“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., On Leadership!”

Truthfully, recently I was amazed at what I was seeing and hearing on my TV, watching the youth throughout our nation and also abroad standing together trying to make the powers that be understand their plight for their safety as it pertains to the status of guns in our country. That took my mind back to April 4, 1967 when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “These are revolutionary times; all over the globe men are revolting against old systems of exploitation and oppression. The shirtless and barefoot people of the world are rising up as never before. The People that walked in darkness have seen a great light. . . We must move past indecision to action. . .If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.”

Being that the youth have risen up to lead, and being that my column for this week will be coming out on Wednesday, April 4th, which is the day, 50 years ago, that Dr. King was assassinated, I felt that Dr. King’s thoughts on leadership should be shared so that hopefully some young folks’ eyes would gaze upon his wise words.

On March 25, 1968 Dr. King said, “Somebody is saying stand, so I guess I’ll have to stand” and that is exactly what the youth are doing. He also at other times gave great wisdom to those that have chosen to lead and this is what he said: 1)The road map for your movement may change, but your final destination should remain the same;

2)Your organization will prosper or die as a result of your ability to create, embody, and communicate a vision’

3) Leadership is more inspiration than administration;

4) People derive inspiration from their involvement;

5) You can’t get people to respond to anything if they aren’t stimulated;

6) Tie your vision to the human desire for a better tomorrow;

7) Call your vision “a dream.” It will be more meaningful, more simplistic, and more symbolic;

8) Make sure your dream taps into the emotions of the people.

9)Your role, in part, is to guide and give direction and philosophical under building to your movement;

10) Tell the people that you either go up together, or you go down together;

11) The question is not “What will happen to you?” The question is “What will happen to them?”

12) Do not be intimidated. Do not be harassed. Do not be silent. Be heard!
Hopefully, some young eyes that have the desire to want to see change, and have the desire to strive towards bringing about change, will digest Dr. King’s very wise words and will continue to get involved.

50 years have passed since our great leader’s voice has no longer been heard but hopefully, our youth will pick up his banner and strive towards bringing Dr. King’s Dream into a reality, for truthfully it seems that most old folks are still dreaming. Be strong, be courageous young people because we need you. Rise Up! Rise Up! Rise Up!

Dr. King, “Thank you for being willing to die for us, for you knew that death would be yours!” Let me end this with the words that Dr. King spoke on July 19, 1962. “We are simply seeking to bring into full realization the American Dream – a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men no longer argue that the color of a man’s skin determines the content of his character; the dream of a land where every man will respect the dignity and worth of human personality-this is the dream. When it is realized, the jangling discords of our nation will be transformed into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood, and men everywhere will know that America is truly the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

To the above I ask this question: Is this truly the “American Dream?” If so, why are we seeing what’s unfolding and has been unfolding before our very eyes? Wake Up!

This is “Lillie’s Point Of View” and I’m just having my say!