Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Jan. 11, 1996, edition 1 / Page 19
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k 3C MLK/The Charlotte Post Thursday, January 11,1996 King was an activist his people.’ By Melodye Micere Stewart SPECIAL TO THE POST A S we move into the new year and ever closer to a new millen nium, the words of Martin Luther King Jr. serve as a potent reminder of the work yet to be done; “In the future we must bMome intensive polit- icfd activists. We-must be guided in this direc tion because we need political strength more desperately than any other group in American society.” I n his last book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community,” King wrote clearly and powerfully about the various challenges we face and directional paths the African American community must take in order to achieve full equality. Since the heyday of the ’60s, radical politi cal activism in the black community has experienced a slow death. The “death” is evident in our lack of community participa tion, from voting to town meetings to parental involvement in the education of our children. The lack of participation from the so-called “Talented Tenth” is particularly disheartening and jus tifies Carter G. Woodson’s assessment of the American educa tional system as one those of us best pre pared to serve has been usurped by the individualistic pursuit of the “American Dream.” In other words, those of us with skills, resources and college degrees who are simply working for personal gain - money, power and status - have not only missed the mark, but are self ishly sacrificing group progress. King writes, “We have been oppressed as a group and we must overcome tbat oppression as a group.” The cord struck which led more than a million black men to last Washington, D.C. October is the same cord which led thou sands to the same spot in 1963. Moving beyond the famous “I have a dream” speech. King wrote about the importance of group solidarity for group empowerment and placed responsibility in our own bands. “There must be a cli mate of social pressure : Jn the Negro communi ty that scorns the Negro who will not pick up his citizenship rights and add his strength enthusiasti cally and voluntarily to the accumulation of power for himself and SUBSCRIBE TODAY! (704) 376-0496 Huppy Birthday I>r, Martin Luther Kinj^, Jr. MCNAIR’S Ai rix) G 1 a ss Service WE COME TO YOC • Fur A]} \bur Truck and Auto Glass Needs * mmbields Be{i!w(4 • Rc-ScalK^fiAda P«'. Window Bep^ Iwurance Claims HmnSed Mumptly • Door Class Be^aced 'Let US move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge, to make America what it ou^t to be. We have ah opportunity io m^e a better nation." (Martin Luther King August 28, 1963) Let us all rise to the challenge... PAPERTOWN 4420 Monroe Rd. 342-5815 which miseducates black people. King wrote, “Education without social action is a one-sided value because it has no true power potential.” The lack of race con sciousness for group empowerment is the very reason why W.E.B. DuBois renounced his concep tion of the “Talented Tenth.” The noble idea that race leadership must be cultivated by “I have a dream that, my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judg^ by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. ” - Re\'. Martin Luther King Jr. Helping people realize their dreams is the best way we know to honor Dr. King’s memory. At First Union, we have a commitment to the communities where we live and work - to invest in them - to promote business - to make loans available to people with special credit needs - to conduct free financial semi nars that help turn your dreams into reality. So come talk. We like to listen. And we’re ready to help. Wnen it corns to service, everything matters.'^ LENDER ©1996 First Union Corporation Banking offices in Florida. Georgia. Maryland. North Carolina. .South Carolina, Tennessee. Virginia and Washington. D.C. Member FDIC
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 11, 1996, edition 1
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