happy birthday, martin!

last week
the shorties read
educational newspapers
about
martin luther king.
they read about rosa parks
and how she bravely sparked
the boycotts that rocked
the nation.
they read about
racism,
hate,
and the craziness
of segration
back in the day.

afterwards, they reflected
on how the past connects with the
racism,
hate,
and the craziness
of the lack of
equality
that is current today.

"my dad is a racist...sometimes...", one of my students
bravely admitted.

another informed, "my mother says never get
into a cab with a white cab driver cuz
you don't know where he is going to take
you or what he'll do to you."
sadly, when i first moved to the city,
my now-estranged birth-mother had said the
same thing, only with a different-color warning.

we listened to a series of stories
told by people who survived the
jim crow era.

the shorties eyes grew big
as one woman told about
how she confronted
someone blocking the exit
to a movie theater as she was
leaving with her sister.

"she had to be braaaaaaaaaaaaaave," one
shortie said with complete seriousness,
eyebrows raised.
he was right.
"people like that, and like rosa parks
fought for us to have the freedom we have today,"
lectured another to all of us.

i spent the day of martin luther king's birth
in luray, virginia with my family.
we watched the movie, crash.
it is about the stereotyping and racism
that has been developed and fostered
over the years among people
of all races.

if you haven't seen it, then do.

so, martin, thank you.
thank you for your bravery and courage.
thank you for advocating for all people.
happy birthday.
may your dreams come true...