Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wale x Pill - By Any Means (Official Music Video)(Teaser)

From 1 King To Another.

CHRIS LIVE AKA SHAKER SAYS: Inextricably linked by perceptions of race, power, yet, hopefully, not fate (NOTE: Neither the honorable Obama family nor this nation could handle such an event), Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Elect Barack Obama are now joined by date as the inauguration of our 44th President and 1st Black man to hold the office comes just 1 day after today, the national holiday honoring MLK. Not only does GOD have a sense of humor, he also has a divine sense of timing.

While not the complete fruition of Dr. Martin Luther King's "Dream" that some people will have Y.O.U. believe his election is evidence of, Barack Obama is but 1 magnificent component in the realization of that proud "Dream". Yes, we stand on the cusp of history. The struggle is not done, however, the crescendo of unity and renewed post-partisan and "post-racial" (whatever that means) interest in community and politics that Barack Obama has set in motion is certainly a landmark of great significance on the road to the Promised Land of true equality.

As a child, MLK Day was just a day off from school for me and, honestly, I resented the mainstream embrace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in death and, instead, sought solace in the teachings of other great, more militant, Black leaders such as Marcus Garvey and, of course, Malcolm X. Thankfully, as I have matured I have become better able to appreciate the complexities of MLK and his incredible, indelible impact on the entire world.

Dr. Martin Luther King did not fight for a singular triumph, he fought for us ALL and, for that, we ALL owe it to him and, indeed, ourselves to continue to strive for excellence as a people. GOD bless.



BONUS:

The speech heard 'round the world. The "I Have A Dream" homily delivered August 28, 1963. Pay attention yall.

Saturday Night Reader: The Autobiography Of Malcolm X: As Told To Alex Haley (Audio Book)

I was 1st introduced to El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz AKA Malcolm X, like much of my generation, thanks to Spike Lee's gripping biopic based on brother Malcolm's life and the subsequent Black pride buzz that it inspired that spread across the hood in the early 1990's. What started for many with "X" baseball caps and Afro-centric medallions emblazoned with his image reached a triumphant crescendo when the Malcolm X movie was released in 1992.

The Hip Hop lyrics of that time, peppered with Black Nationalism rhetoric and 5 Percent lessons, had prepared me for this. My parents took me to King's Plaza to see the film. After that, I simply had to read Malcolm X's powerful biography ... unlike too many kids today I, and most of my friends, craved a special knowledge that we knew we would never be taught in school.

Admittedly, I haven't read this book again in years ... that's why I posted it here. I figured that we ALL could use a refresher course homie. Oh, Y.O.U. aint never touched this book? Really? Well, there's no time like the present. Do yourself a favor and download this gem - it's an audio book, so I don't want to hear any excuses ... lol. Allow yourself to watch Detroit Red clean up and transform himself into a leader and the Nation Of Islam into a true movement. Each 1 teach 1.


Download Link: The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley: