News of Coretta Scott Kings’ death spread on the same day as Judge Alito’s dark ascension into Supreme Court power. Which was the same day that his boss, the Devil – aka George W. Bush – gave his sermon to the rich masses. Could there really be any justification as to why the government could spy on the unsuspecting public? I never knew that going across seas to lose your life over a lie was ever honorable.

But, I don’t believe that anyone will ever listen to me. Why? Because I am not Bill O’Reilly, Hannity, Colmes, or even Tim Russert – I am merely Kevin Lee Clark; your favorite writer’s favorite writer. The seriousness of the historical landscape that we are living in is not synonymous with the way that we, as black people, are carrying ourselves. Is this an omen? Could it be a sign? Is this the death of the Civil Rights Movement?

Before you read on – don’t take this as some “Black History Month, We Shall Overcome to make white folks feel comfortable so we can pat ourselves on the back, Martin-Malcolm-Marcus type of rabble-rousal.” This is merely a wake-up call for those who are not noticing what’s really going on. Our over-focusing on the past, albeit necessary for us to understand the struggles from whence we came, is limiting the history that we can make. The passing of such greats like Rosa Parks, Ossie Davis and the aforementioned King are unique as they’re leaving their legacy to us. Do you think that Jesse Jackson really gives a damn about you? You were closer to seeing Reverend Al Sharpton on CBS instead of him fighting for our rights. How are we continuing the legacy that we continue to celebrate? We have a cause to fight for, yet we stick to the tried-and-true mantra of “the white man’s holding us down”. That is true to an extent, but it’s not entirely, because we’re helping them do it. With BET: UnCut, our black men going to jail and a lack of respect for our elders and one another – our legacy is shaping up to be pretty discouraging.

But don’t take my blackness for weakness.

How can we uplift one another if we can’t even show up? From plays put on by the African Community Theater to BUS meetings, we are not making an impact socially and/or consciously.

Chicago MC Common said, “Walk like Warriors, we were never told to run,” so there is no need to be scared of sacrifice, honor and hard work. All students, support your fellow comrades. We are here, not just for a degree, but for a sense of self; and if we leave here not knowing who we are, we go into the really real world perpetrating a fraud. With Bush and Alito joined at the hip, our hopes and dreams may soon become nightmares. What will be the catalyst to initiate “dream”? When will we become heroes and heroines again? Because after Coretta Scott King, what’s next?

Interested? Want to read more? Check out http://realrecognizereal.wordpress.com for more.

Kevin L. Clark is a sophomore magazine journalism major and a columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].