There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
Brave. I'd like to see more writing in the world like this. You write to heal yourself, as you say, but readers (those who don't react reflexively) are helped by listening in.
I have never used the word in my speech Linda, as I’ve never viewed or looked upon any other human as being any less equal than I or you❣️ Lift Every Voice and Sing ~ by James Weldon Johnson
Lift every voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered.
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
William, I was in a group yesterday where we were asked to tell the truth and look into ourselves and share how racism lives in us. I, too, never use this word, but the word has come into my mind and I have pushed it down. I have felt terrible about it. It has never come into my mind towards anyone. It just exists as a word that once in a while I hear in my mind and wonder how it possibly got in there. But I know how it does and die. People use it endlessly in songs, in movies, in comedy acts, etc. I love people. And in my life, I have worked my entire life for diversity, inclusion, equal rights, compassion, love, care, social justice, and written and marched and stood up for justice and been a support of retribution, have supported privately financially and emotionally people such as the boy, now man, I met while traveling in Ethiopia. But, I was called up to tell whatever truth about racism lives in me, regardless of how I have worked against racism in every way possible and for loving and caring for all people. I have never viewed myself better than others, but you would have to be blind not to see how this country works, how the hierarchies are laid out. I know I have privileges simply by the color of my skin. I'd be stupid if I didn't recognize this ... I know when I protested in the streets I had to protect my brothers and sisters of dark skin because the police went after them first. What can I say, I needed to write this. We all need to talk about what we have been taught and how we can help heal racism in our country. It is a strange day to be writing this -- except it is MLK Jr. Day and much more essential and important than anything else going on in the fascist state we are being drawn into. These are my beliefs. And not matter how loving I am or want to be or love in others, we have to face facts.
Thank you for writing and reading. I hope you will continue.
MLK used a portion of this poem in a speech not long before he left this earth, and I believe those words lived in his heart, so I share with you today what is in mine also❣️ You are golden Linda, and I can see the goodness in your heart too… You have given so much of yourself to others in your journey ♥️🌹🌅❣️
Brave. I'd like to see more writing in the world like this. You write to heal yourself, as you say, but readers (those who don't react reflexively) are helped by listening in.
Thank you Randy, I appreciate that it helps others, but yes, I write to heal for sure! xo
I have never used the word in my speech Linda, as I’ve never viewed or looked upon any other human as being any less equal than I or you❣️ Lift Every Voice and Sing ~ by James Weldon Johnson
Lift every voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered.
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.
William, I was in a group yesterday where we were asked to tell the truth and look into ourselves and share how racism lives in us. I, too, never use this word, but the word has come into my mind and I have pushed it down. I have felt terrible about it. It has never come into my mind towards anyone. It just exists as a word that once in a while I hear in my mind and wonder how it possibly got in there. But I know how it does and die. People use it endlessly in songs, in movies, in comedy acts, etc. I love people. And in my life, I have worked my entire life for diversity, inclusion, equal rights, compassion, love, care, social justice, and written and marched and stood up for justice and been a support of retribution, have supported privately financially and emotionally people such as the boy, now man, I met while traveling in Ethiopia. But, I was called up to tell whatever truth about racism lives in me, regardless of how I have worked against racism in every way possible and for loving and caring for all people. I have never viewed myself better than others, but you would have to be blind not to see how this country works, how the hierarchies are laid out. I know I have privileges simply by the color of my skin. I'd be stupid if I didn't recognize this ... I know when I protested in the streets I had to protect my brothers and sisters of dark skin because the police went after them first. What can I say, I needed to write this. We all need to talk about what we have been taught and how we can help heal racism in our country. It is a strange day to be writing this -- except it is MLK Jr. Day and much more essential and important than anything else going on in the fascist state we are being drawn into. These are my beliefs. And not matter how loving I am or want to be or love in others, we have to face facts.
Thank you for writing and reading. I hope you will continue.
MLK used a portion of this poem in a speech not long before he left this earth, and I believe those words lived in his heart, so I share with you today what is in mine also❣️ You are golden Linda, and I can see the goodness in your heart too… You have given so much of yourself to others in your journey ♥️🌹🌅❣️
my dear William. I am your biggest fan. you have a heart of gold, you do!