“I Fear I May Have Integrated My People Into a Burning House” — Martin Luther King Jr.
Integration certainly did not serve us well. In our haste to not to be separate we overlooked the value of equality even if separate. We wanted to eat at other people’s establishments, shop where they shopped, swim where they swam, attend their schools paid for with our tax dollars. We wanted freedom and validation and to unconditionally belong in the nation we built. I get it…
White folks’ ice was perceived as colder and we longed to taste it. It had been flaunted to us as some prized possession for so long that we craved and desired it. We wanted to drink from their proverbial fountains. As new doors opened for us and we closed, slammed shut and/or abandoned our own doors and what laid beyond them.
Pre-integration, we had our own everything from banks, insurance companies and schools to taxi services, local stores, tailors, barber and beauty salons and self manufactured hair products. We strived to own our homes, we were two parent in-tact families who cared for our old and who took in and cared for our young when family members could not. In the form of the Green Book comprised of hotels and privately owned homes, we had our own hotel system, our own restaurants, entertainment venues, “lottery” system, record labels, etc. We depended on one another.
We were a determined and resourceful people realizing self sufficiency despite despicable treatment and being deprived a fair share of and/or access to services generated by our tax dollars. Discrimination and racism was blatant and rampant. You know, as it is now… We were mad sick and tired of being sick and tired so we fought. I get it…
Inspired by Dr. King and others, still we fight. He came to realize toward the end of his life, that he had helped to walk us into an eternally burning building where we will never be fully acknowledged or accepted.
The benefit of hindsight has taught us that integration was not a good thing for the Black community. In pursuit of integration we lost ourselves and the soul of our community. Still we pay the price…
Today and everyday, Celebrate the Man, his legacy and in his honor and those who fought with him. Continue the Fight!!!
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!!!
