Hello Savannah January Edition 2023

In The Words Of A King

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The Patriot Precision Way

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President and Chief Executive Officer

Julius Hall

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EDITORIAL ----------------------

Executive Editor

Chantaye McLaughlin

Managing Editor

Julius Hall

Senior Editor

Natalie Leggette

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Robert Bryant, Ph.D.

Scott Lorenza

Natalie Leggette

Christopher Smith

C. J. Smith, Ph.D.

ADVERTISING Director

Natalie Leggette

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Director of Information Technology

Christopher Smith

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UGA Wins National Championship

By: The Coach

The University of Georgia has become the first college football team to win back-to-back National Championships since 2012. The Bulldogs dominated the Horn Frogs from the first play of the game until the last play, ending with the most impressive win in college football, National Championship game history. The SEC showed the world why they are the best college football conference in the country.

Critics have immediately started second guessing why TCU was allowed into the championship game. The national spotlight has certainly boosted TCU’s program and increased applicants for enrollment into the University.

UGA’s Stetson Bennett accounted for 5 TD’s and was named MVP of the game. The only question after Georgia’s 65-7 win was, what team would Bennett go to in the upcoming draft. The Dawgs are now preseason favorites to take it all again next year. Fans are excited for the first week of September 2023.

Photo Credit: ESPN.com

Photo Credit: ESPN.com

In other sporting news:

In Major League Baseball players are still on the move, signing record breaking contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars each. Fourth round pick from the MLB’s 2020 draft, Atlanta Braves Pitcher, Spencer Strider has officially changed his jersey number to 99. When asked if he chose his number to match his average pitching velocity, Strider said, “That had nothing to do with it. I think my average velocity was 98.2 [mph], so that wouldn’t be completely accurate.”

College basketball is halfway through the season. Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky the has a potential challenger in Perdu’s Zach Edey for his quest for National Player of the Year.

Kansas, may very well have the skills to defend their national title and Norfolk State guard, Jo Bryant Jr., who was awarded the MEAC player of the year last year could be in position to win that title again. He has already established himself as a legend and Norfolk State looks forward to their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

March Madness is only a few weeks away and the first four game will kick off March 14 – 15th in Dayton, Ohio. The rounds culminate with the Final Four on April 1st and the NCAA Championship Game on April 3rd of this year.

The official Golf season is right around the corner. The 87th Edition of the Masters Tournament will be held April 6-9, this year at the Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Georgia. Tournament Officials have announced that the LIV Golf Players will not be barred from participating in the 2023 Masters Tournament.

The First Black Man to Play in The Masters

Lee Elder

Photo Credit: AP

Spencer Strider

Atlanta Braves

Photo Credit: MLB.com

Jo Bryant, Jr. Norfolk State University

Photo Credit: ESPN.com

Oscar Tshiebwe Kentucky

Photo Credit: ESPN.com

Savannah BOE Swears-In Leadership

By: Scott Lorenza

H.V. Jenkins High school hosted the 2023 Oath of Office ceremony for the newly elected members of the Board of Education for the Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) on January 5th of this year. Roger Moss, School Board President and Reverend Paul E. Smith, District 5, were the two newcomers to the School Board. Dr. Tonia Howard Hall, District 8 and Dr. David Brigman, District 6, were both re-elected to their positions on the Board.

The members took their Oath of Office and shared their remarks.

Reverend Paul E. Smith thanked his supporters and the former 5th District Board member Ms. Irene G. Hines, for laying a solid foundation. “I believe that together we can make a change. I believe that together we can continue to cultivate an atmosphere conducive to the success of our students.” Reverend Smith closed expressing his belief saying, “together, I believe, that we will empower our students with the necessary tools and ignite in them a passion to change the world forever.”

Dr. David Bringman

Education

Savannah BOE Swears-In Leadership

Dr. Davin Bringman, followed with his remarks. “I will focus this attitude of gratitude towards a reaffirmation of my commitment of ensuring equality and equitable education to each and every one of our students.” During his remarks, Dr, Bringman thanked the numerous unsung heroes within the school systems. “ …individuals who show up every day and meet our students where they are and help them on their way. ”

Dr. Tonia Howard Hall shared her remarks in the form of a heart-felt letter to her late brother. Revealing that following his death she discovered that he had kept a letter she wrote to him over 40 years ago. She had no idea it meant that much to him. She said, “ …I am passionate about student academic growth… And most important, I believe in policy, because policy is what drives an organization.” She told her brother that she is prepared, focused and qualified to serve and that the 36,000 students are the reason she will continue in service.

Newly elected, school board President closed the evening with his remarks. Walking to the piano on stage, Moss his remarks in song. “Careful the things you say, children will listen. Careful the things you do, children will see… ” Moss emphasized that we should be careful what we say to our children… He chose to shared that his parents encouraged him to never settle and to represent their family well. He incorporated words from Dr. King’s speech entitled, Your Life’s Blueprint, encouraging everyone to “be the best of whatever you are. ”

An evening of inspiration and gratitude was the resounding theme of the evening. Parents, students, teachers and staff are optimistic of the work to be done as they enter 2023.

Dr. David Bringman

Mr. Roger Moss President

Dr. Tonia Howard-Hall

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Culture

Organizing History

By Natalie Leggette

A Philip Randolph was born in Crescent City, Florida in 1889. He was the second son of his parents, Reverend James and Elizabeth Randolph. He was christened and named Asa Philip Randolph. He was given the name Asa after a biblical king who reigned 41 years and who distributed his wealth among the people of his Kingdom.

“And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, as did David his father.”

-1 Kings 15:11 KJV

Raised to know that they were not inferior to any white boy, his parents taught him and his brother, that they were just as able, and as competent, and they had as much intellectuality as any individual. Teaching their sons that they were not supposed to bow or take a back seat to anyone, their teachings were reinforced by the fiery preaching of their church member, Bishop Henry Macneil Turner, who argued that black people had a right to demand total social equality. He graduated high school as valedictorian and moved to Harlem, New York in 1911. While attending college he was drawn into

radical politics and became a democratic socialist speaking out for freedom, equality and justice.

In 1914, Randolph married Lucille Green, a salon owner and member of Harlem’s Black elite, with funding from her business, Randolph launched the extreme and radical publication, The Messenger, with fellow socialist, Chandler Owen. They were labeled as the New Negro Radicals. Throughout the 20th century, A. Philip Randolph set the agenda for the modern civil rights movement. Randolph was opposed to the first World War and condemned those who supported the war. Their unrelenting protests earned A.

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH Photo Credit Bettmann/Getty Images

Organizing History

Philip Randolph the distinction as, the most dangerous Negro in America, by the United States Attorney General in 1919. He used his publication to fight for opportunity and protection for black workers. Pushing for unionization, A. Philip Randolph was the instrumental force behind the formation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. He continued his fight for Negro representation and inclusion in the national union associations. In the 1940’s, Randolph stood against two presidents, and it was at this time, when Randolph first expressed the need for a mass demonstration by thousands of Negroes to protest on the lawn of the White House. It was at this time that Randolph appointed Bayard Rustin as the youth organizer of the proposed 1941 March on Washington. This march was a threat to President Roosevelt and six days before the proposed demonstration, President Roosevelt signed an Executive Order ending segregation in defense industries and in the military. In the 1950’s Randolph continued to challenge Union leaders, demanding equality for black workers.

Also, during this period in history, Bayard Rustin cofounded the Congress Of Racial Equality (CORE). Rustin organized campaigns and led workshops on nonviolent direct action. During World War II Rustin spent over two years in prison as a “conscientious objector.” In 1947 Rustin was arrested during CORE’s Journey of Reconciliation. This journey tested the Supreme Court rulings barring segregation in interstate travel. This test provided a model for the 1961 Freedom Rides. Rustin was also instrumental in the reform of prison chain gangs. The report of his 22 days spent on a brutal, North Carolina chain gang, was published in many newspapers , leading to reformation of the practice.

For over a half a century, A. Philip Randolph fought to improve the lives of Black Americans. Fighting for jobs and labor. Working with leaders like Roy Wilkins and organizers like Bayard Rustin, A. Philip Randolph’s dream never died. Once again, he expressed the need B

AYARD RUSTIN

Photo Credit: Stephen F. Somerstein/ Getty Images

Culture

Organizing History

for mass action and called for a new March on Washington for jobs and freedom.

“Negroes want the same things that white citizens possess. All of their rights. They want no reservation. They want complete equality, social, economic and political, and no force under the sun can stand or block or stop this civil rights revolution which is now underway.”

A Philip Randolph began to plan the historic March on Washington in April 1963. He worked to united the civil rights organizations, and although a controversial choice, Randolph chose Bayard Rustin as the Chief Organizer of the March. Regardless of Rustin’s past and lifestyle choices, Randolph did not waiver because he knew that Bayard Rustin had exceptional organizing skills. They brought together the leaders of the civil rights organizations and they worked tirelessly to get the word out about the March.

A live, national broadcast, in the Spring of 1963, discussed the upcoming March on Washington. Hosted by Dr. Kenneth Clark, Professor at New York City University. Five Negro leaders shared their thoughts on the impending March on Washington. The five leaders were: Roy Wilkins – NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People); Whitney Young, Jr. – Urban League; James Farmer - CORE (Congress On Racial Equality); James Foreman - SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee); and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. – SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference). During the broadcast, these five distinguished gentlemen clearly, assuredly and unapologetically described the plan of the protest and the intention of the event. Rev. King said,

“…we are not going to Washington to intimidate any congressman or any senator. It will give a large number of people an opportunity to articulate their longings and aspirations for freedom. Their desire to see meaningful forthright civil rights legislation in this session of Congress and, of course we also intend to arouse the conscience of the nation over the economic plight of the Negro, 100 years after emancipation, and I think it can have a great impact. I think it will dramatize the issue. It will have educational value in that it will allow many people to see and understand the continued indignities and injustices which Negroes confront all over the nation.”

Organizing History

The broadcast continued with support echoed from all five of the civil rights leaders.

Days before the protest was scheduled, President Kennedy called for a meeting with A. Philip Randolph in an attempt, to call off the March. The President expressed concern for violence and A. Philip Randolph assured President Kennedy that it would be an orderly, peaceful, and nonviolent protest.

Randolph’s vision finally came to fruition. After a lifetime of calls for mass action a Philip Randolph gave the first speech at the March on Washington.

“Hello Americans, we are gathered here, in the largest demonstration, in the history of this nation. Let the nation and the world know the meaning of our numbers. We are not a pressure group. We are not an organization or a group of organizations. We are not a mob. We are the guard of a massive moral revolution for jobs and freedom.”

More than 250,000 people waited with great anticipation for the last speaker. A. Philip Randolph stepped up to the microphone and said,

“At this time, I have the honor to present to you, the moral leader of our nation, a great dedicated man, a philosopher of a nonviolent system of behavior and seeking to bring about social change for the advancement of justice, freedom and human dignity. I have the pleasure to present to you, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

The March on Washington served not only the purpose that it set out to achieve, but it was a passing down of the mantle from one generation of leaders to the next generation of leaders. Today, the world recognizes the dream that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo Credit: World Telegram & Sun photo by O. Fernandez

Culture

Organizing History

shared, yet we must also remember that on this historic day in American history, there was also a dream fulfilled. Decades of struggle, trials and strife, trying to organize and demonstrate in mass numbers, his Dream with the world, A. Philip Randolph achieved what many deemed impossible.

Let us always remember, that behind every great leader and every great event are amazing, dynamic, dedicated and passion-filled organizers and unifiers laboring for the greater good of the black community. May God Almighty continue to bless the work of their hands.

References: kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/rustin-bayard

A Philip Randolph For Jobs and Freedom, PBS,org

Built to Last: A. Philip Randolph Museum, ABC-TV

Photo Credit: National Archives/Getty Images

The Words of a King

“Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance. It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the white people of America believe they have so little to learn. The reality of substantial investment to assist Negroes into the 20th century, adjusting to Negro neighbors and genuine school integration, is still a nightmare for all too many white Americans… These are the deepest causes for contemporary abrasions between the races. Loose and easy language about equality, resonant resolutions about brotherhood fall pleasantly on the ear, but for the Negro there is a credibility gap he cannot overlook. He remembers that with each modest advance the white population promptly raises the argument that the Negro has come far enough. Each step forward accents an ever-present tendency to backlash.”

- Where Do We Go From Here 1967

“Again, we have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifices. Capitalism was built on the exploitation of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor, both black and white, both here and abroad.”

- The Three Evils speech, 1967

“White Americans must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society.”

- Where Do We Go From Here, 1967

“The evils of capitalism are as real as the evils of militarism and racism. The problems of racial injustice an economic injustice cannot be solved without a radical redistribution of political and economic power.”

- King to the Southern Christian leadership Conference Board | March 30, 1967

Photo Credit: Jack Corn/The Tennessean

Photo Credit: Richlandlibrary.com

The Words of a King

“…I believe firmly that we can solve this problem. I know that there are still difficult days ahead. And they are days of glorious opportunity. Our goal for America is freedom. Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's. Before the Pilgrim fathers landed at Plymouth, we were here. Before Jefferson etched across the pages of history the words that I just quoted from the Declaration of Independence, we were here. Before the beautiful words of the StarSpangled Banner were written, we were here. For more than two centuries our forbearers labored here without wages. They made cotton king. They built the homes of their masters in the midst of the most oppressive and humiliating conditions. And yet out of a bottomless vitality they continued to grow and develop. If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery couldn't stop us, the opposition that we now face will surely fail. We're going to win our freedom because both the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of the almighty God are embodied in our echoing demands. And we can sing We Shall Overcome, because somehow, we know the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

- 1966 Ware Lecture: Don't Sleep Through the Revolution, by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“…at the very same time that America refused to give the Negro any land, through an act of Congress, our government was giving away millions of acres of land and the West and the Midwest. Which meant that it was willing to undergird its white peasants from Europe with an economic floor, but not only did they give the land, they built land grant colleges, with government money, to teach them how to farm. Not only that, they provided county agents to further their expertise in farming. Not only that, they provided low interest rates in order that they could mechanize their farms. Not only that, today, many of these people are receiving millions of dollars in federal subsidies not to farm and they are the very people telling the black man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps. And this is what we are faced with, and this is the reality. Now, when we come to Washington and this campaign, we are coming to get our check.”

- The Two Nations of Black America

Career Readiness Through Development,

By: Robert Bryant, Ph.D.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) continue to be a priority for communities throughout our nation. There is a shortage of professionals in several critical career fields like nursing, education, among others. Additionally, the generational shift of babyboomers is likely to create a gap within a variety of professions. The need for a skilled workforce has grown and that has expanded programs to develop individuals with necessary competencies. The urgency of career and technical education allows for individuals to a) develop skills for the workforce, b) advance knowledge about one’s career, c) identify pathways for growth, and d) meet the demands of emerging professions.

Individuals who complete high school have the option to enter the workforce. The need for skilled workers continues to remain an integral component for vocations like electricians, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, and other related fields. Access to the labor market is attached to occupational learning for individuals to function successfully in their professional role. Many occupations require a level of training that could range from self-directed learning to an apprenticeship, to formal classroom activities. There are some professions that are regulated by laws and standards with clear requirements to

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Career Readiness Through Development

guide how individuals should be prepared. For instance, a medical doctor has a specific path of educational activities that are prescribed before an individual may function as a physician. An electrician would be required to complete required courses and hands-on training to gain the necessary competencies.

In most professions there are specific outcomes that can be measured to assess the knowledge and skills of an individual. To document the training and development for professionals there must be a community of professionals who account for how well newcomers to the field are able to function with the appropriate knowledge in a specific field of practice. Knowledge is enhanced if the individual has an opportunity to be engaged in the context of practice and is accomplished through a designed apprenticeship.

Chatham County and its surrounding counties are expanding, and new professional opportunities are emerging. We must maintain our focus on apprenticeships and training programs that develop young professionals to be well-prepared. Educational curriculums must be designed with both career and technical learning opportunities. The opportunities arising from warehouses, skilled-labor, and other careers require our educational institutions to prepare our workforce to be sustainable for long-term career experiences.

Photo Credit: michaeljung/Getty Images

Savannah Savannah Hip Hop

By: C.J. Smith, PhD Candidate

When you step into the Savannah Hip-Hop scene as an outsider, you find yourself asking, where is it, where do I find Hip-Hop? You gravitate to none other than Hip-Hop Night or for locals, “Ole School Hip-Hop Every Tuesday Night Y’all at the Jinx.” Now, although the Jinx closed, Hip-Hop Tuesdays continued in 2022. Traveling all around the South, as a break-dancer, you’ll discover fans even among Hip-Hop dancers (who are iconic fans of Hip-Hop Night) quote the number one MC & Host, Basik Lee.

Like all local Hip-Hop legends, Basik Lee & Dope Knife, you find mentors & originators to those who paved the way before the local Hip-Hop Masters of Greatness. Recently, I had the fortunate coincidence to see the Original-Original, Crook in action.

Over a decade ago, gravitating to each other through the love of Hip-Hop a group of introverted-artistic SCAD students created the original Tuesday Hip-Hop Night. No universal coincidence, two freestylers and roommates, Zone-D and Crook both freestylers in the craft, conveniently worked at the Mellow Mushroom on Liberty. Mellow Mushroom was the Hip-Hop spot. After work, Zone-D and Crook would convene with other SCAD Hip-Hop artists in a cipher. There…Hip-Hop Night was born at the Mellow Mushroom.

Tuesday Hip-Hop Night developed over time at Mellow Mushroom. In an interview with Jason, he recalls, “Tory, Justin, Ryan Hanks, Britten Carr, Josh and Zone-D started integrating Hip-Hop Night into Trivia Night with Freestyle.” Each person would rap-n-freestyle with cue cards from a deck. Each person had to spin the wheel and would get a cue card for the subject. You mess-up, the next person was-up. However, you spin the wheel and battle against the MC, Jason (Crook).

From a music standpoint, Crook is known in his crew, Dope Sandwich and among fans for his lyrical cleverness. Crook credits, the rap group, Dope Sandwich came out of Tuesday Hip-Hop Nights. Crook also gives credit to Basik Lee, Dope Knife; and says, “Tuesday Hip-Hop Nights, karaoke, highlights repower beats and shit,” lit the Savannah Underground Hip-Hop scene.

Savannah

Savannah Hip Hop

Crook came on the Hip-Hop scene in high school in 1994. Jason Darby started rapping in his hometown of Virginia Beach. Crook had a fire in him to Rap beginning in rapbattles. Crook went to the oldest of his rap group to seek guidance. The advice he got from the oldest member of the VA-beach group was, “to fill-up lyrics in a notebook.” Jason said, “starting out, I wasn’t good, and I wasn’t horrible.”

Jason got his name at a House Party introducing himself on the Mic speeding-spelling his name, “Crooked Letter, I’m Rapper Ja-Crooked Letter,” which then became, “JaCrooked.” Then in Savannah among his SCAD peers, “Crook,” for short as someone introduced him as, “Yo this is Crook!”

Before attending SCAD, Jason free-styled in the Atl Hip-Hop scene at the notorious Open Mic@the Apache. Apache was Jason’s first rap-battle. Jason became known for his free-style music-skills. Crook was able to free-style to any genre of beats. Jason says, “I was an aspiring rapper back then, not a relic or a hermit in a cave. I carved out my skills as a free-styling rapper.”

Crook admits he was not a founding member of the Dope Sandwich rap-group, which took off after his time at SCAD. Crook was instrumental in founding Hip-Hop Night at Mellow Mushroom. Jason attests, “Everybody was going to SCAD. All or most performers were SCAD students. Dope Sandwich all came out of HipHop Night.” Dope Sandwich took the Savannah Underground-Hip-Hop to the next level. Dope Sandwich was the evolutionary part of what Hip-Hop Night was-a mixture of the creation, “of karaoke, repower beats and battles.”

Crook was an outsider to Savannah’s other Hip-Hop scene. Savannah’s Underground HipHop Scene originated from a divine synchronistic timing of talented SCAD students, coincidentally observing-either Savannah’s Hip-Hop scene was nonexistent or not established. Jason says, “we were art students. We went to an art school. This Savannah Hip-Hop collective is not identifiable. Its own unique style. A whole unique personality. We definitely, all were what we were. What we knew. We were-Savannah’s Hip-Hop scene as far as we knew. We were doing Hip-Hop together.”

Jason was in Atlanta, when Hip-Hop Night moved to the Jinx. Jason recalled the organic nature of the Savannah scene, stating, “I didn’t know what it turned into.” Jason praised Basik Lee and Dope Knife for what Hip-Hop Night became.

Crook recalls, “Jury Shawl, Nick Stern, Bad Ben, Zone-D, Rodney, Adam Harris, Bus, Deny OS,” all had tracks circulating on Myspace. Crook was gone by 2004. Jason remembers he was older. Little did Crook realize he had also turned into an underground Freestyle legend in the Downtown Savannah Hip-Hop scene. His Trac, “Verse 4-11.” circulated on Myspace. Jason stated, “someone said to me, your track on Myspace is circulating down there. They're playing your shit!” He never met the younger members of Dope Sandwich. He says, “I guess, I was planting seeds.”

Savannah Savannah Hip Hop

Jason was always involved in kickball and other sports outside school, career and Hiphop. Jason was active in a New York kickball tournament once a year. Once the other players found out he was well-known, “Crook,” in Savannah, he was asked to bring his posse, Dope Sandwich, to the tournament. Jason says, “they were together meeting people. Our own Wu-Tang Clan.” He recalled, he and Dope Sandwich were asked to come back several years to New York to perform when Savannah Hip-Hop was cool.

Then, Dope Sandwich invited Crook to join them on tour about 16 to 18 times. “We went everywhere to New York, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Atlanta…hosting events from all over the country.” Crook and Dope Sandwich went on tour for almost two (2) years.

In 2022, Jason re-launched his career in film and TV production. While here for work, I sat down with Jason for an interview. When Jason told me he was planning to go to the re-launch of Hip-Hop Night at Victory North in 2022, he said, “I don’t know what to expect. I’ll see what it’s like. Flyers are everywhere.”

Finally, I ask Jason, what were your most nostalgic moments as Crook, you can remember? “Setting the scene,” he says, “there was this place, Turkey’s west of Brooklyn, and there was a weird Irish guy, John Lee McCorin, known as, ‘Swindler Sword,’ or ‘Arabian Night’ or something. He wanted to battle, and I…Murdered it.” Jason had broken his collarbone and went to the emergency room after the park earlier that day, “I don’t know how I did it.”

Photo Credit: Adrianna Iris Boatwright

Dope KNife

“ignorance is a fad, knowledge is a movement, understand it opens up a realm of improvement”

- Crook |Full Metal Lyricist-Verse 4:11

Nostalgically, Jason also goes on, “I worked at Mellow Mushroom as an orientation leader, there was a live Jam Band, ‘Perpetual Groove,’ at JJ Cagney’s after work.” After the first set, another live band, DoodleBug played in the second set. After talking to the Live Band about Hip-Hop, Crook was asked to Rap with the Band. Adrenaline rushing through his body, he says, “you could hear the crowd going through the rafters.” Crook was in his zone. “Everything was aligned. Great night. Great lyrics.” Jason was in control, while the audience hung on all the words, “going-off, in-tuned, just rapping.”

(Jason) Crook’s switch was fueled, while he was on that night-lit!

Although Crook only has one recorded track, Verse 4-11 is fierce and permanently on my Spotify and YouTube Playlists. Like any underground Savannah Hip-Hop legend, Crook is humble. Crook has true-real raw talent, matched with-rhythmic passion, love, and light infused with raw, rough and original old-school flow that can be matched anywhere. Jason is known as the most talented freestyler in Savannah Hip-Hop. Jason, He is also one of THE original-original founding-MCs of Savannah’s Tuesday Night Hip-Hop, and Father of Savannah’s own Underground Hip-Hop.

Honored for a Dream | Assassinated for a Plan

By: Natalie Leggette

Four days after the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Congressman, John Conyers, from Michigan, pushed for a holiday to honor the great leader. Fifteen years, six million signatures, a hit song by Stevie Wonder, an anniversary March on Washington and a boldly defiant gesture by Senator, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, from New York later, the bill for the holiday passed, 78 - 22. President Reagan signed the legislation, and the first federal holiday was celebrated in 1986. It was not until 2000 that every state in the Union observed the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

It is possible that the fight to honor and recognize Dr. King caused the black community to relinquish control of the narrative. Generations have been taught about King's nonviolence stance, his Nobel Peace Prize achievement0, and of course he had A Dream. A dream so eloquently described that is has been adopted into the marketing of America around the globe.

Today the story is told that Martin Luther King Jr. died. Some may argue semantics yet, words hold power and determine meaning. Dr. King was assassinated, murdered, targeted and killed. The story that is shared is a half truth. Dr. King had a plan. A proven plan of cooperative economics. A deliberate intentionality directing the resources of the black community to demand equity and equality.

Dr. King had a plan to help organize a movement attacking “ghetto” segregation and the systemic exclusion of Black Americans from white neighborhoods. Dr. King and his wife moved into a Chicago slum. The Blacks residing in the slums paid more for everything. They paid more for housing than the white residents living in the suburbs next to them. Blacks paid more for consumer goods. There was not job opportunity nor opportunity for upward mobility, creating an ghetto imprisoned by economic restrictions.

Months of dispute led to a commitment to open housing from the City of Chicago and its Board of Realtors. The agreement inspired 1968's Fair Housing Act of which passed after King’s assassination.

Dr. King was organizing the Poor People’s Campaign. Focused to bring together poor Blacks, Latinos, Indigenous people and whites to march on Washington to demand economic justice, literally coming for the check. That is the plan that many in this nation wanted to stop. The greatness of Dr. King's leadership is not lessened by the reality that many sought to kill him for his ideology. The reality of his assassination shines a light on the plan Dr. King had for economic justice. How radical the idea of honoring Dr. King by executing his plan?

The Words of a King

The Other America Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“A second myth that we must deal with is that of exaggerated progress. Certainly, we have made progress in race relations. And I think we can all glory that things are better today than they were ten years ago or even three years ago. We should be proud of the steps we've made to rid our nation of this great evil of racial segregation and discrimination. On the other hand, we must realize the plant of freedom is only a bud and not yet a flower. The Negro is freer in 1966, but he is not yet free. The Negro knows more dignity today than he has known in any period of his history in this country, but he is not yet equal. There still are stubborn, difficult problems to deal with all over the country.”

“I'm appalled that some people feel that the civil rights struggle is over because we have a 1964 civil rights bill with ten titles and a voting rights bill. Over and over again, people ask, what else do you want? They feel that everything is all right. Well, let them look around our big cities…. the Negro in his own life is confronting a major depression. This is true of every major city in the United States. While there is great affluence all around there still stubborn depths of poverty, deprivation and despair…..These are stubborn, difficult problems, and yet they are problems that must be tackled, for I need not remind you of the dangers inherent therein. There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society with a large segment of individuals within that society who feel that they have no stake in it, who feel that they have nothing to lose. These are the people who will riot, these are the people who will turn their ears from pleas for non-violence. For the health of our nation, these problems must be solved. “

Photo Credit: John C. Goodwin | UMC

“

In the areas of housing, schooling, and employment there is still a great deal that must be done. We've come a long, long way; we still have a long, long way to go and action programs are necessary. I've heard it said that the day of demonstrations is over; this is something that we hear a great deal. Well, I'm sorry that I can't agree with that. I wish that I could say the day of demonstrations is over, but as long as these problems are with us, it will be necessary to demonstrate in order to call attention to them. I'm not saying that a demonstration is going to solve the problem of poverty, the problem of housing, the problems that we face in the schools. It's going to take something much more than a demonstration, but at least the demonstration calls attention to it; at least the demonstration creates a kind of constructive crisis that causes a community to see the problem and causes a community to begin moving toward the point of acting on it. The church must support this kind of demonstration.”

Photo Credit: Jimmy Ellis | The Tennessean

The Words of a King

sing We Shall Overcome, because somehow, we know the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo Credit: AP

Life, Legacy and Revolutionary Spirit of

Dr.MartinLuther King Jr.

Outspoken, Unapologetic and Real