As we stood at the crossroads of history, we were confronted with two starkly different futures. On one side of the Capitol, a twice-impeached convicted felon, committed to depriving people of color of affordable health care, education and a sustainable future, was sworn in as president. On the other side, thousands converged on Washington to pledge their allegiance to the continuation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of equality, fairness and justice for all Americans.
I marched with those who chose to be on the right side of history. I am 82 but I intend to keep on marching and protesting. I began my first march in the 1960s as a student working to register Black people to vote in Tennessee. Coming from the South, I was so naive I did not know that showing up in public after dark or going into white stores with interracial friends was a dangerous terrifying venture. My group was chased by the Klan and we felt blessed for managing to escape with our lives. I kept on marching, protesting and as a writer, most of the time as the biographer of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, I saw how committed nonviolent warriors, those who would struggle and trade their blood for freedom, could overcome most anything. I was amazed at the fortitude of Mrs. King to fight for this holiday, rear her four children and continue the movement 30 years after her beloved husband was murdered.
In the ’60s when I entered the struggle for justice, there were no thoughts of an African American president, a Black woman on the Supreme Court or a multicultural vice president — we couldn’t even vote in the South or attend schools that were desegregated. Today, we now have 62 Blacks in Congress, Black billionaires, like Oprah Winfrey and Robert Smith who contribute to their communities, and the Black gross national buying power is estimated at $1.6 trillion.
I would be foolish to not be optimistic about our future. I understand we have come this far by faith and hard work, and we will not sit quietly as we are being pushed back possibly as far as when in 1857 the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott Decision ruled Black people had no rights that whites had to respect. Moreover, lynching and the destruction of all-Black towns such as in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a common occurrence. Those of us who are seniors have relived so much of what it took to attain today’s victories and our young people who are not planning to relive the indignities of yesterday will find a way out of no way.
The Dark Path: A Presidency Rooted in Division and Inequality
The swearing-in of a convicted felon to the highest office in the land was a grim reminder of the fragility of our democratic institutions. This individual, whose tenure has been marked by scandal and impeachment, represents a vision of America that is exclusionary and unjust. His policies have consistently targeted marginalized communities, particularly people of color, by undermining their access to essential services such as health care and education.
Under his administration, the concept of a sustainable future has been systematically eroded. Environmental regulations have been rolled back, climate change has been dismissed as a hoax, and corporate interests have been prioritized over the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants. This path leads to a future where the rich grow richer, and the poor are left to fend for themselves in an increasingly hostile environment. And with the marvels of artificial intelligence in the hands of tech wizards like Elon Musk, we cannot say for sure that our votes cannot be cloned, hacked or defused in some nefarious manner.
The consolidation of power in the hands of a few is a defining characteristic of this dark path. With the courts, the House and the Senate under the new president’s grip, and the support of the Billionaire Boys Club, we are on the brink of a dangerous oligarchy. In this system, money and power creates a network where the elite can break the rules with impunity, leaving everyday people disenfranchised and voiceless.
The Bright Path: A Commitment to Equality and Justice
In stark contrast, the other side of the Capitol witnessed a gathering of thousands who believe in the ideals of equality, fairness and justice championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These individuals are committed to nonviolent revolution, advocating for a society where everyone is treated equally under the power of a righteous God.
This path is rooted in the belief that all people, regardless of race, creed or socioeconomic status, deserve access to affordable health care, quality education and a sustainable future. It envisions an America where diversity is celebrated, and the rights of all citizens are protected.
Nonviolence is a cornerstone of this movement. Unlike the violent mob that ransacked the Capitol in 2020, injuring hundreds, these marchers were dedicated to peaceful protest. They drew strength from the Bible, which says not to fret over the crimes of evildoers as they will ultimately be crushed like blades of grass. Their faith in a higher power and their unwavering dedication to justice provide a moral compass that guides their actions.
As we reflect on this critical juncture, the choice before us was clear. Would we allow our nation to be led by a convicted felon whose policies perpetuate division and inequality, or would we join the ranks of those who are committed to a future of justice and equality for all?
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Let us continue on the path that bends toward justice and work together to build a nation that truly reflects the values of equality, fairness and justice for all.