BlogHer - Living History -- The Dream 45 Years Later - Comments

A Bit Late

Dori7 — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:55:59 -0500

I'm a bit late in commenting on this, but I had to add that I was so moved watching this. My hubby and I got up in the early hours of the morning here in England, just so we could see Barack Obama's acceptance speech live. It was so moving. I kept thinking, what would my parents and grandparents think of that moment. :-) I also was so moved like Lisa said, when they spoke with John Lewis on the day. It was a day of living history.

http://fromayellowhouse.blogspot.com

Hard Not to Be Emotional About Progress

midlifemuse — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:38:31 -0500

Lisa--

This is only the beginning. Just wait until tonight.

Karen

Blogging at Midlife's A Trip and as contributing editor on midlife issues at BlogHer.

False Evidence Appearing Real

midlifemuse — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:27:30 -0500

You did a beautiful post JC. Reminds me of the acronym for fear that I use with my coaching clients. More people should see this because it paves the way for hope:

F alse

E vidence

A ppearing

R eal

Karen

Blogging at Midlife's A Trip and as contributing editor of midlife issues at BlogHer.

Share the Kleenex

midlifemuse — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:12:00 -0500

Michelle--

Your grandmother was amazing to have you learn Dr. King's speech. I like to think that somehow those who've gone before us, like your grandmother and my dad, know about the monumental progress being made this week. And as for the tears, I cried when I wrote this post so share the box of Kleenex because I know I'll be crying again tonight!

Karen

I blog at Midlife's A Trip and as contributing editor of midlife issues at BlogHer.

Karen, what a gift

Lisa Stone — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:02:23 -0500

in this post thank you. I've got a box of tissues too: Waterworks started when I heard Georgia Rep. John Lewis' interview with Linda Wertheimer this morning on NPR, so I was ready for you.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of the 2008 political conventions

We Can't Forget

midlifemuse — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:28:18 -0500

Megan--

Thanks so much for your feedback and for linking me to your site--which I love to visit. I guess as I wait for Barack's speech tonight I just got to thinking that we can't forget how far we've come -- as African Americans AND as a country. Sometimes progress escapes me.

Karen

Hangin out at Midlife's A Trip and Contributing Editor on Midlife Issues at BlogHer.

Thank You

Southerngirl — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:58:25 -0500

Thank you for this post. My mom and every member of my family who was old enough, know exactly where they were the day they heard that Dr. King and JFK were assassinated and some even what they were wearing. I remember doing Dr. King's speech for a Black history program and my Grandma told me that I had the most important job in the program. She made me read that speeh and learn every word of it before the day of that program. There was a lot of eye rolling and whining but I finally got it. It would be years later that I find out that she could not read but knew every word and nuance of that speech. That was the day I realized just how awesome that woman was. She is no longer with me but I know she would need a box of Kleenex for tonight, I think I may need one myself.

Michelle

I have hope

JC — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:48:04 -0500

I'm anxiously awaiting Barack's speech tonight. Last night was historic and moving. It moved me to write a post on hope versus fear. Let us hope for change together!

Thanks For Making Note Of Such A Historic Day

Megan Smith — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:41:58 -0500

I loved your post so much I've linked to it from my site.

Megan Smith
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/YouTube
Megan's Minute: Quirky Commentary Around The Clock

Living History -- The Dream 45 Years Later

midlifemuse — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:40:32 -0500

In 1963 I was 12 years old. I didn't know then that I was living history.

That year I saw the Beatles in concert on their first world tour and fell in love with George. I was called to our principal's office at school one day in November to carry a note back to my teacher letting her know that she had to deliver the devastating news to our class that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.

And that summer of '63, my dad took us to a civil rights march in Detroit where we lived. As we marched down Woodward Avenue, my dad pointed out many leaders in the civil rights movement. One of those leaders was a young minister -- the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The march ended downtown and I remember everyone gathering to hear Dr. King speak. We kids were hungry and ready to go for Chinese food but Dad told us that Dr. King's words were important for us to hear. I remember how Dr. King spoke of having a dream -- a dream where we all would be free -- at last.

Shortly after that march in Detroit, Dr. King stood in front of thousands of people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech and shared those same words I heard him speak in Detroit. Millions more heard Dr. King on television. Today is the 45th anniversary of that speech and it still has the power to move men and women to tears, especially as Barack Obama takes the podium this evening to accept his party's nomination as candidate for president of the United State of America.

Maybe, like me, this day -- both in 1963 and 2008 -- has overwhelming significance for you. Or maybe you're reading this and thinking that you don't plan to vote for Senator Obama. Maybe you don't really know much about Dr. King. Or maybe you aren't old enough to have lived through the fight for civil rights. And maybe you haven't experienced racial discrimination.

Well that's OK. Because if you have 12 minutes to watch this video of Dr. King's speech, you'll get a sense of why, as Americans, we're all living history today.