Remembering Dr. King as well as an ugly reminder of the lions at our City's gate...

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Once again, it's the third Monday of January, the day we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  There's plenty of places on the internet that do a better job of honoring the man than we possibly can, considering the state our nation finds itself in today, I think this quote from one of Mr. King's speeches is most appropriate...

“the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/15/v-print/2591162/remembering-mlk-safe-icon-or-radical.html#storylink=cpy

Consider that quote next time you see something wrong going on around you and decide not to do anything about it, perhaps something like what I found littered all over the streets this past weekend...

The pro casino groups were out in full force this weekend plastering Little Havana with this kind of bullshit.  With the kind of money they're putting into swaying the public opinion on getting gambling into our region, is there any doubt that they'll succeed?  Considering the level of voter apathy in South Florida, unless something drastic happens, this is as close to a sure thing as you can get.

Martin Luther King day and another fallen black leader...

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Martin Luther King, April 16, 1963

While the world is celebrating Martin Luther King Day, I'd like to make mention of another fallen black leader from Miami, Arthur E. Teele. While his alleged misdeeds towards the end of his career reflected him in a poor light, I think it's important that we remember his achievements for the community he represented as well.  This movie sums up his final days leading up to his suicide pretty well, if you have an hour to kill, it's worth watching.  You can see it in it's entirety here.

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Considering the crimes that some of our local leaders have been accused of committing lately, does the relentless pursuit of Teele by the media and law enforcement that lead to his suicide seem fair in retrospect?  I think the artist that painted Teele's memorial mural, Addonis Parker, said it best...

"Sometimes you're in a game you don't even know you're playing. Teele may have been uncouth or in question, but so many others only get a slap on the wrist while we [African-Americans] always get the rough end of the mop."