The Call For A New Drum Major 40 Years Later
Almost 40 years ago to the day, on Feb. 9th 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King, preached what might be considered his own eulogy. It was called “A Drum Major’s Instinct. Where he described how he envisioned his funeral. I first heard this shortly after I touched the cart they used to carry his casket through town. I stood there for about 15 minutes and a chill ran through my body, and as I walked up the ramp and heard Dr. King say, “I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long.”
On the screen they were playing video footage of his funeral, I saw the cart my hand was just on, I saw the clips of his life, his dedication and his struggle to bring us together as a race. You see MLK faced doubters from his own race, people who did not support his cause. Today on almost the 40 year anniversary of this speech I realize that A New Drum major is facing this same struggle. Barack Obama. I see the black people who don’t support him, as the same blacks who didn’t believe in Dr. King. I wonder how they feel now knowing they were on the wrong side of the fence.
I wonder how can a black person support Hillary Clinton, when just last night she drove a wedge between Blacks and Hispanics by telling blacks to hold Hispanics responsible for their job loses. While Obama said “The problem that we are seeing is inner city unemployment is attributable to immigrants is a case of scapegoating.” I surely believe so b/c it’s was hard being Black before the Mexicans flocked to this country.
So 39 years after the death of Martin Luther King, who died at the age of 39 we have our greatest chance at a seeing a Black President. Yet, some Blacks still claim to want Martin’s Dream become reality, don’t know if he’s the right candidate. Well I say have you listened to the man speak, have you listened to his policies ideas. Do you hear it in his voice…
So today, 5 days before the biggest election day in our history when 22 states set out to pick a democratic Primary which will decide if we will have our first Black Presidential Nominee or our first Women Presidential Nominee. I call us to declare a New Drum Major,a drum major for justice; a drum major for peace; a drum major for righteousness. Just as Dr. King wanted to be seen.
Xilla
If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. Every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards, that’s not important. Tell him [sic] not to mention where I went to school.
I’d like somebody to mention that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I’d like for somebody to say that day, that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. I want you to say that day, that I tried to be right on the war question. I want you to be able to say that day, that I did try to feed the hungry. And I want you to be able to say that day, that I did try, in my life, to visit those who were in prison. I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.
If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace; I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter
