Know Where You're Going By Knowing Where You've Been

During a commencement for Oberlin College in June 1965, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to the graduating class. He spoke on the topic of "Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution."

He reminded them of the arresting little story from the pen of Washington Irving, entitled Rip Van Winkle.

The thing that we usually remember about this story is that Rip Van Winkle slept 20 years. But there is another point in that story that is almost always completely overlooked. It was a sign on the inn in the little Hudson town from which Rip left into the mountain for his long sleep.

When he went up, the sign had a picture of King George III of England. When he came down, years later, the sign had a picture of George Washington, the first president of the United States.

When Rip looked up at the picture of George Washington, he was completely lost; he knew not who he was. This reveals to us the most striking fact about the story of Rip Van Winkle, not that he slept 20 years, but that he slept through a revolution.

While he was peacefully snoring up on the mountain, a great revolution was taking place in the world - indeed, a revolution which would, at points, change the course of history. And Rip Van Winkle knew nothing about it; he was asleep.

We have some folks who are still sleeping during the many events around them. Many are asleep with their eyes wide opened. You may seem to be awake, because your eyes are opened, but yet your brain is closed!

We are suppose to be living during this great diverse nation, but so many of us continue to be segregated in so may ways: politics, personal agendas, etc.

Many do not want to admit this, but times have changed in many ways compared to the 1930s, '40s, all the way to the past 40 years. But this nation still has such a long way to go. We still have a long way to diversity. Many time division stops growth and advancement.

I often hear folks mention that Dr. King would be broken hearted if he was here to see the ways things are today. I beg to differ on such statements. Sure we have a long way to go before complete unity, but many doors have opened up.

I remember a few years ago when some co-workers were on a traffic stop on a car loaded with four black males and one black female. The driver was suspended and the front seat passenger had two warrants. The rear male was highly intoxicated and the car wreaked of marijuana.

When my white co-workers decided they were going to tow the car, which they were fully entitled to do, the front seat passenger who had two warrants for weapon offenses and delivery of narcotics looked at me and said, "If Dr. Martin Luther King was here officer, it would crush him to see you sold out." 

Needless to say, it did not take me long to respond back to him and put this individual in his place. I asked this young man if he knew Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. The year he was born. When was he killed, and the name of the hotel?

Of course, he could not answer any of these! He instead told me that was not important. I told this young man, "Never open a door, you are not willing to walk into."

Time and time again we have to realize, that our young people today are enjoying the benefits of ancestors' struggles, but they don't understand it, plain and simple!

I like to challenge them to think about two words, equity and equality!

One of the differences is the fact that equality obviously denotes that everyone is at the same level, whereas equity, in business parlance, denotes the ownership of the shares of a company.

Equality alludes to the identical apportionment where dealings, values or qualities are concerned. Equity represents fairness, or what may be termed as the equality of outcomes. This involves factoring in aspects of the system that have put particular groups at a disadvantage.

An example, which would bring out the principal difference between the two, would be how a turkey may be carved up at at family’s dinner table. Equality would mean that everybody – father, mother and children – would get a piece of the same size. Equity, on the other hand, would mean that they take the sensible option, and divide it according to their needs, i.e. larger sized pieces for the adult and smaller pieces for the children.

A perfect example of the practical demonstration of the difference between the two concepts is the feminist movement. Now, if women demand they should be treated in the same way as men, that would not be possible – equality would not be possible – because women and men are different, and cannot be treated in exactly the same way. However, if they demanded equity in how the world treats them, it would be a genuine demand, because now they are demanding that they be given the same rights as men have as human beings. It is equity that is desirable, not sameness.

We are slowly getting away from the days of Jim Crow, Sheriff Bull Connor, Commander Jon Burge and so many others. But if our young people are not taught past history, than we are going backwards. They may not be hung from trees anymore by a rope. But the new lynching is a pen and paper, under arrest and criminal records.

How can you know where you are going if you dont know where you've been?

I have been watching past elections and upcoming elections. Many voters are looking for diversity in their candidates and also in parties. The key word is "diversity,: not only in public policy or social issues, but many look for it representing their make-up in the communities. Voters prefer candidates who are in touch and understand their hurt, struggles and are able to come together.

I always say, if you don't like the way things are. CHANGE IT!!!!! If you sit back and do nothing, don't complain!!