"But today as I stand before you and think back over that great march, I can say, as Sister Pollard said-a seventyyear-old Negro woman who lived in this community during the bus boycott-and one day, she was asked while walking
if she didn't want to ride. And when she answered, "No," the person said, "Well, aren't you tired?" And with her
ungrammatical profundity, she said, "My feets is tired, but my soul is rested." (Yes, sir. All right) And in a real sense
this afternoon, we can say that our feet are tired, (Yes, sir) but our souls are rested.
They told us we wouldn't get here. And there were those who said that we would get here only over their dead
bodies, (Well. Yes, sir. Talk) but all the world today knows that we are here and we are standing before the forces of
power in the state of Alabama saying, "We ain't goin' let nobody turn us around." (Yes, sir. Speak) [Applause]", Dr. King
I watched this upon rising today. The Contrarian is such an amazing, what I would call, online newspaper. I have eliminated print newspapers and turned to online that are truly awesome in their educational value in politics and religion.
Hopium gives me the opportunity to put my political beliefs in action with a wonderful community of like- minded citizens.
I had mentioned that for news in my state I turned to the Connecticut Mirror that lets me know, in detail, what is happening in the state house, and how the state is working to prevent the new administration in D.C. from harming its citizens. There is also a great deal of investigative reporting which I had no idea of the problems that were occurring. All this in a free online newspaper ( they accept donations). I had read articles by some of the writers/ investigators before so I knew the caliber of the writing.
I hope other states have this kind of excellent resource, if not, encourage its formation.
It's pretty amazing how back then whites were complaining that Blacks were "exaggerating" about racism in the midst of lynchings and segregated facilities. This is the standout quote to me: "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."
Me neither. (This should have been required reading in high school!) Furthermore, I didn't learn about the Civil Rights movement other than there was one; it was never defined or explained. I'm sure I was well out of college before I figured out what civil rights even meant. I had never heard of the Pettis bridge until around the time John Lewis passed (nor did I know who he was until then). I didn't know what happened in Selma until I watched the movie a couple years ago. And I grew up in the state where Brown v Board of Education started! I am ashamed but thankful I can learn about all of this now, at an age where I can appreciate what people before me endured. And I can be inspired to be better and - as we say here - DO MORE. The fight continues.
I think that he KNEW THAT HIS TIME WAS SHORT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmkwI5ItCFk . Remember that he helped CHANGE A NATION FOR THE BETTER with the limited years that he had. He WAS only 39.
Please note that Pew had his UNFAVORABLES AT 63% when he was assassinated (i.e. with his anti-Vietnam and his racism being a nationwide phenomenon statements along with his thoughts on the economics of the day). Additionally, there was an ongoing probe by a certain 3-Letter Federal agency (i.e. staffing is policy): https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/federal-bureau-investigation-fbi . HE WAS HUMAN, a man. He was a better man than I will ever be!
For more evidence of the country’s good fortune for having him - even for a short while, please read (or listen to) the “King-Era Trilogy” by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Taylor Branch. In spite of what was in front of Dr, King EVERYDAY (e.g. suicide-suggestive letters and the church bombing that killed four little girls), he never gave up on the nation or its citizens. I will follow his lead.
Thank you, Simon. Dr. Kings words are more relevant today as they were relevant in 1963. Moderate whites are the barrier today. May we be as articulate as Socrates and Dr. King for our revolution.
Thank you for this post. Today it is all about service and remembering the legacy of Dr. King. Watch the live stream of the MLK Day Service 2025 Live https://www.fox5atlanta.com/live
I was on a Zoom meeting yesterday in which a young woman shared the link to Letter from a Birmingham Jail and said she reads it every MLK holiday. I wondered whether I would get around to it and now I have. Thank you.
If you can’t fly, run.
If you can’t run, walk.
If you can’t walk, crawl.
But by all means, keep moving.
from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech "What is in your life's blueprint?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DVXTL4JX1E&ab_channel=PNarahariIAS
This is the light of this day.
https://csumb.edu/media/csumb/section-editors/college-of-business/eJ62jq9STtW89ey3k7D7_MLK-Speeches-(1).pdf
"But today as I stand before you and think back over that great march, I can say, as Sister Pollard said-a seventyyear-old Negro woman who lived in this community during the bus boycott-and one day, she was asked while walking
if she didn't want to ride. And when she answered, "No," the person said, "Well, aren't you tired?" And with her
ungrammatical profundity, she said, "My feets is tired, but my soul is rested." (Yes, sir. All right) And in a real sense
this afternoon, we can say that our feet are tired, (Yes, sir) but our souls are rested.
They told us we wouldn't get here. And there were those who said that we would get here only over their dead
bodies, (Well. Yes, sir. Talk) but all the world today knows that we are here and we are standing before the forces of
power in the state of Alabama saying, "We ain't goin' let nobody turn us around." (Yes, sir. Speak) [Applause]", Dr. King
Jen Rubin & Heather Cox Richardson in conversation
(For those who prefer to read, you can click "Transcript" below the video.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/heather-cox-richardson-and-jen-rubin
I watched this upon rising today. The Contrarian is such an amazing, what I would call, online newspaper. I have eliminated print newspapers and turned to online that are truly awesome in their educational value in politics and religion.
Hopium gives me the opportunity to put my political beliefs in action with a wonderful community of like- minded citizens.
I had mentioned that for news in my state I turned to the Connecticut Mirror that lets me know, in detail, what is happening in the state house, and how the state is working to prevent the new administration in D.C. from harming its citizens. There is also a great deal of investigative reporting which I had no idea of the problems that were occurring. All this in a free online newspaper ( they accept donations). I had read articles by some of the writers/ investigators before so I knew the caliber of the writing.
I hope other states have this kind of excellent resource, if not, encourage its formation.
He was writing to trump and his followers?!
….and to us.
It's pretty amazing how back then whites were complaining that Blacks were "exaggerating" about racism in the midst of lynchings and segregated facilities. This is the standout quote to me: "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."
Thanks Simon, for posting this. What an important letter.
"right defeated is stronger than evil triumphant"
I’m embarrassed to say I had never read this until today. Such a painfully beautiful letter. I am going to share it with so many friends. Thank you.
Me neither. (This should have been required reading in high school!) Furthermore, I didn't learn about the Civil Rights movement other than there was one; it was never defined or explained. I'm sure I was well out of college before I figured out what civil rights even meant. I had never heard of the Pettis bridge until around the time John Lewis passed (nor did I know who he was until then). I didn't know what happened in Selma until I watched the movie a couple years ago. And I grew up in the state where Brown v Board of Education started! I am ashamed but thankful I can learn about all of this now, at an age where I can appreciate what people before me endured. And I can be inspired to be better and - as we say here - DO MORE. The fight continues.
Simon et al.:
I think that he KNEW THAT HIS TIME WAS SHORT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmkwI5ItCFk . Remember that he helped CHANGE A NATION FOR THE BETTER with the limited years that he had. He WAS only 39.
Please note that Pew had his UNFAVORABLES AT 63% when he was assassinated (i.e. with his anti-Vietnam and his racism being a nationwide phenomenon statements along with his thoughts on the economics of the day). Additionally, there was an ongoing probe by a certain 3-Letter Federal agency (i.e. staffing is policy): https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/federal-bureau-investigation-fbi . HE WAS HUMAN, a man. He was a better man than I will ever be!
For more evidence of the country’s good fortune for having him - even for a short while, please read (or listen to) the “King-Era Trilogy” by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Taylor Branch. In spite of what was in front of Dr, King EVERYDAY (e.g. suicide-suggestive letters and the church bombing that killed four little girls), he never gave up on the nation or its citizens. I will follow his lead.
Thanks.
P.S.: First, teach civics. Second, register voters. Third, teach civics. Rinse. Repeat.
Patrick, I love that you always end with this P.S. I will be borrowing it for my interactions with the DTC of my town of which I am a member.
Great! This is a team effort. Have a contemplative day.
Be well.
Always worth reading!
Thank you, Simon. Dr. Kings words are more relevant today as they were relevant in 1963. Moderate whites are the barrier today. May we be as articulate as Socrates and Dr. King for our revolution.
💯
I read the letter in its entirety. Thank you for publishing it. Going to put on my Kamala tshirt and drive through Southern California 🇺🇸
Thank you for this post. Today it is all about service and remembering the legacy of Dr. King. Watch the live stream of the MLK Day Service 2025 Live https://www.fox5atlanta.com/live
Thank you, Hopium for sharing this.
Thanks for this Simon, I needed to hear this today of all days.
I was on a Zoom meeting yesterday in which a young woman shared the link to Letter from a Birmingham Jail and said she reads it every MLK holiday. I wondered whether I would get around to it and now I have. Thank you.