“AfRAkan History: Somebody has to tell us the truth series”
Dr. MLK Jr.
A Time for (Herus) Heros
Hotep (Peace and Blessings) All,
As we know Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s B’Day is being celebrated all around the U.S. But, I want you to take a moment and reflect on what image of Dr. MLK is being portrayed to you. The image of who he really was or what the Asili (look up the word) media wants told to you and your children.
We can’t let social media, radio, schools or any other communications outlet be the only teller of OUR-STORY. We have to be willing to do some research ourselves and learn from the writings of those HERU’s (Heros) directly. Don’t let those outlets controlled by the Asili teach you and your family your story. We have to teach ourselves and our youth our story whether it’s pretty or not.
You can start by getting a wonderful book by Anthony Browder called “From the Browder File…22 essays on the African American Experience.” Start by getting a the book from a local black owned bookstore. If they don’t have it on hand I’m sure they will have no problem ordering for you.
If you have in the Hampton Roads area, you can go to the “House of Consciousness” at 600 W. 35th St, Norfolk, VA or U.B.U.S. Books Plus, 2005 25th Street, Newport News, VA 23607. Both Black Owned Bookstores and surely both willing to assist you in furthering your African Studies.
Now … I want you to pay attention to one of the excerpts from Tony Browders book mentioned above about MLK from his essay “A Time for Heros.” I’m sure there will be some info in it that you are not familiar with.
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A Time For Heru’s (Heros)
Everybody’s searching for a hero. Everybody needs someone to look up to. The degree of self-love is often determined by role models who instill a sense of self-worth. There role models are often referred to a “Heroes.” A hero is a person who is admired for their qualities or achievements and is regarded as an ideal (idol) or model. Heroes are often important to children, for they are a source of inspiration. This is the purpose of cartoons.
Positive role models “Jegnas” help instill a strong sense of self worth. Children who have been positively motivated usually become well adjusted adults. One common characteristic of most criminals is a lack of self-esteem, which often stems from exposure to negative role models (Mentors).
A Heru (Hero) can be a mother, father, sister, brother or anyone who can make a positive contribution to the life of another person. Children, adolescents and adults can all have heroes.
The origin of the hero is rooted in the African/ Kemetian (Egyptian) allegory of Heru (often referred to as Horus the Greeks). Heru is the child of Auset and Ausar; he avenged the murder of his father (Ausar), who was killed by Heru’s evil uncle, Set. Set was the symbol of evil and is the origin of the word Satan.
The battle between Heru and Set is the origin of the classic confrontation between the forces of good and evil (also regarded as light and darkness). Heru was symbolic of the rising sun (the light). Set, on the other hand, was symbolic of the setting sun (the darkness), which is also the origin of the word sunset.
In the battle between good and evil (light and darkness), Heru emerged as the victor, when good triumphed over evil. Heru became the prototype of the, “Hero,” the role model of humanity. This is why heroes are crucial in the lives of developing children, and also important to adults. We as Black people must determine who our heroes will be, not only for our children, but for ourselves.
For too long, the writers (Asili) of American history have determined who will be our heroes. This is dangerous, for whenever OUR-story is in the hands of our enemy, our heroes will become zeroes.
Since 1968, Black people have fought to make the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr a national holiday. Deservedly so, for King had a brilliant mind with incredible insight. Since the passage of the King Holiday Bill, I have witnessed some interesting distortions of his greatness.
1. The bust of King in the Capital Rotunda is controversial to some because it portrays King as a weak and insercure man.
2. Dramatic portrayals of the life of King on film often show him as indecisive and totally dependant on Europeans for guidance.
3. The constant referral to King as the “dreamer” sends a subliminal message that he was someone who was not dealing with the reality (an awakended state).
King was a man of peace – but he was also a fighter. He was a dreamer, but he also was aware of the harsh realities of racisim which exists in this nation then and now. Prior to his death, King was shifting his posture from civil rights to human rights. The image of the total man was played down. We are currently being presented with the image of someone who was less than the man King was. It is ridiculous to think that the same racist system which was responsible for King’s death would portray him as he really was, and give the nation a true hero to admire. It is not in their best interest to do so.
May 19th is the birthday of Malcolm X. Like King, Malcolm was also an important hero. Yet Malcolm’s memory and his accomplishments have not been embraced with the same enthusiasm. Is this because the image of Malcolm X is too powerful and too demanding to portray him as a role model? Why would they portray an uncompromising individual when they can present someone whose image has become that of a weak, insecure dreamer? Why provide the strong, powerful image of a hero who can wake people up, when you can present the image of someone who will keep the sleep?
Now is the time for Heroes. Now is the time when we must determine who will provide us with positive images of ourselves. We do not have to wait until a person is dead to view them as our hero. There are heroes walking among us today. There are people with insight and direction who can profoundly affect our lives and the lives of our children.
So what do we do? We buy stamps, and encourage others to do so. We celebrate Kwanzaa with vigor and invite others to make the seven principles a part of their daily lives. We do like any intelligent people and honor “ALL” our heroes by remembering their names and the movements to which they devoted their lives. We continues to honor them by fighting for the issues they died for.
A struggle doesn’t end just because someone gets a stamp or a holiday. These gestures are often tokens liberally dispensed to lull people into a false sense of accomplishment. The struggle must continue because the memory and hopes of the departed are at stake.
Take for example the memory of Dr. MLK Jr. He has a national holiday and a stamp, and he is heralded as an American hero and a champion of non-violent struggle. But the memory of King’s life and struggle is slowly being diminished.
Several years ago, on Dr. King’s B’day, I was invited to discuss his life on a radio program. I arrived early and sat in the waiting room listening as the host played a recording of Dr. King’s “I See The Promise Land” speech. This was King’s last public speech and it was recorded the evening before his assassination.
I had brought a book of King’s speeches for the interview and read along with the recording. I was shocked to discover that the most significant portion of King’s speech (over on page of text) was edited {better yet left out} of the recording. I noted that this speech was recorded on “Motown” records, with the liner notes written by Mrs. King.
The text omitted from the recording was of a different image of the King that we now know. This King discussed the power of the Black dollar and urged the citizens of Memphis to take their money out of the white-owned banks and insurance companies and put it in black owned institutions. This King called for an immediate boycott of Coca Cola, Sealtest Milk and Wonder Bread. This King never got an opportunity to implement his new strategies because he was killed the following day. “HMMM”
There is evidence out there of meetings held that King and Malcolm X had talked of developing joint strategies for combating racism in the North and South. But Malcolm was assassinated before they had formulated a plan of action. King later became a marked man when he spoke out against the Vietnam war in 1967, and advanced the call for human rights just as Malcolm had done.
Since Dr. King’s assassination and the establishment of his holiday, his legacy has been reduced to one speech and four simple works…”I have a dream.” Now Malcolm’s image is being watered down so that it is more palatable to America’s tastes.
If we want to know the real Malcolm or Martin, or any other African or Black American Hero or Shero, we must be willing to dig deep into their past. We must read their writings, listen to their speeches, and not be misled by Hollywood productions and made –for-TC movies of their lives. We must study the treasured lives of those near and dear to us and we should not expect their stories to be handed to us on a silver platter.
Click on the link below to MLK Jr’s full “The Promised Land Speech” as well as some of his other well known speeches:
http://www.writespirit.net/inspirational_talks/political/martin_luther_king_talks/i_see_the_promised_land/index.html
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If you missed any of my past AfRAkan “OUR-STORY” articles, click on the link below:
https://www.ezinedirector.com/admin/publisher/archive/index.cfm?fuseaction=archiveAdmin&ezineId=964702851
Narmer (Think With a Unified Brain and Mind),
Asar Maa Ra Gray
"A people who don't know their history, is like a tree with no roots.”
Marcus Garvey
Additional FYI links on MLK:
Special mix I did called MLK vs the Radio.. It contains excerpts from that rare NATRA speech..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHdnMfGtAxM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wxBCl1RDwA
From Mr. Davey D - Using Words As Weapons
http://hiphopandpolitics.com/2011/01/14/martin-luther-king-black-radio-using-words-as-weapons
