Happy 81st Birthday Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr.

On the day when America "honors" Dr. King on his birthday, let us not forget the reason he's not here to celebrate what would be his 81st birthday is because he was murdered in Memphis, TN in support of striking sanitation workers (aka garbage men). Dr. King didn't live to see his 81st birthday because he had the audacity to fight for African Americans to have the right to vote. Dr. King was murdered because he believed in peace not war. Dr. King was murdered just like President Abraham Lincoln was murdered for freeing black folk from the bondage of slavery. Dr. King was murdered just like President John F. Kennedy and his brother Senator Robert F. Kennedy because they dared believe all men and women were created equal.

So as we "celebrate" the legacy of Dr. King today, let us also remember why he died and what he died for. Some of the same Americans who praise King today are some of the same Americans who bombed his house and called him Martin Luther Coon and other derogatory names. Some of the same Americans who praise Dr. King in death, hounded and harassed him in life. Some of the same Americans who praise Dr. King today will attend a Tea Party protest tomorrow. The same politicians who honor Dr. King today will vote against health care reform tomorrow. The same elected officials who celebrate the legacy of Dr. King will vote to send our sons and daughters to war.

Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech will be played over and over again on his birthday. I choose to honor his birthday by remembering the speech he gave on the eve of his death and these prophetic words; I'm happy,tonight I'm not worried about anything, Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Happy 81st birthday Dr. King. May you rest in the peace you were denied on earth.