Topic: Martin Luther King Jr

President Barack Obama: Turning a new page in American history

By Christine Anne Piesyk | January 20, 2009 |

The complete text of President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address and the complete text of the “We Are One” speech delivered Sunday, January 18, at the Lincoln Memorial, are presented at the end of this article.

Moved to tears....

At noon today, Senator Barack Obama became President Barack Obama, a few minutes before he actually took the oath of office. The transfer of power is dictated by law, and law says at 12 noon on January 20th.

In the ballroom at Austin Peay State University, students, teachers and guests watched as the hand of the clock ticked 12, triggering cheers, cries of “yes” and  emotional tears of joy and hope, watching the event unfold on a projection screen. Minutes later, with his hand on the famed Lincoln Bible, Obama stood tall at the podium, swearing to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” His wife Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha, stood by his side. The APSU ballroom again filled with applause, cheers and tears.

Leading up to the oath of office...

It was a scene repeated across the country in the obvious places like Times Square in New York, Atlanta, Pasadena, and downtown Chicago, but also in places like Harlem, where large screens on street corners gave everyone a chance to view. In churches, public halls, classrooms and other venues, all eyes were on Washington, where more than two million people braved 20 degree temperatures and near single-digit wind chills to stand, wait and watch this piece of history unfold. «Read the rest of this article»

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Watching history: Making “the dream” real

By Christine Anne Piesyk | January 20, 2009 |

I awoke this morning from a dream, knowing that in a matter of hours I would be witness to a dream.

As President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office for the United States presidency, I find myself holding my breath, hardly able to believe that this reality. I find myself filled with pride.

I have no great expectations that he will be able to effect change, to immediately solve our country’s woes: I am a realist and the problems we face as a nation will take not months but years, possibly terms, to resolve and set right. I am ready for that.

I took time, though, to reflect on my personal history, remembering how the marches in Alabama and in Washington D.C. played out on that black and screen with the rounded edges, back in the 60s in the parlor of my blue-collar working class home.  I’d watched the dream of the Kennedy election and the horror of his assassination, I followed the civil rights movement, listened to the “I have a Dream” speech, and was caught up — I believe righteously so — in the passion and fervor of those times. I was part of the peace movement then, staunchly  anti-war and pro-human and civil rights. Nothing’s changed. «Read the rest of this article»

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MLK March 2009 honors advocate for civil, human rights

By Christine Anne Piesyk | January 19, 2009 |

On the eve of the inauguration of the nation’s first African American president, Barack Obama, Clarksvillian’s today celebrated and honored one of the country’s foremost civil rights leaders, the late Martin Luther King Jr.

The March after leaving Public Square

Today, Martin Luther King’s fight for equality and justice was commemorated with a a parade that culminated with  formal ceremonies at Public Square in downtown Clarksville, and in front of the Criminal Justice Complex. «Read the rest of this article»

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When are WE going to get over it?

January 19, 2009 |

For much of the last forty years, ever since America “fixed” its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, “When are African Americans finally going to get over it?

Now I want to ask:  “When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?

Recent reports that “Election Spurs Hundreds’ of Race Threats, Crimes” should frighten and infuriate every one of us. Having grown up in “Bombingham,” Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overhearing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than “talk the talk.”  «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion | 10 Comments

In honor of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

By Debbie Boen | January 22, 2008 |

Yesterday several hundred people of all ages filled Burt School’s auditorium and classrooms for workshops and  seminars before the annual NAACP Martin Luther King Day march. Children worked on projects and learned more about the civil rights movement and Rev Martin Luther King Jr.   Director of Schools Michael Harris spoke to adults about their children’s education. Vanderbilt University Professor Wanda Snead addressed issues of  domestic violence, and Valerie Hunter-Kelly of Keller Williams Realty spoke about mortgages and personal finances.

Several elected officials attended today’s event, including State Representative Joe Pitts, County Commissioner Lettie Kendall, and City Council members Barbara Johnson and Marc Harris. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | 3 Comments

LBJ vs. MLK flap misses the point

By Nell Levin | January 21, 2008 |

Did Hillary Clinton mean to discount Martin Luther King, Jr. with her remark that it was Lyndon Johnson who actually pushed through the Civil Rights Bill of 1964? Having heard Hillary’s remarks in their full context, I don’t think she meant to take away credit from the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Yes, it took LBJ’s arm-twisting political talents to get the Civil Rights Act passed. Yes, it also took MLK’s tireless, dedicated leadership and oratorical skills to focus the nation’s attention on the heinous injustice of segregation.

That being said, Hillary and the other pundits and political operatives, have missed the point. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Politics | 1 Comment »

MLK Day: A day we should celebrate all year

By Scott Beasley | January 16, 2008 |

January 21st is Dr. Martin Luther King Day,

Dr. King was an American leader, not solely a leader for African-Americans. He taught us to fight racism and bigotry with intelligence, knowledge, and education, not violence. He wanted people of every color to have the same rights and opportunities, and tremendous progress has been made in those arenas for which he is directly responsible.

Sadly, we still have a long way to go and I’m not sure some will ever view others as equals because of their skin color. Skin color is a descriptive characteristic holding no more importance than eye color or height. Unfortunately, no matter how people are viewed, some only see the differences among ourselves in a negative way. «Read the rest of this article»

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