Living History — The Dream 45 Years Later

Posted on 28. Aug, 2008 by Karen in Misc

In 1963 I was 12 years old. I didn’t know then, as I do now, that I was living history.

That year I saw the Beatles in concert on their first world tour and fell in love with George. I was called to our principal’s office at school one day in November to carry a note back to my teacher letting her know that she had to deliver the devastating news to our class that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.

And that summer of ‘63, my dad took us to a civil rights march in Detroit where we lived. As we marched down Woodward Avenue, my dad pointed out many leaders in the civil rights movement. One of those leaders was a young minister — the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The march ended downtown and I remember everyone gathering to hear Dr. King speak. We kids were hungry and ready to go for Chinese food but Dad told us that Dr. King’s words were important for us to hear. I remember how Dr. King spoke of having a dream — a dream where we all would be free — at last.

Shortly after that march in Detroit, Dr. King stood in front of thousands of people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech and shared those same words I heard him speak in Detroit. Millions more heard Dr. King on television. Today is the 45th anniversary of that speech and it still has the power to move men and women to tears, especially as Barack Obama takes the podium this evening to accept his party’s nomination as candidate for president of the United State of America.

Maybe, like me, this day — both in 1963 and 2008 — has overwhelming significance for you. Or maybe you’re reading this and thinking that you don’t plan to vote for Senator Obama. Maybe you don’t really know much about Dr. King. Or maybe you aren’t old enough to have lived through the fight for civil rights. And maybe you haven’t experienced racial discrimination.

Well that’s OK. Because if you take 12 minutes and watch this video of Dr. King’s speech, you’ll get a sense of why, as Americans, we’re all living history today.

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7 Responses to “Living History — The Dream 45 Years Later”

  1. Jane

    28. Aug, 2008

    George? George?! I myself was a Paul girl, all the way.

  2. Rhea

    28. Aug, 2008

    I can’t believe we are witnessing a black person being nominated a candidate for president. And even better, when he gets elected, we will break a barrier in this backward country that’s been needing breaking for a really long time. I am sick of old white men controlling every aspect of our lives.

  3. Karen

    28. Aug, 2008

    Jane–

    Paul was the cutest but George was just so soulful :-)

    Rhea–

    Frankly I never thought I’d see this day in my lifetime. And amen to having a country where we get to control our own lives–especially as women. As Martin Luther King said — free at last.

    Karen

  4. Julie

    29. Aug, 2008

    I was born in 1960, so was too young to truly appreciate the civil rights movement as it unfolded around me. If I’d known exactly what “race” was as a small child, I certainly didn’t get why anybody cared about it. I went to a diverse preschool and played with kids from many backgrounds, and when my family moved to a large homogenous suburb in 1966, my mother told me that I was quite puzzled by the fact that all the kids at my new school “looked the same” (e.g., they were all white). Sadly, perhaps, I didn’t attend another reasonably diverse school till college.

    Anyway, I was blown away by Obama’s acceptance speech last night and simply can’t envision any other outcome but that he will be our next president. He’s a personification of America at its best, and inspires me to want to be a better American myself. He’s the right person at a desperately right time. I can’t wait till election day so I can do my part to make it happen.

  5. Elaine

    31. Aug, 2008

    Amen sisters! When I heard Michelle Obama speak I felt she was representing all women and where we are today. I can’t think of anyone else I would rather have in the White House except for Hillary.

    McCain’s strategy to pick a woman as a running mate to me smacks of reluctant gamesmanship; an “I’ll show you” response intended only to do one thing: placate the women voters in this country. This is so NOT the person we need in the White House.

    I have had the good fortune because of my involvement with cultural tourism in New York State to have met Hillary Clinton several times and heard her speak. No one sells it better than Hillary. When you meet her, she looks directly at you and is fully engaged in what you have to say. I will admit I’m one of the Hillary supporters who is disappointed that she will not be the Democratic nominee, but her speech in support of Obama hit the nail on the head: are we in it for the issues and change, or for her?

    And speaking of living in a historic moment–one way or the other, there WILL be a woman in the White House in 2009 which certainly paves the way for a woman president in our lifetimes. I’ve never felt as psyched about politics as I do this year!

  6. Karen

    03. Sep, 2008

    Elaine–I too had the opportunity to meet Hillary several times. She’s a powerful speaker in all the ways you mention. And she demonstrated her skill and political savvy last week in her speech and overall support of Obama. Just for the record: I would have voted for Hillary without hesitation if she had been the Democratic candidate–and not just because she’s a woman.

    The scary thing for me about McCain’s running mate is that, as Senator Obama pointed out, she is a “heartbeat away from the White House”, with an amazing lack of experience. Makes you wonder if she’s on the ticket just because she’s a woman.

    Karen

  7. Karen

    03. Sep, 2008

    Julie–I love your enthusiasm–not just about Senator Obama as a candidate–but about being part of the process that defines leadership in this country. Sounds like your childhood experience of being part of a diverse community have given you a perspective that allows you to see past race to the real issues. Thanks so much for sharing this here at Midlife’s A Trip. Come back and visit.

    Karen

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