The Wrongologist

Today, we are
reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

At the Inaugural, the president will pay tribute to Dr. King by taking the oath of office on
two Bibles rather than the customary one: He will use a bible that once
belonged to President Abraham Lincoln and one that belonged to Dr. King.

This year
marks the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, where Dr. King delivered
his “I Have a Dream” speech, arguably one of
the greatest orations in American history. And 2013 is the 150th anniversary of
the Emancipation Proclamation.

For America’s youth,
knowledge about Dr. King and understanding of civil rights history overall,
doesn’t go very far beyond that. The National
Assessment of Educational Progress,
for instance, reported that only 2% of high school seniors could correctly
answer a basic question about the Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of
Education case.

Throughout the country
Dr. King is honored as a national hero. Major city boulevards bear his
name and two years ago a memorial on the National Mall in Washington was
unveiled (below). But if Dr. King’s
teachings aren’t passed on to younger generations, then all these tributes will
fall far short of maintaining his legacy.

Below is a link to
the audio for a song by OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark) from their 1986
album “The Pacific Age”. The song is
“Southern” and it takes fragments of speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. and
sets them to an electronic music track. Sadly, no video for “Southern” exists
on YouTube.

Hear the song at: http://mp3lemon.org/song/399619/OMD_-_06_-_Southern

And while you listen,
read the lyrics of Southern:

I remember that
Monday morning

When I was subpoenaed to be in court


Many things ran through my mind
I started thinking about the people
All day long, trying to think of something to say to the people


Are you ready for the question?
All in favor, let it be known by standing on your feet


I want young men and young women, who are not alive today
But who will come into this world, with new privileges
And new opportunities
I want them to know and see that these new privileges and opportunities
Did not come without somebody suffering and sacrificing, for
Freedom is never given to anybody


Like anybody
I would like to live a long life
Longevity has its place
But I’m not concerned about that now
I just want to do God’s will
And he has allowed me to go up to the mountain
And I’ve looked over
And I’ve seen the promised land
I may not get there with you
But I want you to know tonight
That we as a people
Will get to the promise land
So I’m happy tonight, I’m not worried about anything
I’m not fearing any man
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord


Glory hallelujah, glory hallelujah
Glory hallelujah, glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on