Sometimes I'm Right, then I can be wrong

Real, significant, important change takes a while. Today, schools, businesses, and governments are taking the day off to honor a man who gave his life so that change would happen. January 15th is the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.. He would have been 82 had people were accepting to overnight change. Instead, two more generations of Americans continued prejudice and hate after Dr. King died to a racist's bullet in Memphis in 1968.

I spent the majority of my childhood unaware of other cultures, races and lifestyle. Everyone around me looked like me, talked like me, and were blissfully ignorant like me. Then I went away to college and none of this was true anymore. I changed every view I had in a span of 4 years out of the culture shock, alone.

My daughters live a different existence. While they have tolerant parents to guide them, my girls are color blind and culturally aware on their own. Dr. King's dream of children of different races attending school, church, and play together in harmony and without conflict is a reality with my children and their generation. My teenager's friend who is a boy's heritage is from Bangladesh and South America. My younger children's friends are from different races and cultures. No one even talks about it being unusual. My kids have no use for prejudice. If anything, they correct their white friends' inappropriateness.

I have often said that societal evolution cures the world's ills. Time just happens and people realize that arguing and ignorance can not stand. Today's song was two generations ahead of it's time. It was released at the same time Dr. King lost his life. If it came out today, it would be considered corny and unneeded. People have probably moved past the message. For today, in case you haven;t moved on, listen to the words. I know some people who could benefit from the sweet educational nature and kindness of melody of Sly and the Family Stone's Everyday People. The first line alone is enough of a theme.





P.S, Dr. King, if you are reading blogs in Heaven, I hope you know, your dream is realized more than you may have even believed. Color blindness exists in adundance.