Can you imagine - or maybe dream - what we as a country and society could achieve if we could only get past our old fears and prejudices? Nobody is born with those. They are nurtured by people who refuse to look beyond their own cherished privileges. We love America, but find it hard to accept that this great country cannot move beyond the barriers that hold everybody back, Black and White alike. Education and information are good, but what we really need is to open people's eyes of the heart and mind. Another "Great Awakening" is desperately needed. Dr. King showed us the way. Thanks for an insightful article, Jim.
Most middle and lower economic classes are raised with their dreams, interests and ambitions thwarted by "How much money will that cost? We(You) can't afford it." Same as the WV Republican Super Majority said to Conservationists when they dumped the Solar Energy Plans that had passed the Legislature the year before. Too expensive the said, we're pushing the Mountain Valley Pipeline and Hydraulic Fracking now as a case of urgency!
Two books that elaborate on King's full positions on race and the economy. The Radical King, edited by Cornell West which contains the full version of many of his speeches and writings not just the oft quoted statements. The Sword and the Shield, The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. by Peniel E. Joseph which explores how these leaders eventually moved toward convergent interests.
As you said, Jim, MLK understood the real problem - the (mostly white) Aristocratic Overlords. If a person digs into the economic and political facts deep enough, that will become obvious. The problem for most middle and lower income people is they never see beyond the economic iron curtain put up by the wealthy because their world is limited to their two social-economic classes. Therefore, the only group within "arms reach" to blame on their economic/societal problems is people within the two lower classes; and shit runs downhill. We need to encourage people to look over the economic iron certain to find the real culprits.
I just want to say that I am enjoying the new format— I really don’t like being glued to my iPad , but your daily articles are concise, entertaining and keeps my eye on the ball! Keep it up!
Wow. Thanks for this revelation Jim, never heard until now. The moneyed elite would certainly love to keep Dr. King's work as merely a "dream," as we can see clearly today. Worse, "keep them divided" has long been a strategy against us, as we've seen all too clearly through the Covid mess of lies.
Listening today to King's last speech before he was murdered brought tears to my eyes-yet again. Having lived in the time of "White's Only" water fountains, theater entrances, etc., it defies logic that today's admittedly downtrodden and abused White working class folks cannot see that they are being used by the GOP, not for their own good, but for the power of those who would continue to pit one poorly paid person against another using the color of their skin as a weapon. The whole thrust of the "MAGA" movement is to keep America White. It is a goal that is unachievable, undesirable, and sadistic.
That's a nice dream but what we really need is for people of character and courage to stand for election. I've been a City Councilor in two different cities here in Massachusetts and my failure to move the needle significantly in the direction of doing things right was painful. It always came down to zoning changes and vested money-making interests and nothing to do with racial harmony.
'working class' are unrepresented by both our current major political parties. The Democratic party leadership is totally beholding to the wealthy elite class. We need to inform and invigorate people to understand that the wealthy elites class is using racial biases to control us by inspiring fear of those 'others' rather then rebel against the strangle hold the wealthy elites have over our country's policies! We Need To Overcome!
Looking as if our WV 'Save Our Solar Rally" in Charleston is going to be snowed out. I hope that folks will send messages to their Representatives via our stellar communication system on the day if unable to travel
Economic democracy continues to be most avoided topic by mainstream media. But authoritarianism, widely discussed and corporate sponsored. Same as it ever was:(
If Dr. King were with us today, he would be speaking out against racism, wealthism, militarism etc., and he'd be getting vilified. He can be praised today because he's safely dead.
Can you imagine - or maybe dream - what we as a country and society could achieve if we could only get past our old fears and prejudices? Nobody is born with those. They are nurtured by people who refuse to look beyond their own cherished privileges. We love America, but find it hard to accept that this great country cannot move beyond the barriers that hold everybody back, Black and White alike. Education and information are good, but what we really need is to open people's eyes of the heart and mind. Another "Great Awakening" is desperately needed. Dr. King showed us the way. Thanks for an insightful article, Jim.
Most middle and lower economic classes are raised with their dreams, interests and ambitions thwarted by "How much money will that cost? We(You) can't afford it." Same as the WV Republican Super Majority said to Conservationists when they dumped the Solar Energy Plans that had passed the Legislature the year before. Too expensive the said, we're pushing the Mountain Valley Pipeline and Hydraulic Fracking now as a case of urgency!
Amen to that!!
Two books that elaborate on King's full positions on race and the economy. The Radical King, edited by Cornell West which contains the full version of many of his speeches and writings not just the oft quoted statements. The Sword and the Shield, The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. by Peniel E. Joseph which explores how these leaders eventually moved toward convergent interests.
As you said, Jim, MLK understood the real problem - the (mostly white) Aristocratic Overlords. If a person digs into the economic and political facts deep enough, that will become obvious. The problem for most middle and lower income people is they never see beyond the economic iron curtain put up by the wealthy because their world is limited to their two social-economic classes. Therefore, the only group within "arms reach" to blame on their economic/societal problems is people within the two lower classes; and shit runs downhill. We need to encourage people to look over the economic iron certain to find the real culprits.
I just want to say that I am enjoying the new format— I really don’t like being glued to my iPad , but your daily articles are concise, entertaining and keeps my eye on the ball! Keep it up!
Karen
Beautifully said Jim! Happy (belated) 80th B-Day. You still got it goin' on dude! Keep on kickin'
Wow. Thanks for this revelation Jim, never heard until now. The moneyed elite would certainly love to keep Dr. King's work as merely a "dream," as we can see clearly today. Worse, "keep them divided" has long been a strategy against us, as we've seen all too clearly through the Covid mess of lies.
Listening today to King's last speech before he was murdered brought tears to my eyes-yet again. Having lived in the time of "White's Only" water fountains, theater entrances, etc., it defies logic that today's admittedly downtrodden and abused White working class folks cannot see that they are being used by the GOP, not for their own good, but for the power of those who would continue to pit one poorly paid person against another using the color of their skin as a weapon. The whole thrust of the "MAGA" movement is to keep America White. It is a goal that is unachievable, undesirable, and sadistic.
"Imagine all the people sharing all the world '. John Lennon
Yes!!
That's a nice dream but what we really need is for people of character and courage to stand for election. I've been a City Councilor in two different cities here in Massachusetts and my failure to move the needle significantly in the direction of doing things right was painful. It always came down to zoning changes and vested money-making interests and nothing to do with racial harmony.
'working class' are unrepresented by both our current major political parties. The Democratic party leadership is totally beholding to the wealthy elite class. We need to inform and invigorate people to understand that the wealthy elites class is using racial biases to control us by inspiring fear of those 'others' rather then rebel against the strangle hold the wealthy elites have over our country's policies! We Need To Overcome!
Never Trump, vote, vote,vote🇩🇴❤️❣️🌺
King is always well worth reading periodically for a great messsge. Thanks for reminding us and passing it along.
Great article about M. L. K thanks, keep up the fight against injustice 🇩🇴💋🌎🙏❣️
Coming together is my DREAM too but the Iowa weather is creating havoc--God speaks!
Looking as if our WV 'Save Our Solar Rally" in Charleston is going to be snowed out. I hope that folks will send messages to their Representatives via our stellar communication system on the day if unable to travel
Saturday, January 20, 2024, show our organizational abilities!
Economic democracy continues to be most avoided topic by mainstream media. But authoritarianism, widely discussed and corporate sponsored. Same as it ever was:(
If Dr. King were with us today, he would be speaking out against racism, wealthism, militarism etc., and he'd be getting vilified. He can be praised today because he's safely dead.