Honoring the Past
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As we approach the anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I can’t help but think of the sacrifice of those who fought to bring the potential of the American dream to all people. I’m not talking about the people who made headlines, I’m talking about the people who made sacrifices small and great and who are for the most part forgotten by history.
The leaders of the civil rights struggle are rightfully venerated by the masses, but I think we overlook the majority of those who made it possible for civil rights to become a reality. From the housewife who donated her time and energy to the cause to the bus driver who spent all his free time handing out pamphlets to the student who put his education on hold so that he take part in a march to the bus boy who risked not only his job, but his life as well as he took part in a sit in at a segregated restaurant. I hope that at this time when we remember the ultimate sacrifice that MLK made that we also remember the faceless nameless masses who also contributed mightily to the ultimately successful attempt to fulfill the promise that was made in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal”.
The reason that I think of those regular people who made those sacrifices is that I’m not sure that the debt that is owed to those individuals can ever be repaid. How does one pay back what so many suffered to gain with their blood, sweat and tears?The election of Barack Obama and the elevation of many African Americans to positions of power and influence has led some to declare the battle for equality at an end. It is said that if we can elect a black president then blacks have certainly achieved all that they set out to accomplish during the civil rights struggle.
In my view, that is certainly not the case, but I can understand how some could have that opinion. However, my question is, was the only goal of the civil rights struggle to create a climate so that a few could reach exalted heights. Did those factory workers, maids, students, housewives, sacrifice all so much in order to elevate the few?
I ask the question because I have struggled often with the thought of living an ordinary life. I have had all the advantages that a middle class life could offer. I went to good schools, graduated from college, got a scholarship to go to graduate school, graduated and became a working member of society. The problem with an ordinary life is that I feel the pressure to be extraordinary. Having lived an “ordinary” life, I can’t help but feel that I have somehow failed the generation who suffered so much in order to give me the opportunity to be more than “ordinary”.
American society seems to only pay attention to either the best or the worst of black society. Criminals, welfare cheats, drug addicts, prison inmates who happen to be black are consistently highlighted on the news and in popular culture. There are those who would ascribe the negative qualities of the worst of those individuals to all African-Americans. I could offer many real life examples of this, but suffice it say that this is not limited to only those narrow minded individuals that we call bigots.
American society will also heap inordinate praise on those who have been able to reach the heights of popularity or power. Athletes, entertainers, politicians, business leaders. Of course if one of those who reach those heights were to commit a transgression of some type, then all the negative stereotypes are immediately brought to bear. They are no longer one of the “good ones”, they immediately become “just like the rest of them”.
Given our “post racial” society, the question remains, what is required of the descendants of the greatest generation. Is being ordinary, enough? Does being ordinary fulfill the desire of those who made so many sacrifices given the almost schizophrenic attitude that society has toward African Americans? It is easy to argue that the goal of the ordinary people who were the engine of the civil rights movement was that they and their descendants be allowed the same opportunity to fail or succeed as the rest of the America. The fought for the right to be treated as individuals. They fought for the right for their fortunes to be tied to their own strengths and weaknesses.
So do I honor that generation with the life I lead? I’m not sure. I suppose on one level I do, I suppose on one level America does as well. They just happen to be different levels. We as a country have advanced enough to elect a black man as our president and yet we still manage to vilify people because of the color of their skin. Those ordinary people who suffered might say that they did it so that I could live the as I do, but I’m sure they would also be disappointed in the attitudes that still exist. The promised land is not having a black person reach the presidency, on the contrary, the promised land is being treated as an equal regardless of your level of achievement. The battle for that ultimate goal rages on. It rages on even though some would like to put the ugliest of episodes behind us.
I can honor those bravest of Americans by talking and writing about how much they sacrificed. I am not sure that I can honor them by the life I lead. The battle for Civil Rights continues today as it probably will for the foreseeable future. The battle continues throughout the country and it continues inside me as I’m sure it does inside many who happen to share my pigmentation. Is being ordinary a fulfillment of the legacy of all of those who came before me or a betrayal of it? I wish I had the answer to that.
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I think you might be confusing “ordinary” with “not famous”. It is never ordinary to stand up and speak your passion, to live an exemplary life. Think of the extraordinary changes the country has, and will benefit from because “ordinary” people like you make a difference every single day.
“The promised land is not having a black person reach the presidency, on the contrary, the promised land is being treated as an equal regardless of your level of achievement.”
Here’s hoping that that day comes very soon. All of us are equal, regardless of the color of our skin or the contents of our wallet.
Mycue, I would echo Hotle’s sentiments. Your words are a living collection: heartbeats… that match many others’ who come and read you, and keep you. How long have you made a difference in my life with your words, has it really been over two years now? You served me a ham sandwich to save me from starving for inspiration a few times. And Michael, that has to be extraordinary. Deeply extraordinary.
I see thousands of ordinary people making the largest difference right now. They are standing up and making small and large sacrifices to finally demonstrate they have had enough. The world is shifting … changing before our eyes. And you are making a contribution to it… just knowing that it is happening and observing it is huge. You’re participating. Extraordinary. That’s what that is. Kindness matters the most Micheal… you’ve never given me anything else. I’m hoping I’ve returned the kindness… and you and me, my buddy, we do so disagree… but we care. Extraordinary. Hey? Awesome post!
Oh, and I think you’re fucking Special!
GL & Jess,
Thank you for your kind words. The internal battle continues, but it’s always nice to hear encouraging words.
The thanks goes to you, MyCue, for a posting so worthy of prompting reflection and introspection. It’s comforting to know that there are others out there who still think of these issues in a meaningful way. 🙂
“The problem with an ordinary life is that I feel the pressure to be extraordinary. Having lived an “ordinary” life, I can’t help but feel that I have somehow failed the generation who suffered so much in order to give me the opportunity to be more than “ordinary”.
Funny I was having this conversation a couple weeks ago with some of my virtual family, I have been hanging around with for years. It wasn’t so much racism but just being involved and standing up when necessary. We all think we live these ordinary lives and don’t do anything but we really do when you think about it, we just don’t know we are doing it. As long as there are bigots and racists among us, the person that stands up to that is not ordinary.
You writing here is one example I could use, if I may, of making a difference in an extraordinary way. Someone is going to come across this glorious piece of writing and they will think on it. Will it change everyone who reads it, nope probably not, too many bigots still but there is a chance it could change just one mind, and that one mind is enough to change the world in a small way for the better. The world will be forever changed, because that one person took something from you. That is extraordinary.
Outstanding post, MyCue. There is no shame in living an “ordinary” life. All of us have limited time on this earth, and we can choose to spend that time contributing to injustice, fighting for justice, or simply living our lives out of the fray; I assume you mean the “out of the fray” path when you speak of “ordinary.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. and those of his ilk chose to fight for justice with veracity. Others contribute to injustice in ways big and small, sometimes in the course of pursuing their own interests, and other times perhaps more intentionally and cruelly.
Those who stay out of the fray may indeed feel that their lives are “ordinary”–going to work, doing their shopping, watching TV ad infinitum, indulging in beer or cocktails. The fact is, while an occasional Martin Luther King Jr. steps to the front and makes great sacrifice to blaze a trail for the rest, it is largely the “ordinary” that shape our nation, our society, our culture, in the every day, in ways that they may not even realize. It’s in the small decisions that we make each day to treat others with respect, to ground our relationships in compassion, to let someone go ahead of us in the grocery line, to respond with patience as the person with limited mobility shuffles ahead of us through a narrow doorway. Those are the actions that shape our nation, maybe not on the scale of the trailblazers, but certainly in their vision. If you act without prejudice in the interactions that shape your every day, however ordinary those days may be, you are honoring the work of those who have fought for equality. And there is no extra burden to be a trailblazer based on the pigmentation of your skin…the burden to honor the works of those who have fought for justice lies with every one of us, as does the decision regarding whether we honor them through our every day actions, or through more grandiose efforts.
I can’t help but think of the sacrifice of those who fought to bring the potential of the American dream to all people. How true, thank you for this wonderful post MyCue.
The fight for equality will never end..which makes me sad, but its a reality we must deal with. It’s not just black folks either, as a brown bitch I deal with bigots and racists all the time. Small minded, ignorant people that are self-absorbed add nothing to our nation except the negative, backwards leaning crap we strive to bury every day.
Dusty,
The fight was and is for all people to be treated equally. I speak only of my experience but every group has faced barriers to gaining their piece of the American Dream. Racism and bigotry causes harm on both sides of the issue. I’m sure part of the dream of those who sacrificed so much was the hope that even those who were part of their oppression would one day be free from the prison that is small mindedness.
Speaking of extraordinary this is one of those posts MyCue. And the battle rages inside me too, although I think maybe I could have lived a better life sometimes.
Ordinary is a vague term Mike. The people who made the great and small sacrifices were extraordinary people along with MLK and his higher profile cohorts. I think they wanted to be ordinary, they had to do extraordinary things, so that you and your generation could be.