On King Drive, A Dream Deferred

Streets Bearing Civil Rights Leader's Name Face Stigma Of Poverty

(CBS)  On Monday, the country will officially mark the holiday celebrating the life of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. This year will mark the 40th year after his assassination. His dream of economic and racial equality still lives on. Or does it?

For many living on Chicago's Martin Luther King Drive, the hopes of the slain civil right's leader are more like a dream, deferred, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller.

Timuel Black, 89, has lived on or around King Drive all his life. He remembers Dr. King organizing marches for affordable housing at Liberty Baptist church.

"I think to a great extent, groups that we were fighting for have lost those battles," Black says.

King Drive cuts through historic Bronzeville, where 43 percent of its residents live in poverty, 12 percent are unemployed and the average income per family is just above $27,000.

Black says the decline started in the 1950s when large groups of African-Americans fled the neighborhood's influx of rural blacks from the South seeking opportunity after World War II.

Black adds that the African-American families who left the area were not just economically middle class, but "socially and culturally," too.

That culture clash played out on King streets across the country.

At least 770 roads, boulevards and avenues bear his name, with most running through minority communities in the Southeast.

East Carolina University professor Derek Alderman has been studying King Streets for more than a decade.

"King's name has been seen as stigmatizing," Alderman says. "Opponents fear King's name will not have the same positive connotations that they need for business."

Chicago Alderman Pat Dowell was elected last spring on a platform to revive the area's economy.

"I think it's an uphill battle," Dowell says. "It's not easy."

The public housing high rises that once cast a shadow over King Drive are coming down. In their place, mixed-income town homes and promises of greater economic development. Progress, but not for everyone.

"Some people have been displaced. I mean, change happens," Dowell says.

Building more affordable housing is key to that change, change that will bring business and jobs to the community, she says.

"People deserve to live better," Dowell says.

But it's who is "living better" that concerns Timuel Black

"The lower economic class are worse off than they were during the civil rights movement," Black says.

The dilemma calls into question whether "living the dream" and creating economic progress can be a two-way street.

[kailumego1]

Fleura your rationalizations of African sectarian violence is predictable, certainly Europeans have contributed to the "escalation" of violence among warring factions, however, Europeans didn''t organize Africans into tribal societies,nor did Europeans create xenophobia amongst Africans.

Europeans, however, did exploit the "already" tedious tense rivalry between African "tribes", through supplying guns and ammunition to African leaders that provided gold, ivory, and slaves to the "trans-Atlantic" marketeers.

And the history you eluded too, I''ve learned from reading inserts and essays written by African scholars themselves, not European historians.
For it has been through reading essays written by African scholars that has enlightened me to the mayhem and continuous violence occurring daily in African countries, e.g. South Africa, which by the way has the most violent history of internal struggles between multi-ethnic groups, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Congo DRC, Angola, Somalia, Kenya, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Rwanda, Uganda, formerly known as Zaire, Burundi, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Senegal, etc. etc.

Every country in Africa has been touched with intense violence between various ethnic groups.

[kailumego1]

And oddly you sought to point out South Africa as "peaceful", AIDS capital of the world [5.5 million], while the percentage of the population is around 30 million, where heartless and savage black South African males rape virgin women and children thinking it will rid them of the AIDS virus.

Where brutal violence has claimed over 200,000 thousand civilians caught in the middle of clashes between political rivals.

You see I understand a lot about the continuous violence in African, the long-standing rivalry, as a result of political factions competing for dominance, rigging elections, intimidating voters, etc., threating to chop off their hands or other vicious acts of violence.

I get the bulk of my information not from the U.S. media, or European sources, but internationally, through African media, news articles, scholarly essays, etc.

You remind me of black folks in the United States, in extreme denial about the violence perpetrated in black communities always seeking to blame Europeans, but negating to take responsibility themselves.

[fleura-2009]

Because of ethnic divisions caused by the european invasions. African is made up of tribes and ethnic groups, but with europeans'' goald to exploide the continent of its riches, they have and still subdividing africans in self-interest to take the land from its children. Yet robbed this continent of its gold, oil...all natural resources possible, they can''t take away one thing that Europe needs most...the land of Africa. Causing tormoil between these poor tribes and supplying one tribe against another is the only way perhaps to achieve that one goal of robbing the continent and the land of Africa from its children. TELL THAT TO YOUR HISTORIANS AND HAVE THEM REVISE AND WRITE YOU THE TRUTH OF WHY IT IS, STILL THEY CAN''T LEAVE SOUTH AFRICA. No land as rich and continent as promissing and no people as warm-hearted have you and yours ever encountered. Please check with any True European who''s ever traveled into beautiful Africa!!!

[kailumego1]

Fleura, interesting reading a post from an African citizen about the "European racial construct" in America, especially since I''m in the process of reading some 30-40 articles on "violence and bloodshed" in predominately all African countries at the hands of black Africans.

[kailumego1]

It%u2019s almost oxymoronic to hear someone of African origin to dare mention about race, when it was the ancestors of West African tribal leaders that sold other Africans into slavery.

And it is an insult to the memory of Dr. King and others who lived through the struggle and died for the cause of liberty for "African Americans", while it was their African brethren that led the betrayal.

You stated in Africa you don''t worry about race, you''re correct, because most of Africa''s history has consisted of highly fractionalized multi-ethnic groups living in hostile complex societies.

Moreover, it is African factionalism that has left a legacy of "bloodshed, violence, and barbarianism" for blacks in America.

So, you dare to criticize a holiday given to a posthumous leader such as Dr. King, when the ancestors of African Americans were brought to American in chains, in the hollow deck of ship, where they had to eat, sh[it], and sleep in the same quarters, along with being compacted like sardines, so that African tribal leaders could stockpile and horde guns and ammunition to viciously, savagely butcher other Africans.

Try liberating the African continent from the wanton savage acts of violence before you put in your two-cents.

[michellem99-2009]

I WAS TAUGHT ONE RACE..THE HUMAN RACE..WE EACH PEOPLE OF SHADES OF COLOUR..IN AMERICA THE FIRST THING PEROPLE IS THE PERSON''S SKIN COLOUR/GENDER. iT IS MEANINGLESS TO ME AS A LEGALLY BLIND WOMAN. I HAVE WHITE skin..America has always classifed people by what ye and yer faimly are. We all have the same colour of blood running thru our bodies..One race the human race...Learnt that as a child years ago..

[fleura-2009]

Not sure about this holiday, I am African by birth and in Africa...no need for no civil reforms, no whites, no black, no oriental distinctions; you simply are who you are PERIOD. No minority, no majority or whatever this country calls its ethnicity!!! So sick of all this tra-la-la about races in the states. Just live and be the best you can be irrespective of your ethnic group!!! We are all children of Noah...and of ADAM & EVE...get it you PEOPLE! One race, one world, one family!

[ralphj53]

January 21, 2008

Hello;
I want to tell everyone the TRUTH. I DON''T CARE how many CIVIL RIGHTS laws you pass. If the poeple, no matter who they may be, DO NOT take advantage of those CIVIL RIGHTS... WALA!!!!!

You might as well NOT have any CIVIL RIGHTS... at all!!.... Remember the old saying...."you can take a horse to the water... but you CAN''T make him drink!!!"

Remember, I NOT singling out any race in particular. Be those people white, black, brown, pink, yellow or whatever.....

IF you don''t take advantage of those benefits that have been given TO you by way of those CIVIL RIGHTS..... NOTHING... and I mean NOTHING!!! GOOD IS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU!!

CIVIL RIGHTS are just OPPORTUNITIES... or DOORS that have been OPENED to you... Remember this... YOU, yes YOU!!! ..... still have to WALK through that door!!

O.K.?... CAPITZ? Do you UNDERSTAND? And remember this, if you are STILL financially poor, then, YOU don''t care about BETTERING yourself!!

Then, you DON''T have anyone else to blame... but YOURSELF!!!!

Just ask yourself these questions:
1.
2. Am I willing to stay with my family, educate my children, keep them OFF the streets, BE their GUARDIAN until they grow to eighteen.. or AGE of majority?
3. Am I willing to be a BETTER person, if necessary, BETTER than my parents were?
I could go on INFINITUM........
THESE... are the answers to your prayers... ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS!!!

Thanks,
rjm

[flreason]

"flreason YOU DIDN''''T ADDRESS MY 3 POINTS. YOU MAY NOT LIKE MY TAKE; HOWEVER, PLEASE FACE REALITY."
Posted by frankson2 at 01:22 PM : Jan 21, 2008

I did address your points, but in general. More specifically...Drop-outs: According to the U.S. Dept. of Education, in 2005 the U.S. high school drop-out rate was 6% for whites, 10.4% for African-Americans, and 22.4% for Hispanics. That number is despite 24.3% of black families having an income below the poverty level. The lowest graduation rate was in Wisconsin, with only 40% of African-Americans graduating from high school. Not coincidentally, Milwaukee is the most segregated city in the U.S. So it would appear that discrimination and segregation are strong contributors to high drop-out rates.

As for academic achievement, you offer no statistics to back up your contention regarding the number of Vietnamese validictorians. Even if your observation were correct, the boat people were screened to weed out criminals, and many were from the professional class. Upon arrival, they were given housing assistance and other benefits. And they have not been immune to cultural pressures. They have also had their share of problems with teen gangs, particularly in Southern California.

My claims can be substantiated by statistics. That''s reality. What about yours?

[tbweb]

I still can''t beleive it is considered a holiday.

Posted by cheddarboy82 at 04:25 PM : Jan 21, 2008,,,

There are many like you who can''t believe it, but who still enjoy the day off if the company they work for recognizes Dr. King''s Holiday. There are no documented cases on record yet of anyone volunteering to work on Dr. King''s Holiday after being given the day off or returning their pay from the paid holiday.

[cheddarboy82]

I still can''t beleive it is considered a holiday.

[ianlou]

A Dream Deferred isn''t limited to streets, LA has a hospital called Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital who''s reputation is so bad it is known locally as "Killer King". It is in the process of being shut down for failing a federal inspection.

[grammawhamma]

MLK was a great man. I remember listening to his speeches when I was a young girl and how horrified I felt when someone murdered him.

I wonder what kind of a speech he would give if he was alive today....

[toolmangler-2009]

But leave it to some insecure white folks to celebrate in someone else''''s misery.

Posted by kailumego1 at 02:48 PM : Jan 21, 2008



We have commented many times in the past to each other, but I must take exception to your ''labeling'' of some ''white'' folks, It is human nature to revel in anothers misfortune, (regardless of race) and ''that'' is exactly what we as a ''species'' should overcome. How can this happen if those of us whom know better still continue in the ''old ways''.

[tbweb]

Posted by kailumego1 at 02:48 PM : Jan 21, 2008,,,

In my view the power of the United States as a successful nation despite all the problems and cultural issues was an understanding that the U.S. was only as strong as its weakest link! There was always an effort to look after Americas forgotten, poor, weak and disenfranchised. This old acknowledgment and understanding that no one in the U.S. should be completely left out and forgotten has been replaced with a new indifference and dog-eat-dog attitude breeding a new generation of Black and White urban insurgents who have formed an alliance of survival and one where they are only thinking about themselves, thus forming a big hole in a once complete chain.

[klingon69]

There was a time when a lot of southern Americans felt the same way about the celebration of Abraham Lincoln''''s birthday.

In a diverse society, it''''s important that we recognize more heroes than just dead white male politicians, however worthy of honor they may be.

Martin Luther King challenged Americans, regardless of race, to acknowledge our national legacy of slavery and discrimination, and to look for opportunities to find unity as fellow citizens of a diverse nation. His choice to confront institutional racism peacefully was a model we can still learn from. Without the prod of a national holiday, that lesson might be forgotten.
Posted by flreason at 10:08 AM : Jan 21, 2008
However, Lincoln''s birthday and Washingtons were removed as holidays from the calendar. In their place we had Presidents Day. Now that day is MLK day.

[far_point200]

The proliferation of entitlements has had a profoundly negative effect on American phyche.

Example: The guy across the street from me had a new-born daughter who required surgery to normalize her situation. Note that this guy doesn''t work and can''t support himself let alone his wife, son & stepson. He lives off entitlements. When asked who paid for his daughters delivery & surgery he replied, "the government". When asked where the government got its money he replied, "I don''t know".

He''s white and has been fired from every job he has been lucky enough to land. Why? He doesn''t know how to work. He doesn''t understand that his employer is depending upon him to consistantly show up to work every day. He doesn''t understand that tasks have been assigned to him to perform on a regular basis without having to be reminded every day. Etc...etc.

He''s not a bad guy. He is just ignorant and with entitlements paying the way, he has no incentive to do anything except to figure out how to maximize the amount of money he can get from the government (taxpayers).

We literally have now multiple generations who have been taught how to get an entitlement check instead of how to "make someone a hand"! The Puritan Work Ethic is dying fast.

The proliferation of entitlements is not the only culprit to the cultural problems we face. Some of the other major reasons are a substandard educational system and totally imbecilic drug laws (see 1930''s Prohibition failure).

[kailumego1]

No King''s dream has not been fulfilled and neither has the dream of other Civil Rights advocates and contributors.

The paradigm of this society is built on oxymoronic policies that has contributed to black disenfranchisement in America, unlike my Native American brothers and sisters.

[kailumego1]

But that doesn''t excuse what''s occurring in black communities today, for it is the unforeseen revolution of black materialism/capitalism that has spawned a generation of angry young black males and females.

Those without culture, meaning, or sustenance, a breeding ground for violence, misogyny, and the de-criminalization of violence.

They have become the new paradigm within an old antiquated system of self-aggrandizement, greed, and egoism, the automatons for commercial/corporate interest.

They are the new voices of "urban black communities", however, they don''t speak for the majority of hardworking, intelligent, self-determined blacks.

And they certainly don''t exemplify black culture, rhythm, and intrinsic conscious beliefs.

I gave a speech the other day on the fate of black communities to a large group of people, one young child asked me if I was Angela Davis, I said no, then asked him who told him this, he said his father, so I went and hugged his father, of which I told him I was deeply moved and touched by his gesture.

Another said I sounded like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King rolled into one, and again another compliment.

The problem with most younger "urban generation" of blacks they have no direction, history, or purpose.

But leave it to some insecure white folks to celebrate in someone else''s misery.

[tbweb]

Interesting that you indirectly say that the Afro-American is better than the native American.
Too bad you are incorrect.
A check of facts shows that many native Americans simply changed their names to "christian" names and moved on assimilating into society, unlike nearly ALL Afro-Americans that whine, and dream.

Posted by rushlimpdrug at 02:13 PM : Jan 21, 2008,,,

I''m plugged into every aspect of American Society, every culture, I happen to love my country, the good old US of A and I hate to inform you that many of my Native American Indian friends would be highly insulted by your claim that they changed their names and became Christians and therefore can''t be tracked or correctly counted. I''m sure there is a small percentage of that, its a common practice, but I seriously doubt that the number is large enough to support your claims. Just like there have always been more Whites on Public Welfare than Blacks but the focus was always on Black enrollment, which was very interesting!