime, Justice Chronicles, Martin Luther King, Michael Brown, MIssouri, Murder, NYPD, police involved shooting, police-involved killing, Politics, Slavery, Uncategorized, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two Classic Speeches on Voting

With Election Day right around the corner, now is a good time to read or re-read two pieces, Frederick Douglass’ “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro,” given on July 5, 1852, and Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the … Continue reading

Posted in Black patriotism, Education, John F. Kennedy, Justice Chronicles, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Patriotism, Politics, Revolution | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Blood of Poetry

The King was dead You joined the adults Cried your eyes out Didn’t know exactly why Only that something catastrophic had happened Something that’d set your people back fifty years You couldn’t even go out to play Maybe not for … Continue reading

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Even a Black Poet is Considered Armed and Extremely Dangerous

(For Henry Dumas) It was a time when a president, a presidential candidate, a Prince of Peace, a Black knight in shining armor, and Black Panthers, were gunned down. Assassinations with political ramifications. But who’d think that a poet would … Continue reading

Posted in Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Murder, Poetry, Politics, Revolution, Uncategorized, Urban Impact | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Memories”

“Memories,” by Barbara Streisand, is one my favorite songs. I love the lyrics: Memories Light the corners of my mind Misty watercolor memories Of the way we were Scattered pictures Of the times we left behind Smiles we gave to … Continue reading

Posted in Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass, John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Poetry, Politics | Leave a comment