Two score and eleven years ago come
April fourth, two thousand nineteen
April fourth, two thousand nineteen
father of civil rights movement the,
Reverend Martin Luther King Junior honored
Reverend Martin Luther King Junior honored
as benevolent demigod figure to the
oppressed African American population
oppressed African American population
without whose bold risks and subsequent
assassination April fourth
assassination April fourth
ninety sixty eight at the hands of a crazed
gunman (James Earl Ray),
gunman (James Earl Ray),
wrought empowerment advancing dreams
of slaves recent descendents
of slaves recent descendents
allowing, enabling and providing
once attainable aspirations
once attainable aspirations
only bestowed upon the self anointed
masters and early settlers
masters and early settlers
of the virginal North
American contiguous landmass
American contiguous landmass
yet…generations prior
to this prestigious public personality
to this prestigious public personality
Abolitionists pitted themselves against
the institution of slavery
the institution of slavery
incrementally raising awareness
per the abomination
per the abomination
forced servitude incurred on those shackled
thus setting the stage for this
grandson of A.D. Williams,
grandson of A.D. Williams,
a rural parsonage,
who ministered spiritual support
who ministered spiritual support
for the small congregation
(initially only thirteen members)
(initially only thirteen members)
comprising attendants at Ebenezer Baptist
Church in Atlanta Georgia
Church in Atlanta Georgia
setting precedent for freedom
(at risk of life and limb) against scourge of
(at risk of life and limb) against scourge of
racial prejudice courtesy
of sharecropper grandparents
of sharecropper grandparents
whose objection to racial segregation based
on an affront to the will of God
on an affront to the will of God
whereby the young
whip smart precocious lad,
(whose impact we now memorialize)
whip smart precocious lad,
(whose impact we now memorialize)
showed his true colorful promise,
when a young student at
when a young student at
Liberal Crozer Theological Seminary
in Chester, Pennsylvania
in Chester, Pennsylvania
where the yet uncrowned eminent King
came under the influence
came under the influence
of theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, a classmate
of his father's at Morehouse College
of his father's at Morehouse College
who became a mentor
by exposing his protégée
to liberal views of theology
by exposing his protégée
to liberal views of theology
planting the seeds of ardent
activism that gave rise to
activism that gave rise to
The Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (SCLC)
Leadership Conference (SCLC)
an initial platform hoisting his status as
thee most articulate orator
thee most articulate orator
spelling binding the listeners
with his soaring metaphors
about his emphatic march
with his soaring metaphors
about his emphatic march
to a promised land where all men/women
could be brothers/sisters
could be brothers/sisters
and no person will be judged
by the color of his/her skin
by the color of his/her skin
raising morale of many dirt poor ebony
(and lighter skin toned) masses
to feel a glimmer of hope!
(and lighter skin toned) masses
to feel a glimmer of hope!
updated by @americymru: 01/23/19 02:29:50AM
