Jones on King: A day to give thanks
Posted January 16, 2012 10:53 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Let’s not talk about basketball today right away today, okay? There will be more time later for discussions of a line-up, injuries or statistics.
Why? Because today is a special day when the United States recognizes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man who was prominent in holding up a mirror so the United States could take a look at itself in the 1960’s. A man who helped to provide the impetus for change as you can bet the images in the mirror were not what Uncle Sam really wanted to see.
Oppression, discrimination and inequality were amongst some of the things that were continually on display. Government officials standing on the steps of a prominent southern university refusing a person of colour admission to the school. The nightly news showing fire hoses turned on African Americans with pressure strong enough to take the bark off a tree. Nope, not what America wanted the rest of the world to see nor was it the message they wanted to send.
I was raised in an old-fashioned household, one where reflection was high on the list, especially during difficult times to help maintain a sense of perspective. Let’s hope today is one of those days where people take time to reflect just a little and put things into perspective. And maybe, just take a few more steps toward making things a bit better for all of us.
As a person that watched from afar, and at times, lived through the civil rights movement in the United States during my formative years, I have some strong images of what King’s message meant to people of all races, colours and creeds.
I can remember distinctly how hurt I was the first time I was a victim of having experienced overt racism, no more than a 20-minute drive from the White House. It was disturbing and I will also never forget the admonition from my father, mother and late uncle who explained to two children, my brother and I, “to never be like that and judge people in that way.”
I remember the night King was assassinated — I was at church on a Thursday night for a special junior choir practice with the senior choir. When my father came in to pick me up, he told the members of the senior choir what had happened. I had never seen grown people openly weep.
I was too young to grasp the full magnitude of King’s I Have A Dream Speech but the more I watch and listen to his brilliant oratory, I realize what the idea of having a vision really means. His dream may not have fully come to fruition, but at least things are moving in the right direction. True, there are still old attitudes that may never change in some places, but as you look around, slowly you can point out signs of progress.
So what does this mean in sports? On this day, some athletes that understand what others endured which allow them to have the opportunities they have, reflect, and give thanks. Like the old adage says, the pioneers have the struggles and the settlers get the land. You can have a look what some had to say here, but remember, there is still hopefully more change to come. My dream is same as Dr. King’s, that one day, everyone will be judged by nothing but the content of their character. It’s a surefire way to make the world a better place.
