6:30 PM April 4, 1968 And Then Black America Was Aflame

Provoked Thoughts Of Day

52 years ago today Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was living his last hours of powerful life. He had made his last speech the previous evening in Memphis, Tennessee. That speech, I've Been To The Mountaintop, foretold of his demise which would occur within 18 hours of the time in which he made that momentous speech and said the following magnificent and powerful words:

"I been to the mountaintop, and I looked over and I have seen the promised land.I may not get there with you but we as a people will get to the promised land"

Well, 52 years later we as a people are still searching for that promised land. Dr. King didn't get there because he was taken from us by an assassin's bullet at 6:30 pm. We haven't reached the nation of pure justice and equality. We are still searching to make Dr. King's final dream a reality. The only way we will ever reach that land of promise is that we unite our energies in a positive direction. We must choose a change in self and a resolute goal of uplift for those in need.

Dr. King lived an unselfish life, he reached out to assist others first rather than satisfying any need or personal thirst for individual gain. We, as a people must understand that this divine philosophy of life in the final analysis is as strong as those around you. It has been said that no man is an island and man stands alone. We have somehow lost the meaning of this perception of humanity. Many of us are driving towards individual gains regardless of the effect those gains have on others around us. So, today the question I ask myself is am I working to the betterment of simply myself without even thinking about how I can better the lives of others? Is that promised land an island of one or is that promised land, a land of plenty for plenty?

Did James Earl Ray kill Martin Luther King Jr.? Was it his bullet that pierced the body and took the life of Dr. King? That question has been asked and never truly answered many times. What is for certain is this, when Dr. King’s earthly remains was void of life America’s cities were aflame and the band of racism, prejudice, and hatred played on.