Life on the Other Side of the Rainbow

I was born in 1961 the same year as the infamous Berlin Wall which one day I'd travel to in defense of NATO forces in Europe. But that was in the future. Many other things were happening in 1961. The Vietnam War, we were three years from Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights act and I believed that the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was one of our Presidents of the United States. Of course John F. Kennedy was our President for blacks and whites and all of America. But I was a child. So it was "ok" to have a President for whites and a President for blacks and thus both Presidents would be able to address the needs of all of America.

I wish it would have been that easy or that simple. I was born in the midwest on a Air base in a Air base hospital still in existence with its missiles still in "cold" storage underground. One day I'd enter the military and learn about them. For now life as a military kid was mostly sheltered at least it was for me. The only exception was when I lived in Virginia which was one of the many places I'd call home. Actually Virginia same city that the great Arthur Ashe lived and grew up in and the same place that would create Virginia's first black governor Douglas Wilder.

The Virginia of my growing up years was not the most ritzy place. I went to school where the majority of my class was black. But let me go back in time for a moment. The basic foundation in regards race and racial relations and skin color and prejudice had already been established pretty much after I left the midwest and we traveled to Turkey. Where I started school on another Air base called Cigli ( pronounced Chilly) in Izmir Turkei. But maybe it was a mixed blessing to have grown up in the context being a foreigner so to speak. Of course there were black Turks. And I was black but when I opened my mouth in downtown Turkei they heard an American accent. So of course I got some strange looks. But I wasn't really old enough to understand the sting of what could have been viewed as a "racist" stare. So it only bothered me slightly. And my parents explained that many Turks weren't really use to seeing Americans. Especially black Americans. If there was a bright light to what seemed like a sad scenario. It was the fact that all American school kids were required to learn Turkish culture and speak the Turkish language. And I did and I still do. After Izmir I went back to Turkei again when I was a little older in 1972 and 1973. In between that I lived,visited and traveled all over the United States. New York state,New England,Philly,New York City and of course Virginia and the Carolinas was also part of my itinerary.

Since the military is a cultural,social,economic,demographic and so on mix. It prepared me for individuals that had a bent toward racist,racial,prejudice,segregationist issues to a certain extent. And I did run into them later on in life especially as I got older and made my way in the world.

You'd think as you read this that was aspiring to be like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But wasn't. I even believed in the rhetoric of the Black Panther Party and Malcom X. As I grew older and came into more of an understanding both by my life experience and by history. My growing up and how I was taught just help me to accept people and respect and treat people the way I wanted to be treated. But I was in a way following in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. in regards to changing peoples mindsets by non-violence and social disobedience.

Without really knowing or understanding what an impact Dr. King had on our nation not to mention the world just like Gandi. I'd encompass some of his principals and his teachings into my life. And when Stevie Wonder started the rallying cry of the "Happy Birthday" song for a KING Holiday. I jumped in line too. I'd been over in Germany the year was 1984. I really hadn't thought so much about Dr. King accept during his birthday before it became a holiday. Most in the black community were recognizing it. But when legislation started and lawmakers were crafting bills and debates echoed throughout the nation. I believe that all of America felt that he should be honored. In 1986 he was finally honored with his holiday. But even after that Evan Mecham of Arizona and many other leaders in the United States at that time still did not want to recognize or celebrate a King holiday.

Today with America having it's first African President in America. The King Holiday and now a black President of the USA makes Martin Luther Kings dream come more to pass. Martin as my youngest explained endured alot for all Americans especially African Americans. He was almost killed many times until he lost his life at 39 years of age. This new generation and eons to come will never look at America only having a white President. And it will seem natural and all the more wonderful when Barack Obama is sworn into office and Dr. King's dream keeps getting more fulfilled. Unfortunately the struggle has not ended and it cannot. Because Dr. King's dream following in the footsteps of Gandi and the footsteps of those that Gandi followed. Ultimately the aforementioned followed in the path of the creator. More dreamers will follow because the dream is far from fulfillment. We all must strive to bring what peace we can bring to our world. Whether you choose to celebrate the King holiday or not Martin Luther King Jr. lived and died to help and keep that right. Happy Birthday DR. King and Congratulations President Obama and may God Bless and keep you and your administration and our nation.