Editor’s Note: February is Black History Month. Prof. Rodney Coates reflects on the impact Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had on his life and that of his family.
I remember that day, in a land far away, when you dared to dream into my reality.
That day, on that dusty road, when my dreams were awakened to the possibility of yes.
Dreams born within the jungle of concrete that has smashed so many other dreams, other dreams slaughtered long before they could even wither on the vine, long before they could breathe the polluted air, drink from the cesspool of hate, eat from the table of misery.
And then you came, with a fresh dream that woke up those other dreams of what just might be if only we dared to dream.
I remember morning that dawned as we marched down the road, my grand pa and me who had never been allowed to vote -the pride in his eyes as he held up high his voter id and then.
And then...we walked to the poll and voted that day, for the first time he let me see him cry an old man who had forgotten his dreams of freedom who this day wept for freedom.
I remember the noon meal, where we dined on the dreams of what freedom would mean as we walked down the road singing we shall overcome as we overcame the fear of hostility, as we overcame the complacency of dreams deferred, as we overcame the despair of love trapped in a bottle called amerikka.
I remember the afternoon stroll down the lanes of possibilities as we ventured on those new-found paths of freedom that came as we explored the brave new world that our grandparents could not even dream. I remember the struggle to gain acceptance in a world now post-civil where civility was lost in the maze that criticized us for daring to dream that we could live out our dreams.
I remember the evening when Edger, three little girls, Martin, Malcolm and a generation of dreamers were slaughtered, when hell broke out in the streets, when the dreams were replaced by rage as we ran down the street burning, ripping down, and yelling for the insanity to stop. I remember that evening when it appeared that the stars would never shine; fearing that i could never again feel the dream for the dreamers had been sacrificed on the altar of indifference, hatred, and conformity
I remember the night, when we gathered to pray, sing and redeem our dreams at the altar of hope that we had erected in our sanctuaries. I remember that there, I saw my brothers and sisters who had reclaimed their dreams and their determination that they would never go back, no never again.
I remember the morning as I awoke to this new world where the dreamer looked on from our dreams silently laughing as we steadily walked into that new day where we became the dreamers.
And we continue to ride on that road with Martin.
What are some of your reflections about how King and the Civil Rights Movement advanced racial equality then, and now?
Bio: Rodney D. Coates* born in East St. Louis, Ill., received his B.A. from Southern Illinois University, a M.A. in sociology and anthropology from the University of Illinois, a second M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago. He holds the rank of professor in the Department of Sociology and Gerontology, for 15 years Directed the Black World Studies Program at Miami University. Dr. Coates specializes in the study of race and ethnic relations, inequality, critical race theory, and social justice. Coates serves on the editorial boards of the American Sociological Review, Social Forces, and Race, Class and Gender. He has served on the executive boards of the Southern Sociological Society and Sociologists without Borders. Dr. Coates has served as chair of the Section of Race and Ethnic Minorities of the American Sociological Association, and has served in similar capacities for the Southern Sociological Society. He has published dozens of articles; several edited books, and frequently writes on issues of race and ethnicity, education and public policy, civil rights and social justice. His 2004 edited book Race and Ethnicity: Across time, space and discipline won the Choice award from the American Library Association. In 2007, he received the Joseph Himes Career Award in Scholarship and Activism from the Association of Black Sociologists. Sociologists without Borders awarded Rodney D. Coates the Edward Said Award for Public Sociology and Poetry. He is currently finalizing a volume on Race, Class, and Gender for SAGE Press
Comments
Advancement of Equality...
When I think of the Civil Rights Movement I can’t help but feel both proud and sad. I am proud of the accomplishments of Dr. King and others like him who fought for equality. Because of them I am able to go to college and vote. This event also saddens me because I can’t imagine being treated the way Blacks in America were treated in the past. The work of King and others has allowed for me (a Black woman) to be afforded the same opportunities as others. I think if Dr. King was alive right now he would be floored by the fact there was an African American president elected not once, but twice. That one thing shows how far the Civil Rights Movement advanced racial equality.
I agree that I have come a
I agree that I have come a long way but I think we still have quite a ways to go. For example, our first black president does not address the issue of race or minority issues because if he did he would suffer so much backlash for being "biased". I think we like to think that racism isn't an issue any more but it is important to acknowledge it in order to move forward.
Addressing Race
I too agree that we have come a long way and there definitely is still a very long way to go. I am a very optimistic person but I don't feel there will ever be a point where race is not an issue. Insofar as President Obama addressing any contraversial issues at this point, the backlash would be irrevelant to his presidency except from a historical perspective. President Obama has been in a "unique" position racially, there are those who do not believe an African-American should be in office and those who do not view President Obama as a "true African-American" yet another problem with race. Although I do believe that all politicians have a responsibility to address race relations and promote equality the reality is if it does not meet their political agenda they will not. Unfortuantely our society has become one more of self-interest than of collective interest.
I agree that there is a lot
I agree that there is a lot of self interest in our society but I do not feel that Pres. Obama could speak on race relations without a huge backlash. I do not think he is avoiding the issue out of self interest but perhaps out of some self preservation. I would certainly not be brave enough to address race relations if I were him.
Backlash
If you don't mind could you please ellaborate for me on what type of backlash your speaking of? Thank you=0)
Backlash
I am giving you a link on youtube to Michelle Obama being interviewed...please read the comments underneath-they are amazingly rhetorically typical.
If this doesn't work, go onto youtube and type in "Michelle Obama plays the race card." What she is saying is so true, but lost on those that need to hear it.
Prof. Rodney D. Coates
This sends such a powerful message. For most of us that weren't alive during the Civil Rights Movement we can only imagine both the joy and sadness that was felt from the accomplishments of Dr. King as well as his death. The sense of pride within the African American and other minority communities is relayed in vivid imagery through Prof. Coates words. The idea that voting was a privilege is somewhat unfamiliar today but very familiar to those who fought for this privilege throughout history. Voting... an accomplishment that was so profound as to draw upon the deepest emotions was later ravaged by the violence that broke out in protest. Dreams are what kept people striving for a better future and Dr. King's dream was so powerful that it inspired others to dream as they never had before and despite the violence and hate the dreams prevailed. Truly inspiring!
Celebrating Accomplishments
I like what you said because you're right, its important to see the full narrative and context of the accomplishment for people to vote. This was a huge step in breaking systemic oppression and one that was deeply moving to people because it was progress to an inspiring dream. I hope that we can take some of this inspiration and apply it to the narrative we now find ourselves in and know that dreams for equality are tangible.
This piece is very sad but
This piece is very sad but still hopeful. I watched the State of the Union speech the other night and nearly cried when President Obama spoke about the 102 year old woman that waited in line for 6 hours to vote. People sat and waited with her, rallied around her while she waited for her turn to vote. I am tearing up as I write this because voting is truly a right I constantly take for granted. There is a lot of disillusionment surrounding voting, many people think its rigged or their vote does not matter, but we should not forget what was sacrificed and lost in the fight.
Value Our Suffrage
I definately agree with you that we need to value our right to vote. I always hear people say, "Why should I vote? My vote doesn't really matter anyway." They couldn't be more wrong. I work in the community, and I have been throwing around the idea of educating the people in the community about voting. I know that politics is really complex and can be hard to understand. It took three college classes for me to finally feel like a have a decent understanding, but it's still the tip of the iceberg. If people knew more about how voting works, they might realize the importance of every single vote.
Reflection
My son is 8 years old. He is in 2nd grade in a predominantly white, upper middle class school. There is some diversity but it is Colorado Springs, not exactly a diverse city in my opinion. He learned about Martin Luther King, Jr. in school and this was the first year that he would engage in a conversation with me about what he learned (usually he is just happy he gets a day off from school but doesn't appreciate the meaning behind it). This year, he asked me questions about how old Martin Luther King, Jr. would be today and whether I was alive when he was alive (no). Then he told me, I'm glad that Martin Luther King did what he did so that my friend Isaiah could be in my class. We got to talk about how sad it was that not so long ago, there were people who believed that there should be different schools just because you were a different color. He didn't think there was anything different about his friend that would make him need his own school and so thank you Martin Luther King, Jr.
MLK
It is amazing to me just how innocent our children are. It always brings a smile to my face hearing children speak on such contraversial issues but so nonchalantly. I think we could take lessons from our children sometimes!
Your son saying that he is
Your son saying that he is glad that Martin Luther King was able to do what he did so his friend Isaiah can attend class touch my heart. Children are so innocent and only learn what we as adults teach them or see with their own eyes. It shows that as a child he is well aware of the lessons in his class and one day he may shape the views of society. As a parent it is important to educate our children about history and how it shape America.
Pulling the race card
I am a fiscally conservative social liberal. This creates interesting conversations for myself and others on the current state of events politically. My major is soc/west and boy, am I learning a lot. I am learning about my privilege in being white and my oppression being a woman. I had recently come across an interview with Michelle and Barack Obama where Michelle discussed the dangers of being a black man and just getting gas(if I remember this correctly). It was titled "Michelle pulls the race card." I hear people I work with that talk about Affirmative Action taking jobs from those who are most qualified and giving it to minorities just to fill quotas. In the link I posted to "backlash" Michelle is explaining the psychology of how we all have been socially constructed, and she refers to 'black America.' It is interesting to hear the anchorwoman interviewing her replying in a way of which you just know that she has no idea what Michelle is talking about. There is no winning for those of color to speak about social construction in this society that we live in-for not many are taken seriously. I mean, not even the influence of being 'First Lady' is taken seriously when Michelle speaks. What Martin Luther King did was incredible-especially in a time that was not as 'progressive' (I use that term a bit loosely). I feel that change will come-it will be slow-but it will eventually come. I love that there are people care enough about this issue to take classes, major in and get degrees specifically about this issue. America has always had a terrible short-term memory along with being short-sighted. May there always be those beautiful bright shining stars in the world like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Chipping away at Structural Barriers
This piece was, as many people have already mentioned, both encouraging yet sad as progress still needs to be done for the advancement of minority groups in politics. I am encouraged by the progress and celebration of the steps that have previously been done in history to allow African American's even the right to vote, but yet there is still limited possibilities for who to vote for. As Bonilla-Silva states in his book White Supremacy and Racism, "Because the number of blacks in significant decision making bodies (the U.S. House and Senate, for example) is minuscule, whites still vote largely for white candidates, and blacks do not have enough economic and social resources to use formal political rights as effectively as whites, electoral politics are effectively restricting the political options of blacks in the U.S." (103). Thus, although this piece is celebratory of the increasing voice for African Americans in political decisions, there are still many structural barriers that limits their influence.
Politics & Encouragement
I liked your description of social structure as something that is being slowly chipped away. The advancements made for members of the minority community have definitely improved since the days of Dr. King, but it certainly hasn't reached a level that I still believe is possible.
When reading this article I hadn't considered politics as being part of the equation, but I should have realized that our nation's leaders (the ones that can start some organized change) are made leaders via politics. It's their voices that we need to inspire transformation.
We Must Continue To Move Foward
This post is very moving. It makes me realize that we need the dreamers in this world. The people who see something wrong, envision a better future and aren't afraid to fight for it. Often times people forget about racism. In the white community, the majority of people think that racism is no longer a problem. However, in minority communities the majority of people still see race as a problem. We can't pretend that racism doesn't exist. We have to realize all the different ways in which racism is embedded in our society, especially the social structures. Our country has come a long way since the days of Martin Luther King Jr., but it still has a long way to go. The next step is changing the persistent mindset of racism. That little idea way in the back of someone's mind that is telling them that the color of a person's skin defines who they are. We might not be able to change the minds of every individual, but we can start teaching the next generations to judge the value of a person based on who they are and not what they look like.
Segregation Gone?
Our nation has come a long way, but have we reached our truest potential. Has Dr. King's dream been fully realized? I don't think so. We still see segregation in our school systems. It's not the same, but it's still there. We see disparity between reading levels, test scores, retention rates, etc between predominately white schools and predominately African American or Latino schools. This separation occurs due to limited resources, for one, but it's also because education isn't a genuine concern of many of our nation's leaders. I don't want to generalize too much, but it's a controversial argument.
This article proves that this is something worth fighting for, but that's the point; we're still fighting. Why does it have to be a fight. Are there really that many individuals that are simply genuinely unaware of diversity and the oppression that members of our nation experience?