Martin Luther King, Jr and the Young, Non-Southern Black Man

Hello again world and welcome back to my blog. In keeping with February's great tradition of Black History Month, today's entry will be about a man who I think is the only prophet America has ever produced, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The video I posted above I found about a month ago via YouTube around the King holiday while I was searching for interviews and speeches he did, as well as documentary clips. Though the specific date of this speech is unknown, I'm assuming that he made that speech somewhere between the last two years of his life (1966-1968). When I first saw this video, I played it like it was the new single for at least two hours straight. It actually surprised me, chiefly because it was the first time I had ever heard Dr. King refer to himself and his people as "Black" as opposed to the term known to his generation, "Negro". But what I also noticed about his speech in this video is that it is a bit more outwardly radical then I had known him to be, keeping in mind that King IS a radical (you cannot accomplish goals like desegregation, voting rights, and true working pacifism unless you are radical). What makes it so "outwardly radical" is that I believe this statement must have come from his observations and the influence that the younger, "Black" generation of civil rights leaders would have on him.

Continuing my search for King information, I watched on YouTube the PBS special "Citizen King". This special focused on the last five years of his life, starting from his delivering the iconic "I Have A Dream" speech at the March on Washington and ending at his assassination and massively attended funeral. The years that primarily interested me were from 1965 to 1967- a period where he observed and experienced the life of the young, non-Southern Negro. This is the period that I believe brought King to the speech on that video. It begins with his stay in Chicago in 1966, inspired by his realization that he needed to understand the non-Southern Negro's (and underclass minorities overall) struggle with race and class disparities. This leads to his march to desegregate the Chicago suburb of Cicero where, in watching the footage of it, is easily most frightened and courageous I had seen him. The march turns into a caustic and dangerous event courtesy of its opposition, who may have been partly inspired by the counter demonstrations led by American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell. Though some marchers began to lose their cool, King maintained his, even while being hit with bricks and stones, ducking from the sounds of firecrackers meant to depict gunshots. The experience of the Cicero march indeed shook him- he would go on to unfavorably compare the experience to those he had in Mississippi and Alabama- but it also gave him a semblance to the specific level of frustration and opposition non-Southern black America faced.



I believe that the experience of Chicago began King towards that speech I found on YouTube, and the inspiration towards that speech was continued by his experience with Stokely Carmichael while continuing James Meredith's "March Against Fear" in Mississippi in 1966. Carmichael, the newly appointed chairman of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), was the definition of the young black radical; he was a Pan-Africanist who didn't fully believe in nonviolence, sharing the view of the pre-hajj, Nation of Islam era Malcolm X in that whites couldn't really help in the fight for black and minority civil rights. During their time together leading the "March Against Fear", King and Carmichael understood that they served as diverging symbols of black leadership; King is of the generation where Negroes use nonviolent decorum to achieve their collective goal, and Carmichael represents the younger generation's ideal of "Black Power" to inspire a racially unitarian mindset. King is in fact cautious of Carmichael's "Black Power" philosophy, believing it to be a type of segregation that will lead to loneliness and destruction. However, this relationship does prove to be one of collaboration and respect, as through Carmichael King sees the non-Southern Black man in his total individual form. As "Citizen King" reports, it is also through Carmichael that King begins to interchangeably use the terms "Negro" and "Black", a fact that Carmichael would boast about to others for the rest of his life.

It is my assumption that stemming from his experiences in Chicago and with Carmichael, King now had a source of relation with the rise of the new, non-Southern black man. This newfound perspective taught him to be aware of the changes of "Black" America, as well as give him more cause to look at America as a whole nation. I think that by the time he made the speech I found on YouTube, he found a way to keep his nonviolent tactics and sensibilities yet embrace at least part of the newer generation's mantra; still not accepting the connotation of "Black Power", but ready to acknowledge that "Black is Beautiful". It is a bit ironic that King's assassination in 1968 would trigger his prophetic fears of "Black Power" to come true, as Black America would riot in major American cities in retaliation. Nevertheless, ALL of America- black, white, other colors and creeds, and even the world in general- have grown to greatly appreciate King's legacy of work in making this great land a more equal and tolerant playing field.

King's speech that I found on YouTube initially surprised me, but I also found it refreshing. Why? Because it is proven document of his forward thinking being specifically directed at his love for his people, an indication of entrusting them to make significant leaps and bounds in America's great landscape. This video makes me realize that the terminology of a people is far from just labeling, as what they call themselves dictates their future prosperity; I think that without a speech like that, a "Negro" calling himself "Black", we would have never elevated to making those superior leaps and bounds as "African Americans". King's realization couldn't have come from anywhere else but his experiences with the newer generation, as they taught him to understand them, their country, and time overall more accurately.

Well, that's about it for now folks. Thanks for taking the time to read this blog, and let me know what you think about this and other entries. Until then, peace out.

How "Superfly" Symbolizes Freedom

Hello again world, and welcome back to my blog. For today's entry, I decided to talk about my perceived deeper meaning towards a blaxploitation classic. Last night, I watched the film "Superfly" on television, my first time seeing it in at least two years (and second overall). Culturally, the film is a blaxploitation standard that is punctuated by its musical score/soundtrack by the great Curtis Mayfield. The film itself stands atop the pantheon with other classics as "The Mack", "Foxy Brown" and blaxploitation's first and greatest known effort, "Shaft". The plot of "Superfly" is about a polished drug dealer named Priest who wishes to leave the trade but must make one last score that will provide enough money for him to live comfortably (at least for a while) in his exile. But in performing this daring caper, he steadily deflects criticism for his decision, and more importantly must avoid entrapment from corrupt officials that plan to keep him in the life.

As I watched "Superfly", I came to appreciate Priest's journey to freedom. I took from this film that true freedom and choice means true sacrifice; I mean, to give up all that profit and luxury for, if anything else, peace of mind? That's an astonishing choice. But what strikes me most about it is that he knew to work and prepare for that true freedom, as he knew during the course of the movie he was not free. He also knew his captivity spread to others, as since he was in a position of power he knew he had to maintain brute force and intimidation. For example, he puts the nonviolent Fat Freddie to commit violent tasks (which would ultimately cost Freddie his life, "Freddie's Dead"), and then laments to his partner Eddie about this decision.

Speaking of his partner, in fact, I found their relationship through the movie quite allegorical to the house negro (Eddie) and the field negro (Priest). The reason behind that is for this mere fact; whereas Priest was a person who found the determination to be self-defined and independent, Eddie was basically floating towards whichever side or purpose fit him best and would have to work for least. Eddie had no sort of vision for himself, and never really claimed responsibility for himself or anything in his life. By the end of the movie I found him to be a willing, but paid, slave to whichever entity provided the materialistic lifestyle he so loved. This of course puts a rift between he and Priest, as Eddie would become his biggest detractor against going straight, moreso out of Eddie's self-preservational leech mentality.

I connect to "Superfly"'s dream of freedom in life most in his excited outlook towards new opportunity and choice. In the scene where his girlfriend asks him what will he do when he is out of the game, he in effect replies that he doesn't know what his future will be but is nevertheless excited by the possibilities of it; possibilities that from then on he will totally assume and control. I think that statement reflects what I feel to be the truest feeling of total independence for oneself, as they come to the realization that only they can- and must- commit themselves to the direction of their lives, having the confidence in their decisions and readiness in their outcomes. As I stated earlier, true freedom means true sacrifice, so in making this choice you must be fully ready and prepared. I think in all that is what I perceive to be the underlying message in "Superfly".

Well, that's about it for now folks. In closing, I'll leave you with the classic "Superfly" theme by the great Curtis Mayfield. Thanks for taking the time to read the blog- in all honesty, I hope it made sense.Let me know what you think about this and other entries. Until then, peace out.