Given this topsy turvy tiktoker world, if there was a binary choice, would our emerging generations choose a George Floyd day in lieu of a MLK, Jr. day?
Over the past years, I have witnessed, in a variety of arenas, immense reverence towards Mr. Floyd. Recently, I attended virtually attended a medical school graduation from what used to be one of nation’s finest. During this commencement, one speaker evoked Mr. Floyd as being someone somehow relevant to the practice of medicine.
As the holiday was approching, I wondered if the younger generations even know who MLK, Jr. was? Are the youth aware of what he stood for and accomplished? Has a collective memory of Reverend King’s importance been passed along to the up and coming generations? The mere fact that MLK Jr. has become an initialism is troubling.
Rev. King’s holiday, this year, is concurrent to a Torah portion that Rev. King has a deep connection. This week’s Torah reading, Bo, tells a story much like MLK, Jr.’s; the story of a man trying to set his people free from government oppression.
The portion Bo has Moses and Pharoah locked in a mano-y-mano “winner take all” cage match to determine the Hebrew slaves’ future. This particular portion is famously plagued with plagues.
Moses, in the portion, endured multiple failed attempts to secure freedom for his people. Backed by the Almighty, he perseveres to achieve success. The catch phrase, “Let my people go”, became a reality. Bo illustrates that important matters often not immediate and take time to form. Sometimes, things need to harden. Moses struggled before he finally reached the mountain top.
Rev. King’s persistence efforts to the civil rights movement yielded success. He, with others such as Mr. A. Philip Randolph, labored much to obtain results.
Unfortunately for Mr. Randolph- the man most credited for the March on Washington- Rev. King’s outstanding oratory skills made him the event’s superstar. That speech alone, however, was not the totality of Rev. King’s civil rights’ work. Rev. King’s continued efforts in the movement would eventually cost him his life.
Exodus, 11:3, states ”[a]nd the Lord put the people’s favor in the Egyptian’s eyes. Also, the man Moses was very big in the land of Egypt in the eyes of Pharoah’s servants and in people’s eyes.” Rev. King’s national birthday celebration marks the Moses-level respect he is deserving. It is quite unusual that a person who is not a politician has such a moment.
George Floyd is newest face for social justice. His civil rights resume is essentially his death that resulted from his resisting arrest for alleging passing a counterfeit bill. He, unlike his companions, refused to cooperate. This devolved into an act of police misconduct which has been alleged to have caused his death. Mr. Floyd’s past was checkered and included him punching a pregnant woman. He, however, was catapulted to the Pantheon of Social Justice Idols.
Each generation grows up with different issues, concerns and focal points. Due to that, past concerns are replaced with more pressing ones. For virus outbreaks, my genertion had herpes and hiv which brought on the mindset of “I had unprotected sex, I am going to die” to this younger generations’ Covid-19 in which they were led to believe “I went outside, I am going to die.” For apocalyptic events, my generation had terrorized with the thoughts of “global cooling” while today’s generations are terrorized by “global warming”. Or, since the powers that be got that wrong, “climate change.” [Note: Yes. Within 50 years, three positions have been taken by “the science”.] Growing up in the 60’s and 70s, Rev. King and JFK were the big figures.
Is Rev. King is still appreciated? Or, has he become supplanted by the “new”? It appears that fewer and fewer people embrace Rev. King’s beliefs. The younger generations’ images are not of Rev. King.
Thus, with the current composition of society, I wonder as to whether people would prefer to celebrate George Floyd’s birthday in lieu of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’ birthday. Is American a country where the words “I have a dream” resonate or, is it one where “I can’t breath” is embraced?
Be well!!
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