“The nonviolent resister must often express his protest through noncooperation or boycotts, but noncooperation and boycotts are not ends themselves; they are merely means to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent. The end is redemption and reconciliation. The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community, while the aftermath of violence is tragic bitterness.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr., 1957
This message is a call to action for the hero in each of us.
We need to be a community of leaders, a city of leaders, a nation of leaders. It is helpful to have Dr. Martin Luther King‘s birthday as a precursor to Black History Month.
I believe one of the great failings of our community and nation is that we do not celebrate the rich ethnic diversity around us. Vallejo is so fortunate to be one of the most diverse cities in our nation.
Black history month is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental contributions and sacrifices that African Americans have made for the benefit of all poor people, immigrants and especially people of color. It is an opportunity to educate people about the diversity of African peoples around the world. It’s an opportunity
to reflect on freedom and slavery; celebrating where we are free in our lives, socially and personally, and organizing around where we are still suffering from the residue of the institution of chattel slavery in America.
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