On this day, Aria salutes the late, great King of the American Civil Rights' Movement, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year's holiday is especially momentous, as it marks (nearly to the date) the day by which current U.S. president, Barack Obama, became the first African-American elected to the White House.
And how far has the United States of America the world-at-large come as a consequence of this very progressive development? Well, if the U.S. "Tea Party" movement an outgrowth of the racist "disenfranchised" wing of the Republican party and/or U.S. Conservative movement is any indication I'd say we've come far, but still have further to go! Indeed, the recent comments by Religious Right mainstay (and lunatic) Pat Robertson, as well as equally venomous remarks by Right-wing king, Rush Limbaugh both about the Haiti earthquake disaster seemed tailor-made to the tastes of the angry white cross-section of America now being heavily courted by the Republican party!
I have hope, but I am also realistic! It is my sincere hope that rationality HUMANITY eventually comes to rule the day in America. The Bible Belt...the "tea partiers may they at least come to the point where they can actually question their more personal motivations....
Happy belated New Year, readers! My sincerest apologies for the lack of timely updates in 2009; my life kicked into high gear for much of last year. I plan to reverse that trend -- my not posting as often, that is this year.2009 was a year of incredible highs for me with its share of lows. In any event, I'm back and want to embrace the year ahead.
On a separate note Monday, January 18 is this year's MLK day holiday. In honor of Dr. King's legacy, I will be making regular video posts of things relevant to the Civil Rights' movement music, culture, influence etc. Dr. King's vision...the Civil Rights' legacy....it's not just an African-American thing, but and American experience. Indeed, the fight for equality is a global ideal embodied in various cultures, peoples and struggles.
For your listening (and learning) pleasure, posted below are two distinctly different versions of the 1900 James Weldon Johnson/John Rosamund Johnson composition, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (sometimes "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing"). Often referred to as the "Negro National Anthem", or the "Black National Anthem", the song has come to be embraced by peoples of many cultures.
The versions below are performed by soul singer Kim Weston arguably the version against which all are measured; the other is by a visually impaired young man whose name I cannot find, but who gives it one of the most heartfelt and wrenching readings I've ever heard. Enjoy...and all the best in 2010!
MLK Day
Haiti
racism
Rush Limbaugh
Pat Robertson