Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the night before he was assassinated.
On November 2, 1983, in the White House Rose Garden, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a bill proposed by Indiana Representative Katie Hall, creating a federal holiday honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Many people, nationally and globally, use this day to reflect upon the legacy of a man who fought relentlessly for equal rights and liberties for all mankind.  Some spend the day engaging in service opportunities, and others hold community programs in honor of this great individual. However, one day of good deeds and reflection fails to do King's societal impact justice. 

In many ways, King was the Civil Rights Movement. While many leaders did their part in the push for civil equality (such as Ralph Abernathy and C.T. Vivian), a vast majority would agree that King was the face of civil rights. It is hard to fathom exactly where race relations in America would be today without him.  

Dr. King's messages of love for one another and hope for a brighter future resonated in the hearts and minds of people of all colors and creeds, spearheading a movement that opened many doors for African-Americans and all minorities for generations to come. 

Today, almost 43 years since King's assassination, we take time to look back on his hard work with great appreciation and reverence. The liberties and opportunities we enjoy on a daily basis that go without acknowledgement from us would not even be possible without the sacrifices of leaders such as King. However, one must wonder what Dr. King would think of US...Black America, on this day.
While humorous, the message is clear...
Dr. King spoke of love for one another, harmony and unity. Do we as African-Americans practice this in our families, on our college campuses, in our workplaces...in our CHURCHES, for that matter? Have we been guilty or been a victim of spreading lies, verbally tearing down others, or ostracizing people from our social circles for meaningless, superficial reasons?

It has been said thousands of times before, but it still rings true today: if Black America is to move forward, we shed these "crabs in a bucket" and "I got mine, you get yours" mentalities, and it all starts with YOU, the individual.

Make the decision today to start supporting one another and caring about each other's well-being (even those we do not know), smile and speak as we pass by each other, and make the effort to understand each other, for we all have a different story and we are also not as different from one another as we may want to believe.

The conscious effort must be made each and every day to do these simple things. Then, and only then, will the sacrifices of Dr. King and others not be in vain.
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While there are many opinions and many situations that can conjure up certain feelings toward this subject, it is important that we address this issue holistically.  I say this because regardless of specific instances we can think of that directly relate to you or someone you may know, the fact remains that this is an issue that affects African-Americans across the board, no matter where you are from.

To get to the heart of the issue, it has to be tackled with a "chicken or the egg" mindset...where did the problem originate?

In my opinion, there is plenty of blame for both genders to bear. If we're honest with ourselves, we can admit that a lot of the males and females that make up the African-American population are generally not desirable candidates for a meaningful RELATIONSHIP, let alone marriage. This can be attributed to many factors: level of education, displaced priorities, etc.

Include  the fact that the seemingly successful, well-to-do African-Americans seem to be holding out for the "perfect mate," and you have the recipe for the gradual deterioration of Black marriage.

What can be done to cure this problem that has found a home deep inside the foundation of African-American society? Tell me what YOU think will make Black Love more prevalent.
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We, as African-Americans, know all too well the struggles our families have faced throughout many generations.  From the initial separation of our families during the slave trade to today's extremely high divorce rates, the list of reasons why African-American families are in its current state seem insurmountable.

However, I am a strong believer in the idea that you have to start SOMEWHERE...and, in my opinion, that somewhere is with the presence (or lack thereof) of the African-American father figure in the household. 

The statements you hear in the clip above reflect the attitudes and mindsets of many African-Americans, young and old...that the presence of the African-American male in the African-American family has no value. This ideology leaves one burning question in my mind: "HOW DID WE LET THINGS GET THIS BAD???"

In other cultures, the male is the centerpiece of the family...the unquestioned leader.  The father is respected by his wife and children, and the way he leads his household and provides for his family shape the way his children lead their households, setting a pattern for future generations to follow. 

Whenever the father was absent, uncles or other men in the community would serve as role models, grooming young boys to become men, and giving young girls a shining example of the type of man they should want to marry and be led by.

No matter what culture or ethnic group you study, while the role of the female may vary in its importance, the unwavering figure in family governance is the male.

Why can this not be said about today's African-American culture? There are many different things we can point to, but, realistically, we are past the finger-pointing stage.

Being real with ourselves and taking meaningful action has been LONG overdue for African-American people. We must realize that before we talk about America's discriminatory practices or what the Obama administration can do for us, we have to get our own house in order, starting with addressing the role of the African-American male.
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