Hosea 4:6
On Monday night Micah and I were doing as we usually do, watching sports and chatting about what was on our social media platforms. Suddenly he shows me what is probably the most ignorant and disrespectful event flyer that I've ever seen...An MLK Freedom to Twerk Party Flyer.
He began to read the comments on his Facebook page and most people our age were outraged...as we should be. After scrolling back up from the comments we noticed that Dr. King's image has been photoshopped onto the flyer adding to our dismay.
Fast forward to Thursday when Micah told me that a host of radio personalities lead the charge to bring attention to this buffoonery and disrespect of one of the greatest civil rights leaders of our time, leading the party promoter to cancel the event.
I can't be help to ask myself how a promoter in Michigan could see nothing wrong with superimposing an image of some held in such high regard with something that has been viewed as culturally-fracturing and degrading. Supposedly the promoter told club owner, Vic McEwen, that he didn't see anything wrong with the flyer...and subsequently McEwen broke the contract and cancelled the event. In the event that the promoter is, let's say 13...then maybe a true understanding of what this holiday means is absent, however, we all know the promoter is probably someone who has a modicum of sense and knows what the civil rights movement and Dr. King's efforts and death are all about. I think it says a great deal about Mr. McEwen, a black business owner who took a loss on the event, but my only hope is that he took time to have a come to Jesus meeting with the promoter and used this miscarriage of imagery as a teaching moment.
I often think that young people have little regard for anything that has been done to open doors for the marginalized, lost, broken-spirited and oppressed people in society. Perhaps it's because they live in a world with [alleged] equality, excess and instant gratification and have been lead to believe that the fight is over.
Shame on the promoters parents, teachers, peers, etc. who didn't teach him about his history and struggles of the past. Or is it shame on this opportunist who chose to ignore those things and who probably throws a Freedom to Twerk party during the weekend of every nationally observed holiday. Shame on those individuals who got a kick out of seeing our great Dr. King super imposed over a body with low-hanging pants, a medallion around his neck and hands clasped to resemble a gang sign. Shame on the fact that fifty years later people still don't get it.
The promoter has since opened the venue door for a a positive and celebratory event and yes with an appropriate flyer...but it should have never come to this. I'm so blessed that I was raised by a father who made it a point to show me the scar on the back of head from which he was hit with a police baton while participating in a civil rights march in Washington, DC. I'm truly bless to have parents who were raised with a principles of spirituality and community service to which I have committed myself to. I'm grateful for my friends, family and colleagues who are in the trenches everyday making sure that our youth are guided in the right direction.
We owe it to ourselves to not only keep Dr. King's dream alive but to follow the spiritual teachings of those leaders in our homes, churches and communities and do our part (no matter how great or how small) to make a difference.
To the promoters (who probably are the first and won't be the last to inappropriately use Dr. King's image) I hope that this past week has given you time to reflect and redirect your energy. There is never a reason to put financial gain over honoring the legacy of such a worthy individual.
Enough said.
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