I was unable to go to the Marriott Center to hear the forum with Howard Dodson, Chief of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. I was able to watch it online and I was glad I did.
I took running notes of the ideas and quotes I found interesting.
He had a number of interesting quotes and points. Some of them include.
Of the original settlers 1 million were European, 5.5 million were African.
Of the 10 million slaves who survived the middle passage, half a million came to the US. The majority went to Brazil and the Caribbean.
There are 40 million blacks in the US today. Most consider that as a Census under count. Mr. Dodson said "There are at least 40 million people in the Baptist Church."
Except for Nigeria, no nation in the world, including those in Africa, has a higher black population than Brazil.
When we celebrate black history, we should do so, knowing that we are also celebrating American history, it is one and the same.
We have turned Dr. Kings "I have a dream" speech into the sum total of his life.
Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.
Mr. Dodson said that he is concerned by a number of things such as,
Poverty revealed in the aftermath of Katrina.
Constantly growing budget deficits that will mortgage this countries future for years to come.
Nations moral crisis. Our eroding morals internally and our moral standing internationally.
He made it clear that he is not just criticizing the US.
"I raise these questions about this country because I love this country."
True patriots are not those who say my country right or wrong but those who love and live by the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution.
He then returned to the theme of Martin Luther King.
Dr. Martin Luther King was, a self proclaimed, "drum major for justice".
A nation that year after year continues to spend more money on military defense, than they do on programs of social uplift, is nearing spiritual bankruptcy.
Most have turned to Dr. Kings message of peace, instead of the justice one.
