Your Comments

Im 34 yrs old and really don't have many memories of King that I can reflect on.

But growing up and seeing PBS programs on King's life and ultimately his assassination had me mortified and I learned to appreciate this towering figure.

Dr. Dyson's appreciation of King and the ability to wrestle his faults and failures, simply says that King struggled with his flaws and that no one is perfect. I admire Dyson and love to quote him: "Not only do saints make poor role models, they are incapable in one sense of identifying radically with the rest of us who are mere mortals."

King is my hero. He was Christ returned. I read this book proudly on buses and subways and finished it on the anniversary day and many of our white brothers and sisters noticed. Or maybe it was the bold print of the date on the cover or simply that we were approaching the 4th of April.

Brother Dyson, I need you and we need you. Im learning so much from you. Please continue doing what you do.

Peace out brother.

I was just an 8 year old white suburban child when Dr. King was killed but I saw it devastated my father.

He was always the one who paid attention to politics and worked for the democratic party and influenced me growing up to always be skeptical of most wealth. He used to say money was like cow manure. If it gets piled up in one spot everything underneath it dies. If it's spread around everything grows.

I spent over 20 years running my father's very small business that he had started in 1947. By the time I ran the shop the inner city neighborhood it was located in was left to rot. Everywhere you looked outside was tragedy. As you look towards downtown you can always see the corporate high rises where the money was piled high. I felt good inside though because whenever I could I helped people with their car trouble and always went out of my way to help them save their money. It was awful how many poor single mothers were taken advantage of by greedy mechanics and auto parts chain stores who would lie to them about how much work they needed to have done to their cars.

I only sold batteries but even though I was not a mechanic I knew how other parts causing trouble could always start a chain reaction of other trouble with the car which left many ignorant people left to pay for unneeded work. When I lost several large accounts because these accounts no longer wanted to deal with local small businessmen and instead opted for dealing direct with the manufacturer only for accounting reasons & not price & service, I had to close my shop. But now there is hope for a new future. I voted for Ralph Nader because I need to vote for a person who speakes the truth. I will now vote for Barak Obama and hope the dream of Dr. King comes true.

p.s. When I hear Michael Eric Dyson speak, I listen. I love this man. He puts tears in my eyes & joy in my heart when I hear him debate & easily defeat the nonsense that is thrown his way. The Reverand Jerimiah Wright is RIGHT! I feel like getting a T-shirt printed up that says "The Reverand Jeramiah IS WRIGHT!" Although it would alienate those meek wishy-washy white voters if they see a white man wearing that & although I will proudly wear an "Obama '08" T-Shirt, I don't want to hurt his chances.

I just finished viewing a clip on MSNBC in which you and others were discussing race in America and specifically "the doll test."

I have a story that I want you hear about and hope you raise everytime you speak about race and inequality in America:

I have a long time friend whose father is a Harvard educated man and after being in business for himself for years, he pondered a career changed and subsequently interviewed with a white male for a job. After the interviewer went over his resume, he asserted out loud, "So you have an associates degree from Harvard."

My friend's father simply replied, "No, Harvard does not grant associates degrees."

This happened within the last two years, so this not something from long ago. I DARE NOT SAY THAT IF MY FRIEND'S FATHER WAS WHITE, THAT QUESTION WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED.

We have a long way to go when it comes to even touching the root of racism, which is deep in the souls of white folk.

Masking it will not help. It will reel it's ugy head at some point.

Dr. King died for the working man to have the right to good pay.

Now it's time to say, "no work without representation" and "all work is created equal."

Thanks for your time and Dr. dyson, you were right on C-Span.

REMINISCIN BOUT MLK



Judge me by my mindset, not my complexion
Heavenward is the direction, connection
Under inspection, runnin from animus chasin affection
In the concert of life, we all sing together
In a society full of bigotry, there is no stability
Wit nothin to gain a man goes insane
Wit no claim, destruction becomes his aim, the theme
Unarmed, wit truth bein my only weapon
Love is my protection, to die for somethin versus livin for nothin
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice n freedom everywhere
Everyday n everyway, I remember MLK
From the 3rd grade til my hair turned grey
I pray for a leader, not a schemer or a dreamer
Lookin for a savior n a redeemer
I’m a believer in the symbol of the struggle
Not to suffer n be separated by a buffer
Due to the color of my skin, bein afraid for my kin
Tryin to live amongst humanity n men
Tryin to be a friend, not come to a tragic end
Cause I can’t defend my stand, bein a man
For rancor doesn’t understand that war
Comes from a line bein drawn in the sand
From marchin, protestin, to I have a dream
Sittin in as a strategy, as a rallyin point
To fight the powers that be, in a society
That would make me bleed cause it prefers slavery
To me bein free, from livin nonviolently
To dyin tragically, so violently, for the whole world to see
That this is how it’s gonna be, you against me
Sufferin from a disease called racial inequality
Til we all learn to see that it’s more than just physicality
That we share mentality, spirituality
That this isn’t serendipity, that he received his edict
From Jesus as the high n Supreme
To teach us to show temperance n not be a menace
That we all have a Conscience whether or not we are conscious
That man has to turn the other cheek
That Life isn’t cheap, that the price of justice
Is indeed steep, even for those wit clay feet
Philosophically, psychologically we must stop bein beast
Brutes recruitin violence as the license to defeat
The self as the enemy n that force can not bring justice
N that immorality is the source of ignorance
In the course of due diligence
That to humiliate me is to annihilate thee
Because we can not live separately as a humanity
What happens to you happens to me as a society
There is but 1 race, which has many faces
Traced back to Adam n Eve, before you n me
That the poetry of life is a journey
Shared by the human community
Society n the deeds we conceive, what we get n receive
Taught to us by Martin Luther King
That the midnight of war n racism needs to
Meet the daybreak of peace n brotherhood
That a job done well, is a job to do
That violence thrives on hatred, instead of Love
That 1 day we will fulfill his dream of a united humanity
In a community of us
As a multifaceted society reminiscin bout MLK.

At the same time the comments of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright were being denounced and he was being vilified, the United Nation’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) published a very unfavorable report assessing the state of racial fairness in the US. Are those outraged by Dr. Jeremiah Wright's views on racial disparity also outraged by the UN's recent conclusion that the "US is [presently] failing to meet international standards of racial equality?" The UN Committee concluded that there are "stark racial disparities" between whites and minorities when it comes to criminal justice, housing, healthcare, and education. This is a world view of America. This is not solely Dr. Wright’s, 1960’s, generational view of America.

At what point in the experience of Black America have we ever let the words of a politician have more value and authority than the words of our truth tellers, namely our pastors? If we allowed the eloquent or persuasive language of the politicians of Dr. King’s day overshadow his sacrifice and discredit him, where would we be as a people? Where would this nation be? How many more times will we allow this type of episode to occur? It will be to our own detriment, if we allow the condemning or denouncing of statements of our pastors to gain momentum. There are many in this nation and around the world that sees things the way Dr. Wright sees them and there are many facts and now a document published by the world community to prove it. If we are going to hold our elected officials accountable, we must hold them accountable to the truth and we must not allow them, whoever they are, to discredit or support the discrediting of our religious leaders. Our religious leaders have been integral to our survival and progress in this country. Disgrace is the new and very powerful weapon of our day. We can not sit back and allow people to assault the truth nor allow them to assault one of the very foundations of Black America, our Black Churches.

Is anyone in the media going to force the three presidential front runners (Clinton, McCain, Obama) to give a response to the UN Committee’s report, especially considering this most recent brouhaha? I’d sure like to see that. That would definitely be holding them accountable to not only what they will say, but what they eventually do or not do.

Today, March 18, 2008, Barack Obama gave the speech of my lifetime.

Finally I have a heard a speech in real time that I can say belongs to my generation. In a time influenced by YouTube/American Idol, talk show hosts dissect this most eloquent speech. I can only imagine the comments of these biased people moments after the "I have a Dream" speech. In years to come we will look back at this great speech and put it up there with all the other great ones.

Dr. King would be so proud of Barack Obama. He would also be very proud of Michael Eric Dyson. My only wish is that Mr. Dyson be on every show to give his most valuable viewpoint at this most crucial time in our country's history. The same greatness is woven through the souls of all three of these men.

I am so appreciative of Dr. King, and I rest well knowing Mr. Dyson is out there speaking for many of us, and most of all I am hopeful that Barack Obama's journey has just begun.

Aloha from the 50th State,

Mark I.

Please, everyone interested in this topic come to Memphis for the 40th Anniversary of Dr. King's death.

The National Civil Rights Museum is a sponsor of many events the week of April 4.

You can look online http://www.MLKinMemphis.com.

There will be many speakers, civil rights leaders, sanitation workers who marched with Dr. King, and just plain people who want to show the world how his tragic and untimely death in Memphis impacted our city, and how we hope our city has evolved, and what we owe to his courage and his legacy.

Mr. Dyson,

This is not about Dr.King, this is about Barack Obama.

Never have I heard such a concise speech about race relations and their consequences upon American society. I have never had such a definition of Black culture and it's thought on white America put in such understandable terms.

I listened to you on CNN and could not believe that both ladies thought he did not change minds!! Now before you get excited I'm a Republican and have never voted for a Democrat in my lifetime and I will not vote for either Hillary or Barack, but I wanted you to know that I have a greater respect for Barack than I ever have had because of his speech today.

I still believe that his platform of change is a very naive proposition for America. I also disagree with you on many issues but wanted you to know that although it does not change my mind I believe that Independents will be more inclined to vote for him.

It will also put to rest my indignation after hearing these clips of Rev. Wright, I do not condone these comments and think many were outright false and very distructive to both the white and black community as a whole. I also think that Trinity church should not remove their reference to the Black experience from their website.

If us white Americans do not understand it, that is our problem, not theirs.

Respectfully,
Bob T.

Ironically the recent attempts at racial fear mongering through the use of Rev. Wright now present Sen. Obama with an unprecedented opportunity and stage to reinforce his change message and corner Sen. Clinton into an embodiment of why America had been turned off to politics. “War on Terror” fear mongering and “Swift Boat” politics forced many of us to the political sidelines.

Most of us want a colorblind America and political campaign that is concerned with our economy and renewed stance in the world. Even in the confines of the ballot box we desire to be seen as our “better selves.” We have become excited that our college youth are engaged. This is a representation of the America I want to leave for my children in present day.

Sen. Obama must answer this Rev. Wright issue so it doesn’t Swift Boat him. All of America will be listening because we clearly see an attempt to racially divide America in these latest campaign tactics and have come to see Sen. Obama and ourselves as, “The change agents we have been waiting for.”


A speech which forces us to hold a mirror to ourselves and see dirt politics and more importantly politicians that peddle it to win at all cost which does nothing to help Americans and everything to divide us plays directly into Sen. Obama’s strengths. We have been running from that America and are at a crucial turning point.

Remind America of Sen. Obama’s biracial, immigrant lineage. Remind America that Sen. Obama has never run as a Black Candidate. Remind America that we have been trying forever to engage our youth. Force America to take a stand and stop this type of politics because it won’t help foreclosures or our stance in the world.

This position is aggressive, plays to Sen. Obama’s strengths and indirectly shows that Sen. Obama’s immediate rival, Sen. Clinton is partly a representation of the past that disenchanted most American’s from American politics.

Dr. King and JFK were both seen as change agents in our American legacy. Like Sen. Obama they had a strong give for oratory. Like Sen. Obama they sought a colorblind America and were embraced.

This speech changes our political landscape forever.

Can we have an America in which our campaigns are about solving mortgage woes, protecting jobs and rightfully using American military might?

YES WE CAN

Surely, Dr. Martin Luther King's death, his accomplishments, and his good deeds are under misrepresented by illegal immigration and its claim to civil rights; in comparing their move to the great work of Dr. King and freedom fighters.

Racism's rebirth is the powerful Latino's girth, offensive to true civil rights advancements. Then, is race a factor in U.S. illegal immigration? How is it; or how is it not relative to Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movements?

Certainly, race is a factor in the current U.S. (illegal) immigration debate. However, it is not the America people who are making race an issue in this debate, it is the self-seeking, immigrant insurgents and their supporters who make race an issue.

First, let's distinguish between legal immigration and illegal immigration. This issue is not fueled by a problem with LEGAL IMMIGRATION. The true debate is about ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. The latter is the issue and the driving force behind this question. Unfortunately, fingers of blame are pointed to America, Americans, and the American way, whilst the racism is truly generated by those pointing fingers and crying foul play.

In defiance, and quite frankly in shear ignorance, an 84 year old Latina spews illogical, fallacious, and staunchly racist comments about "all" black males and "all" black civil rights causes she feels have never once played a part in helping Latinos advance.

"DALLAS (CBS) In an interview with Tracy Rowlett, noted Latino community activist Adelfa Callejo told CBS station KTVT-TV in Dallas that Hispanics would not support a Black candidate in the Texas primary.

"Obama has the problem that he happens to be Black, said Callejo when asked if it was smart for Senator Barrack Obama to reach out to Latino voters.

"When Blacks had the numbers, they didn't do anything to support us," said Callejo. "They always used our numbers to fulfill their goals and objectives, but they never really supported us, and there's a lot of hard feelings about that. I don't think we're going to get over it anytime soon."

This lady is surely a grand mother (considering Latino birth rates; maybe even a great, great grand mother) who is keeping race hate alive; surely taught to her children, their children, and their children's children, as is common practice in the Latin culture - they do not like black people. A lie and fallacious ignorance is saying that if one black man is, then all black men are!

The Mexican people call others who stand against them racist. But, the Mexicans are the real modern day race haters. The Mexican Mafia gang and its subservient gang banger followers are exterminating black people. Over the last few weeks, Los Angeles has witnessed a blood bath of race hate as the powerful Latino gang members carry out their contracts to kill off African-Americans, especially those on a well to do pathway in life. Just two days ago, a successful and upcoming 16 year old black male youth was shot dead by Latino gang members. Shortly after that, they attacked a black family in their SUV, shooting and mortally wounding a 6 year old little boy. The family took a wrong turn onto "their turf" (the Mexicans) and became victims to race hatred; however, and typically denied by Chief Bratton and City Officials.

The race hate perpetrated by Central American immigrants is devastating black communities. Due to illegal immigration, Blacks are vulnerable to the larger number of immigrants. Thousands of these illegal immigrants are gang members and powerful drug cartels, taking over and hoarding communities and neighborhoods. The crime and evil brought to American communities are devastating to innocent victims. The true victims here are Americans, not illegal immigrants, even though the finger of blame points the wrong way. Again, remember the other three fingers point back to them, themselves.
Making race a factor, illegal Immigrants and their "legal" offspring feel that "any" Mexican has a right to be here, even illegally, just because they are Mexican. They feel this land was stolen from them rather than won in a war. They insist that it was foul play that took "their land." Then, I suppose they feel that it was okay for their Spanish descendants to take and claim land (now Mexico) that belonged to indigenous people, but it wasn't okay for the English to claim America in a war and a treaty with them. How self serving is that? In regard to this issue, they fight together as one great entity for illegal immigration. They are connected, networked, and awe so powerful in their numbers and in their Spanish language - again race is at issue.

Additionally, Latino illegal immigrant insurgents and their followers often stand on what they call "civil rights," piggy backing on the Civil Rights fought for by Black Activists and other sympathetic followers. What the Mexicans miss in their rants is that Civil Rights and black suffrage rebellions were fought for all of the people, all of the time, not for some of the people (Mexican) all of the time. It is highly offensive to witness Latinos claiming civil rights. They attach their misdeeds and defiance to civil rights as if they are synonymous to the Civil Rights fought for by Freedom Fighters. The people who took a stand during that time were people of all races. They all shared common goals. They did not work for the selfish, individual goals of one people, one race, or one part of humankind; they lost their credibility and their lives fighting for the rights for all people.

Ironically, Grand Mother Callejo claims that "when they had the numbers, they [every black leader] didn't do anything to help Latinos." In lieu of true Civil Rights Advancements, wasn't she included? Surely, she and all Latinos benefited. Weren't all people considered in the fight for civil rights and the advancements it allowed all minorities? Hence then, many Latino Civil Rights Advancements are as of the direct result of marches, abuses, and sometimes death to their Black brothers and sisters fighting for rights they now take advantage of today. Associating Civil Rights to illegal misconduct is arrogant and wrong.

The hatred Mexicans have towards blacks is quite evident. They continue to blame black "gangs" (a very small number in comparison to their gangs) for the violence in the streets. A recent event in which a fearful black youth, carrying a gun trying to defend himself claimed the life others was blamed solely on that black youth. Compassionately and honestly, if one sits back and ponders this situation in a logical sense - cause and effect - the sequence of events in this one incident are telling; one will come to the obvious conclusion that it is not the blacks on the attack, offending and stirring up trouble. Rather, they are on the defensive, attempting to defend themselves against a very large number of legal and illegal immigrant gang bangers. It is the powerful Latino insurgency attacking innocent black people, not the reverse as they would have everyone believe.

What the proud Grand Mother Latina unconsciously alluded to is that there is power in numbers. Then, since the Latinos in Los Angeles are so overpowering in their larger numbers, it becomes quite clear that blacks wouldn't be the aggressors - they are running for their lives. They aren't the one's who are attacking! They aren't the one's spewing race hatred and dividing communities while blaming everyone else but themselves. Again, it's the Latino bringing race hate into the debate.

In denial of their crimes against America's severity, and like "Chicken Little" crying "the sky is falling, the sky is falling," illegal immigrant activists are shouting racism and foul play when they are the very people committing the same racism they blame others for. It reminds me of how they so often claim they can't/don't speak English when, in reality, they really do. Similarly, in their defiance and race hate toward America, they fly the American Flag upside down.

Certainly, there is power in numbers! The same communities they stole from the blacks of today, they will take away from the whites of tomorrow, as their racism spreads like a fungus, into our political systems. Check the statistics; they are multiplying at a 98% birthrate. As supported by the media, they will be the majority here by 2050.

Sadly, their legal immigrant relatives (fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents) are taking the "joy ride" that supports illegal immigration, claiming racism as well. Their apathy and sympathy for their people shouting "you're cheating" is their own misplaced anxiety. They are supporting wrong - breaking the law too, playing a part in the defiant behavior (i.e., marches; civil unrest, discord) of their own people. They are riding the almighty illegal immigration wave while again pointing a finger of blame, calling everyone else but themselves, "racist." And, again the other three fingers point back to them, themselves.

When we look past all the shouting "foul play," we really see that every single offense of racism that they accuse America of, they themselves are guilty of and a party to. They too often blame innocent news commentators who attempt to tackle this problem with facts and figures and true concerns for America's sovereignty. They often call these fine journalists xenophobes and race haters. Any group that stands against their illegal activism automatically becomes racist. Again, the finger pointed one way while the other three fingers point back to their own misplaced perceptions and abhorrent behavior.

Renowned journalists such as Lou Dobbs, and organizations such as FAIR are accused of racism. Who are more racist toward other people than the Latinos? The same offenses they continue to blame others for are the very same offenses they are committing against America. Laws are changed in America in a civil way. However, Latino's focus on politicians based on staunch racist views. Can we get a translator that can express to them that it's not about just one culture. It's not about race. It's about the character of a human being and their contribution to good.

The self love and excessive interest in their own advancement (at the expense of others) is a hurting reality to the American citizen. It will soon be a greater, hurtful reality to others. The Mexican arrogance is overbearing. Their power is about race, about their own! Their self flattery must stop! The self-seeking must be replaced to include all seeking. The display of vain pride, self admiration, and conceit must be put in check, not into the political system! Their selfish importance could easily be replaced by importance for "all." The unwarranted pride is limiting. Their continued defiance of American law and order proves that Latinos are self absorbed in each other, and only concerned about the advancements of their own people, alone. Latino immigrants continue to deal with this situation in a cocky and haughty manner. They are getting what they want, but they are never satisfied with what they already have here; over 25 years of breaking laws, immigrating illegally.

Subjected to this issue, the American government (people who are legalized citizenry) are forced to move on this issue at a snails pace - measuring response to avoid civil unrest, and to assure humane treatment. America is forced to patronage, recoiling to their great numbers, their economic and political power, and their excessive interest in their own importance.

Then, yes, race is a factor in the current U.S. Immigration debate and the Latinos keep it there in their own misplaced anxiety (for breaking laws) and finger pointing blame.

Can you please reach out to the Barack Obama camp?

You are one of the few surrogates who makes me smile. You know Obama's positions, you can defend your position and you can spin negative attacks.

Watching some of these Obama surrogates is just embarrasing. They have no clue. I saw you on Fox News a few weeks ago and you were fantastic. You were brilliant and flawless. When Fox tried to get negative you were able to spin out of that ditch. You were able to out talk them and explain your position. You were familiar with Obama's politics and had no problems let everybody know.

The other surrogates are just embarrassing. They get flustered easily and don't come prepared.

CAN YOU PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE OBAMA CAMP AND GO ON MORE SHOWS. WE NEED YOU RIGHT NOW.

Things don't look good for us.

Thanks!

Dyson is an intellectual of the young and of the colorful culture that is America.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE !!!!