Showing posts with label Dr. Martin Luther King. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr. Martin Luther King. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Maryland’s First Black Governor Sworn In


 In a pride imbued and sometimes emotionally charged historic ceremony, Wes Moore is sworn in as the state of Maryland’s 63rd and first Black governor. The event took place in Annapolis, the state’s capital  near a site that once served as a slave port. 

The program included an acceptance speech by his South Asian immigrant female running mate, Lieutenant Governor elect Aruna Miller and a special song selection “God Bless America” performed  by HBCU Morgan State University’s choir. Wes Moore is one among three Black governors elected in the nation, including Governor Deval Patrick (2007) Democrat of Massachusetts and L. Douglas Wilder, (1989) Democrat of Virginia. He is the first elected Black Governor of the state of Maryland and one of six black governors to serve in this country as a Governor. Two had already served his state as Lieutenant Governors during the Reconstruction period.

Wes Moore was sworn in with his hand placed atop a Bible once owned by historic freedom fighter and famous SlaveryAbolitionist Frederick Douglas. Frederick Douglass’ historic family home as well as slave ports were also located in Annapolis not too far away from where the newly elected Governor was sworn in, only heightening the spiritual and historic significance of the occasion. The Douglass family home is in a quiet coastal and storied upscale neighborhood on Highland Beach, Annapolis. A stately yet humble abode,  visitors have had the surreal privilege of walking by the house in respectful honor and awe.

Congratulations to Governor Wes Moore and his lovely family, and the voters of Maryland. Your family will now occupy a home where former governors promoted Jim Crow laws and upheld the slave trade. You will also occupy a house that is surrounded in history: a statue of Kunte Kinte,Alex Haley’s character of Roots fame just a few blocks away, a statue of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall among others. In  the words of  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose birthday we celebrated just a few days ago, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Corresponding scripture for today’s post is Amos 5:24-But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Our ancestors-many of the faceless and nameless slaves -traded like chattel in the state of Maryland slave ports centuries ago, as well as civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Mr.Frederick Douglass and Rosa Parks would all be both proud and satisfied with this development. They are smiling from heaven.

Again, congratulations Governor Wes Moore and family. You stand upon the shoulders of greats.

The prayerful and a ‘cloud of witnesses’ will be fervently praying for you, your administration, the people of Maryland and the continued triumph of your leadership. God bless you.

Respectfully,

Rev. Cynthia D. Wilson, Blog Founder and Chief Editor



Sunday, December 4, 2022

We Need Warnock’s Wisdom, Judgment and 51st Vote:Thanks Raphael for Your Candidacy



 There are two Black men running for a powerful and influential political office in Georgia. The office of Senator no less. Pursuing and gaining that level in politics is no small feat. One candidate is considered highly qualified and has demonstrated his promise. The other is a retired football player with stellar accomplishments as a sports figure and questionable Republican backing, but encouraged to run initially by former President Donald Trump who is currently maintaining a low profile on his support. Mr. Walker has crossed over bravely into politics with no background or experience and though he has received a considerable amount of pushback about it, the race has been close, now requiring a run off. Indeed Walker has a right to run for Senator like any other politically vetted person. However, the question is—is he the most qualified? 

Democratic Party icon, former President Barack Obama who believes in Warnock’s political potential recently stumped for Warnock in Atlanta before an enthusiastic crowd.


His re-election would give Democrats the 51st vote and more readily provide a way for bills to get passed. Many believe that Raphael Warnock is the better candidate and the best one to move the citizens of the great state of Georgia forward on issues that need addressing to assure those in the state a better future.

Raphael’s accomplishments are remarkable. He has proven during his term in the Senate that he is a confident trailblazing leader who has the interests of both the public he competently serves and the congregation he pastors at heart.  He is Senior Pastor of the iconic and storied Second Ebenezer Baptist Church  in Atlanta, a pulpit the civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. occupied during the height of the civil rights movement. Dr. Warnock has served the church faithfully for nearly 20 years.  A recent New York Times article credits his impressive first term accomplishments. See article here. He is the author of several scholarly books, including an upcoming children’s book set for release in January. Learn more about him in his book A Way Out of No Way: A Memoir of Truth, Transformation, and the New American Story.

Senator Warnock is a graduate of  revered Union Theological Seminary of New York City where he earned a PhD in Theology under the guidance of legendary Liberation Theologian Dr. James H. Cone, author of several ground breaking books including “Black Liberation Theology”, “God of the Oppressed” and “The Cross and the Lynching Tree”.

This current political race between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker is proof positive that obstacles once facing Black voters in the past have been transcended.  The racial and physical barriers that hindered Blacks from the polls back in the early 1960s and before then that spurred President Lyndon Baines Johnson and Dr. Martin Luther King to collaborate urgently to push and promulgate the 1964 Voting Rights Act have been substantially overcome. Even though the fight to uphold and enforce voting rights continues in various forms to this very day. No doubt, Blacks have made significant inroads into the electoral process in the Deep South since Dr. King’s era. This Georgia run off election is evidence that part of his dream has been realized.

Support Senator Warnock. Assure his re-election by getting to the polls on Tuesday and making your voice heard. Send a strong voice/vote for social justice, economic parity, progress and freedom for Georgians. Like the Rev stated in a recent video clip, “Your voice is your vote.”

Re-elect Senator Warnock. Send him back to the Senate and strengthen the Democrats’ voting margin in congress with his 51st vote. Please join me in keeping candidate Warnock lifted in prayer and well wishes for his victory.

Prayerfully,

Rev. Cynthia Wilson

Union Theological Seminary Alum ‘06


Monday, September 1, 2008

Barack's Speech-The Dream Lives On...Keep Him Lifted Up!



View the speech.The Senator and official Presidential Nominee of the Democratic Party sums it up nicely.

What a speech!

Please keep him lifted up...I got the emails also.Keep the prayer wheels turning:


Dear God, I pray for optimum health, wisdom, mental clarity and political prosperity for Barack Obama, and for his protection, as he seeks to become our President!

Amen.







Thanks to my friends Lois,Olivia and Moses for the emails and photos.

Peace and blessings,

Cynthia
The Chaplain of Pop

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Dream Come True



Photo Source

If fighting for the rights of others,a prolonged and demonstrated concern for the plight of our forgotten communities and taking a hard won place in history makes Barack Obama a celebrity,no one can deny he is worthy.The thing speaks for itself.

Today marks a monumental and historic milestone and is to millions,particularly African Americans, a "dream come true".Barack Obama will be the first African american to accept the nomination of a major political party in the history of America and it is movingly also the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech.Barack Obama delivers his historic acceptance speech this evening in Invesco Field before a crowd of 75,000. 45 years ago, on this very same date in 1963,Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I Have A Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before a crowd of 200,000 supporters.

Find the video of Dr. King's historic speech below.Barack Obama's will be added in a new blog post once the video is available online:





Enjoy Obama's speech.I plan to be surrounded by friends and family when I watch it live this evening.Keep the event lifted up in prayer and positive thought.It is sure to be a "dazzler",one truly worthy of the highest order of celebration.

I dedicate the poem I wrote,"Dream Come True" to this triumphant time.Last nights action on the convention floor nominating Obama by acclamation is proof positive that dreams do come true. His acceptance speech tonight is icing on the cake.Patience,endurance and the long fight for justice will prevail.

As the word and the song goes:"Wait on the Lord and be of good courage. He shall strengthen thine heart.Whom shall I fear?"


Peace,

Cynthia Wilson
The Chaplain of Pop

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Dr. Martin Luther King Anniversary Recap: Barack Obama Speaks on the 40th Anniversary of the Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


Photo Source

Part of Barack Obama's Speech:

Today represents a tragic anniversary for our country. Through his faith, courage, and wisdom, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. moved an entire nation. He preached the gospel of brotherhood; of equality and justice. That's the cause for which he lived – and for which he died forty years ago today. And so before we begin, I ask you to join me in a moment of silence in memory of this extraordinary American.

There's been a lot of discussion this week about how Dr. King's life and legacy speak to us today. It's taking place in our schools and churches, on television and around the dinner table. And I suspect that much of what folks are talking about centers on issues of racial justice – on the Montgomery bus boycott and the March on Washington, on the freedom rides and the stand at Selma (More...).

I believe the 40th Anniversary of Dr.Martin Luther King's death was well covered this past weekend.There were a good number of quality television shows about it,including the documentary "King" by Tom Brokaw which broadcasted on the History Channel on Sunday.

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson,author and professor at Georgetown University and Former King aide,friend and confidante Ambassador Andrew Young ,did an excellent job of commemorating King's legacy and dream on MSNBC's Meet the Press with Tim Russert. Check it out if you can,get the television show transcript or read Dyson's and Obama's books below.


Peace,

Cynthia

Reading:

Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Death and How It Changed America by Michael Eric
Dyson

Watching:

King documentary by Tom Brokaw

Meet the Press segment on King with Tim Russert

Related blogs:

The Times They Are A Changin'-Happy Birthday Dr. King -the Fight Continues
On a Higher Level...

Happy Birthday Dr. King-Global Day of Action
Against Poverty Revisited

Monday, January 21, 2008

Happy Birthday Dr. King-Global Day of Action Against Poverty Revisited


Image Source-Poor People's March on Washington-1967

The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.


Today marks the official celebration of the National Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. holiday. I went through some of my old blogs and found the above quote. It could not be more compelling,especially in light of the "Global Day of Action Against Poverty" celebrated a few months ago and the recent efforts by those in the White House,the Senate and the House of Representatives to come up with an economic stimulus package to ease the financial down swing many Americans are currently experiencing. Families are losing their homes and jobs are being outsource by corporations to foreign countries.Communities and individuals are in deep economic distress,while billions are spent on a mounting war.Some think we are on the brink of a recession.

The US is surprisingly in debt to China and other countries to the tune of millions. I know it's hard to believe. I was completely baffled when I first heard the announcement a few days ago.

There are many US citizens who feel that they have been thrown away and hung out to dry by the Washington Bureaucracy's current lack of concern for the poor and needy and its demonstrated favor towards the rich. It has been brought to light by the current unemployment rates,the status of health care and the failure to provide needed government assistance to those in disaster torn areas such as the residents of New Orleans and the broader Gulf Coast.

The struggle for economic justice rages on in this country.If Dr. King were alive to witness the state of financial affairs today,I believe he would be happy on the one hand,since inroads have been made into the wealthy social strata by a significant,but arguably insubstantial percentage of the historically underprivileged.However,I feel he would be more dismayed that there has been no remarkable narrowing of the divide between the poor and rich. In fact,some believe it has gotten wider with the systematic erosion of the middle class brought about by brutal economic policies of the current administration.


It was reported that the congress,Democrats and Republicans are scurrying around Washington,"hopping like bunnies",if they have to in an effort to push through some kind of workable plan to get the US on its feet.One journalist reported that it appeared almost like a"love fest",with members of each party making sincere efforts to work together.

On that note,I'd like to dedicate a blog containing a poem I wrote entitled "Love is the Currency".There is little doubt in my mind that we need love now more than ever to feed the hungry,house the homeless,care for the sick properly and to end the political partisan stagnation that creates the lack too many in our society currently face.

Yes. I say,continue to work together,Democrats and Republicans. If you're an independent,come with some ideas and answers as well. And,if you aren't missing any meals and live in the lap of luxury everyday,have some love and compassion for those who don't have much. Don't be stingy,fearful,haughty to share your resources,paying lip service only to the whole notion of "the pursuit of happiness" and the financial resources it requires to do the journey justice. Make your vote and influence count. Make poverty history.

Enjoy some music also and dedicate an uplifting song from one of the related playlists below to friend or,maybe even one of your congressional representatives.No. Itks not too "over the top".Go for it.And,remember,love is the currency.Please let it flow...

Happy Birthday,Dr. King.

Peace,

Cynthia

Related Blogs and Articles:

Protest Songs Sing Up!

Global Day of Action Against Poverty




Listening To:

Waiting On the World to Change

Protest Songs A La Social Observation

http://cynthiadwilson.blogspot.com/2007/06/airlift-ii-love-soother-mix.html#main

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The Times They Are A Changin'-Happy Birthday Dr. King--the Fight Continues On A Higher Level...


Photo Source
Senators Barack Obama(Ill.),Hillary Clinton(NY) and former

Senator John Edwards(S.C)- Las Vegas,Nevada Debates,Tuesday,Jan.15,2008



In light of what may now be viewed by many as a mounting, and at the very least, dead heat battle between Democratic presidential candidates Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois in a contest for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination,( more...) and this is Dr. King's birthday,I thought I'd share some reflections.

Of course, there are other candidates including former Senator John Edwards of South Carolina,also running in the Democratic race. On the Republican side we have several ,including but not limited to, Senators John McCain of Arizona, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney of Michigan and Mike Huckabee,past governor of Arkansas.

I thought I'd lift this blog which I wrote last year on www.heavieroctaves.com in celebration of the King holiday(scroll down). Why not celebrate with reflections on the dream this entire week leading up to the official federal celebration on Monday,January 21,2008?

I believe its safe to say that Dr. King would be proud concerning advances we have made in the struggle for human rights and racial equality, while on the other hand dismayed by some of the setbacks we have experienced. Poverty still exists and wars rage on.Even in light of these harsh realities and despite the customary fray and political jockeying for front-runner status which besets presidential races, across the party lines,this year's campaign has the promise to be one of the most exciting in the history of this country.

Yes.An African American man and a woman are both running in the same race at the same time in history as viable candidates.A dream come true for many African Americans, and also, for women who have never before had a real concrete shot at putting one of their own in the White House.

Amid the heated debates,the sometimes biting remarks, mud-slinging and the very subtle or blatant efforts at racial polarization from various factions of Republican, Democratic and independent voters or non-voting members of the general population,there is hope and we must keep it alive.Let's "keep hope alive", as Rev.Jesse Jackson does or have the "Audacity of Hope"like Senator Obama.

Let's also pray for peace while remembering Dr.King's dream constructively,as it appears in the process of materializing into sound reality, whether the next President of the United States is an African American male or a white female. Either result would be a first for this country. And, a move in a progressive direction for this country.I think based on the impressive level of skill and qualification each candidate brings to the table,that would be progress no matter your spin.

If Obama wins the nomination and goes on to victory in the national elections,Dr. King's dream that a person be judged not by the color of their skin,but by the content of their character will have become a reality in the presidential election process.And,he would be proud that many who would have without question been hosed down,lynched or jailed decades ago for exercising that right, now are having the opportunity to register, making their vote count, while in the process affirming the potency of the Voting Rights Act. The fact that an African American man is electable and that those previously disenfranchised may now be casting a deciding ballots has got to be motivating.One thing for sure,it is a measure of this country's greatness.

Harnessing the tremendous enthusiasm generated by Obama's candidacy and grass roots organizing wizardry may be the key to future political progress and bipartisan problem solving in this country. It certainly has the clout and momentum to set the tone of this year's race and the direction of Presidential races yet to come.It's wide open.

That is very exciting indeed.Keep the dream alive.

Happy Birthday,

Cynthia
________________________

First Published-January 15,2007

This blog post is in honor of today's holiday and committed to the memory of one of the greatest moral leaders of our time."I Have A Dream" is our Profile "speech" of the Week. March_on_Washington_for_Jobs_and_Freedom.jpg Happy birthday Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. May your spirit,dream and legacy continue to live on through future generations. To those tuning in,listen carefully to the words of his most famous speech, "I Have A Dream",considered to be one of the greatest speeches in history, posted below. If you were alive then,or were fortunate enough to attend the speech delivered from the Lincoln Memorial,with a crowd so enormous it spanned the National Mall reaching outwards beyond the Washington Monument,then you know that progress has been made in our society since the days of the "March On Washington". However,some current leaders legitimately question that progress.

If you were not yet born,then go to the nearest public library,or retail bookstore,read a book on the subject or google further and learn something additional about Dr.King and the struggles to make this holiday a reality. It took a very extensive effort,including a hard fought legislative battle by many to legalize it. In fact, Motown recording artist,Stevie Wonder,played a very prominent role in making the King holiday a reality.His song "Happy Birthday" was dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. and was instrumental in promoting the holiday's concept and contributed to the ultimate success of the bill being passed by Congress. To hear a sample of the song from Wonder's "Hotter Than July" CD click here. How does this writer know? In addition to the googling I did to secure the specifics to share with you,and having not been under a rock for the last twenty-five years,I actually spent a good deal of "real time" during the late 70's and early 80's attending rallies and concerts in support of the effort,and a good friend(law school buddy) was one of Stevie Wonder's principal organizers in the King Holiday legalization campaign.So,I had an inside track,so to speak.

Throughout Dr.King's struggle in the Civil Rights Movement,there were other recording artists who sang Civil Rights' songs and rallied the cause musically,including Bob Dylan,(Blowin' in the Wind","The Times They Are a Changin")Joan Baez,Peter,Paul and Mary ("If I Had A Hammer"),Nina Simone ("Mississippi Goddam") and Pete Seeger,the official listed author of "We Shall Overcome",though it was said to have been derived from a 1903 Gospel song. It became the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement and is listed on the 2004 Mojo Magazine Top 100 Protest Songs of all times.

Peace, Cynthia(Revcoolc)
Posted on Monday, January 15, 2007 at 10:17PM by Registered CommenterCynthia | CommentsPost a Comment | References1 Reference | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

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