tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism [2014]

8/11/2019 Tragically Bound to the Starless Midnight of Racism [2014]

1/11

TRAGICALLY BOUND TO THE

STARLESS MIDNIGHT OF RACISM

MATTHEW LEE KNOWLES

OCTOBER 2014


2/11

Martin Lut!r Kin"#$

%I a&! a 'r!a(# $)!!*

+'!,i&!r!' Au"u$t 1-./

it a,, r'$ 3!"innin" itt! ,!tt!r N *r$$!' ut


3/11

Fi&! $*r! 5!ar$ a"6

a "r!at A(!ri*an6

in $! $5(3,i* $a' ! $tan' $i"n!' t! E(an*i)atin

7r*,a(atin

Ti$ ((!ntu$ '!*r!! *a(! a$ a "r!at 3!a*n ,i"t 8

)! t (i,,in$ 8

N!"r $,a&!$ a' 3!!n $!ar!' in t! 8,a(!$ 8

it!rin" in9u$ti*!

It *a(! a$ a 95u$ 'a53r!a: t !n' t! ,n"

ni"t 8 *a)ti&it5

But n! un'r!' 5!ar$ ,at!r6

! (u$t 8a*! t! tra"i* 8a*t tat t!

N!"r i$ $ti,,

nt 8r!!

On! un'r!' 5!ar$ ,at!r6

t! ,i8! 8 t!

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$!"r!"atin an' t! *ain$ 8 'i$*ri(inatin


t!

N!"r ,i&!$ n a ,n!,5 i$,an' 8 )&!rt5 in t! (i'$t 8

a &a$t *!an 8 (at!ria, )r$)!rit5


t!N!"r i$ $ti,, ,an"ui$in" in t! *rn!r$ 8 A(!ri*an

$*i!t5 an' 8in'$ i($!,8 an !;i,! in i$ n ,an'

S ! a&! *(! !r! t'a5 t 'ra(ati


4/11

r'$ 8 t! Cn$titutin an' t! D!*,aratin 8

In'!)!n'!n*!6

t!5 !r! $i"nin" a )r(i$$r5

nt! t i* !&!r5 A(!ri*an a$ t 8a,, !ir

Ti$

nt! a$ a )r(i$! tat a,, (!n u,' 3! "uarant!!' t!

ina,i!na3,! ri"t$ 8 ,i8!6

,i3!rt56

an' t! )ur$uit 8 a))in!$$

It i$ 3&iu$ t'a5 tat A(!ri*a a$ '!8au,t!' n ti$

)r(i$$r5

nt! in$8ar a$ !r *iti

A(!ri*a a$ "i&!n t!

N!"r )!),! a 3a' *!*: i* a$ *(! 3a*: (ar:!'

>in$u88i*i!nt 8un'$>

But ! r!8u$! t 3!,i!&! tat t! 3an: 8 9u$ti*! i$

3an:ru)t

W! r!8u$! t 3!,i!&! tat t!r! ar! in$u88i*i!nt 8un'$ in

t! "r!at &au,t$ 8 ))rtunit5 8 ti$

natin

S ! a&! *(! t *a$ ti$ *!*: ?a *!*: tat i,, "i&! u$ u)n '!(an' t! ri*!$ 8

8r!!'( an' t! $!*urit5 8 9u$ti*!

W! a&! a,$ *(! t ti$ a,,!' $)t t r!(in' A(!ri*a

8 t! 8i!r*! ur"!n*5 8

n

Ti$ i$

n ti(! t !n"a"! in t! ,u;ur5 8 *,in" 88 r t ta:!t! tran@ui,i


5/11

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8 $!"r!"atin t t! $un,it )at 8 ra*ia, 9u$ti*!

N i$ t! ti(! t )!n t! 'r$ 8 ))rtunit5 t a,,

8 G'=$ *i,'r!n

N i$ t! ti(! t ,i8t ur

natin 8r( t! @ui*:?$an'$ 8 ra*ia, in9u$ti*! t t!

$,i' r*: 8 3rt!r'

It u,' 3! 8ata, 8r t!

natin t &!r,: t! ur"!n*5 8 t! ((!nt an' t

un'!r!$ti(at! t! '!t!r(inatin 8 t!

N!"r

Ti$ $!,t!rin" $u((!r 8 t!

N!"r=$ ,!"iti(at! 'i$*nt!nt i,,

nt )a$$ unti, t!r! i$ an in&i"ratin" autu(n 8 8r!!'(

an' !@ua,it5

Nin!t!!n $i;t5?tr!! i$

nt an !n'6

3ut a 3!"innin"

T$! )! tat t!

N!"r

n!!'!' t 3, 88 $t!a( an' i,,

n 3! *nt!nt i,, a&! a ru'! aa:!nin" i8 t!

natin r!turn$ t 3u$in!$$ a$ u$ua,

T!r! i,, 3!n!it!r r!$t

nr tran@ui,it5 in A(!ri*a unti, t!

N!"r i$ "rant!' i$ *iti


6/11

$tan' n t! ar( tr!$,' i* ,!a'$ int t! )a,a*!

8 9u$ti*!

In t! )r*!$$ 8 "ainin" ur ri"t8u, ),a*! ! (u$t

nt 3! "ui,t5 8 rn"8u, '!!'$

L!t u$

nt $!!: t $ati$85 ur tir$t 8r 8r!!'( 35 'rin:in"

8r( t! *u) 8 3itt!rn!$$ an' atr!'

W! (u$t 8r!&!r *n'u*t ur $tru"",! n t! i" ),an! 8

'i"nit5 an' 'i$*i),in!

W! (u$t

nt a,, ur *r!ati&! )rt!$t t '!"!n!rat! int

)5$i*a, &i,!n*!

A"ain an' a"ain ! (u$t ri$! t t! (a9!$ti* !i"t$ 8

(!!tin" )5$i*a, 8r*! it $u, 8r*!

T! (ar&!,u$

n! (i,itan*5 i* a$ !n"u,8!' t!

N!"r *((unit5 (u$t

nt ,!a' u$ t 'i$tru$t 8 a,, it! )!),!6

8r (an5 8 ur it! 3rt!r$6

a$ !&i'!n*!' 35 t!ir )r!$!n*! !r! t'a56

a&! *(! t r!a,i

ur '!$tin5 an' t!ir 8r!!'( i$ in!;tri*a3,5 3un' t

ur 8r!!'(

W! *annt a,: a,n!

An' a$ ! a,:6

! (u$t (a:! t! ),!'"! tat ! $a,, (ar* a!a'

W! *annt turn 3a*:

T!r! ar! t$! ar! a$:in" t! '!&t!!$ 8 *i&i,

ri"t$6>W!n i,, 5u 3! $ati$8i!'>


7/11

! *an

n!&!r 3! $ati$8i!' a$ ,n" a$ ur 3'i!$6

!a&5 it t! 8ati"u! 8 tra&!,6

*annt "ain ,'"in" in t! (t!,$ 8 t! i"a5$ an' t!

t!,$ 8 t! *iti!$

W! *annt 3! $ati$8i!' a$ ,n" a$ t!

N!"r=$ 3a$i* (3i,it5 i$ 8r( a $(a,,!r "!tt t a

,ar"!r n!

W! *an

n!&!r 3! $ati$8i!' a$ ,n" a$ a

N!"r in Mi$$i$$i))i *annt &t! an' a

N!"r in

N! Yr: 3!,i!&!$ ! a$

ntin" 8r i* t &t!

N6

n6

! ar!

nt $ati$8i!'6

an' ! i,,

nt 3! $ati$8i!' unti, 9u$ti*! r,,$ 'n ,i:! at!r$ an'

ri"t!u$n!$$ ,i:! a (i"t5 $tr!a(

I a(

nt un(in'8u, tat $(! 8 5u a&! *(! !r! ut 8

"r!at tria,$ an' tri3u,atin$S(! 8 5u a&! *(! 8r!$ 8r(

narr *!,,$

S(! 8 5u a&! *(! 8r( ar!a$ !r! 5ur @u!$t 8r

8r!!'( ,!8t 5u 3att!r!' 35 t! $tr($ 8 )!r$!*utin

an' $ta""!r!' 35 t! in'$ 8 ),i*! 3ruta,it5

Yu a&! 3!!n t! &!t!ran$ 8 *r!ati&! $u88!rin"

Cntinu! t r: it t! 8ait tat un!arn!' $u88!rin"i$ r!'!()ti&!


8/11

G 3a*: t Mi$$i$$i))i6

" 3a*: t A,a3a(a6

" 3a*: t G!r"ia6

" 3a*: t Lui$iana6

" 3a*: t t! $,u($ an' "!tt$ 8 ur

nrt!rn *iti!$6

:nin" tat $(! ti$ $ituatin *an an' i,, 3!

*an"!'

L!t u$

nt a,, in t! &a,,!5 8 '!$)air

I $a5 t 5u t'a56

(5 8ri!n'$6

tat in $)it! 8 t! 'i88i*u,ti!$ an' 8ru$tratin$ 8 t!

((!nt6

I $ti,, a&! a 'r!a(

It i$ a 'r!a( '!!),5 rt!' in t! A(!ri*an 'r!a(

I a&! a 'r!a( tat n! 'a5 ti$

natin i,, ri$! u) an' ,i&! ut t! tru! (!anin" 8 it$

*r!!'

>W! ,' t!$! trut$ t 3! $!,8?!&i'!nt

tat a,, (!n ar! *r!at!' !@ua,>

I a&! a 'r!a( tat n! 'a5 n t! r!' i,,$ 8 G!r"ia

t! $n$ 8 8r(!r $,a&!$ an' t! $n$ 8 8r(!r $,a&!?

n!r$ i,, 3! a3,! t $it 'n t"!t!r at a ta3,! 83rt!r'

I a&! a 'r!a( tat n! 'a5 !&!n t! $tat! 8

Mi$$i$$i))i6

a '!$!rt $tat!6

$!,t!rin" it t! !at 8 in9u$ti*! an' ))r!$$in6

i,, 3! tran$8r(!' int an a$i$ 8 8r!!'( an' 9u$ti*!

I a&! a 'r!a( tat (5 8ur *i,'r!n i,, n! 'a5 ,i&! ina


9/11

natin !r! t!5 i,,

nt 3! 9u'"!' 35 t! *,r 8 t!ir $:in 3ut 35 t!

*nt!nt 8 t!ir *ara*t!r

I a&! a 'r!a( t'a5

I a&! a 'r!a( tat n! 'a5 t! $tat! 8 A,a3a(a6

$! "&!rnr=$ ,i)$ ar! )r!$!nt,5 'ri))in" it t!

r'$ 8 int!r)$itin an'

nu,,i8i*atin6

i,, 3! tran$8r(!' int a $ituatin !r! ,itt,! 3,a*:

35$ an' 3,a*: "ir,$ i,, 3! a3,! t 9in an'$ it

,itt,! it! 35$ an' it! "ir,$ an' a,: t"!t!r a$

$i$t!r$ an' 3rt!r$

I a&! a 'r!a( t'a5

I a&! a 'r!a( tat n! 'a5 !&!r5 &a,,!5 $a,, 3!

!;a,t!'6

!&!r5 i,, an' (untain $a,, 3! (a'! ,6

t! ru" ),a*!$ i,, 3! (a'! ),ain6

an' t! *r:!' ),a*!$ i,, 3! (a'! $trai"t6

an' t! ",r5 8 t! Lr' $a,, 3! r!&!a,!'6

an' a,, 8,!$ $a,, $!! it t"!t!r

Ti$ i$ ur )!

Ti$ i$ t! 8ait it i* I r!turn t t! Sut

Wit ti$ 8ait ! i,, 3! a3,! t ! ut 8 t!

(untain 8 '!$)air a $tn! 8 )!Wit ti$ 8ait ! i,, 3! a3,! t tran$8r( t! 9an",in"

'i$*r'$ 8 ur

natin int a 3!auti8u, $5()n5 8 3rt!r'

Wit ti$ 8ait ! i,, 3! a3,! t r: t"!t!r6

t )ra5 t"!t!r6

t $tru"",! t"!t!r6

t " t 9ai, t"!t!r6t $tan' u) 8r 8r!!'( t"!t!r6


10/11

:nin" tat ! i,, 3! 8r!! n! 'a5

Ti$ i,, 3! t! 'a5 !n a,, 8 G'=$ *i,'r!n i,, 3!

a3,! t $in" it a

n! (!anin"6

>M5 *untr56

=ti$ 8 t!!6

$!!t ,an' 8 ,i3!rt56

8 t!! I $in"

Lan' !r! (5 8at!r$ 'i!'6

,an' 8 t! )i,"ri(=$ )ri'!6

8r( !&!r5 (untain$i'!6

,!t 8r!!'( rin">

An' i8 A(!ri*a i$ t 3! a "r!at

natin6

ti$ (u$t 3!*(! tru!

S ,!t 8r!!'( rin" 8r( t! )r'i"iu$ i,,t)$ 8

N! Ha()$ir!

L!t 8r!!'( rin" 8r( t! (i"t5 (untain$ 8

N! Yr:

L!t 8r!!'( rin" 8r( t! !i"t!nin" A,,!"!ni!$ 8

7!nn$5,&ania

L!t 8r!!'( rin" 8r( t! $n*a))!' R*:i!$ 8 C,ra'

L!t 8r!!'( rin" 8r( t! *ur&a*!u$ )!a:$ 8 Ca,i8rnia

Butnt n,5 tat

,!t 8r!!'( rin" 8r( Stn! Muntain 8 G!r"ia

L!t 8r!!'( rin" 8r( L:ut Muntain 8 T!nn!$$!!

L!t 8r!!'( rin" 8r( !&!r5 i,, an' !&!r5 (,!i,, 8

Mi$$i$$i))i

Fr( !&!r5 (untain$i'!6

,!t 8r!!'( rin"


11/11

W!n ! ,!t 8r!!'( rin"6

!n ! ,!t it rin" 8r( !&!r5 &i,,a"! an' !&!r5 a(,!t6

8r( !&!r5 $tat! an' !&!r5 *it56

! i,, 3! a3,! t $)!!' u) tat 'a5 !n a,, 8 G'=$

*i,'r!n6

3,a*: (!n an' it! (!n6

!$ an' G!nti,!$6

7rt!$tant$ an' Cat,i*$6

i,, 3! a3,! t 9in an'$ an' $in" in t! r'$ 8 t!

,'

N!"r $)iritua,6

>Fr!! at ,a$t

8r!! at ,a$t

tan: G' A,(i"t56

! ar! 8r!! at ,a$t>

tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism [2014]

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