You’d think it was Abraham Lincoln Day with all the mention of Lincoln during the We Are One Concert. Tom Hanks’ oration got a little sticky-sweet for me during the Opening Ceremony. Yet we gotta join Stevie Wonder in wishing MLK a Happy Birthday. Barack Obama is beholden to the great man’s work as are we all. Although like Dr. King, ultimately Obama’s success is not about one man but about many men, women and children who became inspired to work together toward achieving our highest human values, no matter how difficult the road ahead. Over at NewsOne, Casey Gane-McCalla has assembled some of the King’s greatest speeches. Here’s one in which he discusses his opposition to the war in Vietnam. The parallels to the Iraqi & Gaza conflicts are chilling to encounter. NewsOne also has a nice gallery of photos from King’s life and times.

Casey says here in another piece on questioning whether Obama is truly the realization of MLK’s dream:

As King incorporated white people into his general movement, Obama has done it doubly so. King said:

‘Many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.’

Obama’s honest direct approach to attracting working class white voters and inclusion of them into his movement is a testament to King’s dream. The sons and daughters of the white people who marched with King and even the sons and daughters of those who protested against him have joined in Obama movement and mantel of change.

If Obama is to take his place as the heir to the civil rights movement, he must make it clear that the movement is not a black movement, but a movement for all people seeking peace and justice.

I feel ya, Casey, on that.

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