Statue notwithstanding - my "memorial dedication" to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...

...because he was wa-a-a-y more than the 39 year-old, "not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character" kinda guy - AND - because some folk, obviously, get him twisted.

In his own words, "The Drum Major Instinct:"



(And, per his request, Coretta Scott King - obliged)

Revealingly interesting and also encouraging, is the fact that my still-respected elder, Maya Angelou (who has, kinda-sorta-understandably-but-not, been blinded by the light of the "Os"), upon whose, AT THE VERY LEAST, "I-Know-Why-the-Caged-Bird-Sings"-shoulders I certainly stand (yeah, wikipedia as a source sucks, but I'm hoping it'll at least make you thirsty!) - takes issue with the new, MLK memorial .

She knew MLK and, at that time, had a keen, "whither thou goest" understanding of the march to "freedom."  But times and people - as often happens - change, which by no means diminishes her complaint and is actually, precisely why I find it encouraging.

She KNEW him.  And despite the fact that she's not spoken out about the "corporators" and their donors, she's speaking out - about the man she knew.  That says to me there's an inkling, a chance - that spirit lives - regardless!

So Dr. King - in the spirit of the lyrics to one of my First Pain's penned lyrics - "But you can't play it safe and follow dreams, Safe is the mask that Fear wears for Halloween" -  I, here, memorialize and salute you - because you of all people, really got the Safe vs Fear thing...