I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." (Martin Luther King Jr.)
These words were spoken some 47 years ago from Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in his covenant I have a Dream speech in 1963. These words were spoken in front of thousands of discontent and mistreated people of color. These words became the true illumination of the Civil Rights movement. In the 1960's the Civil Rights movement may have been ushered by African Americans but it represented the rights and hopes of every minority that calls America home. 47 years ago America struggled with intolerable racial laws and placed the livelihood of every minority underneath dirt filled doormats. As they continuously trampled on us, the civil rights movement inspired all nationalities to form a bond to steer away the powerful politics of injustice. Fast forward to April 2010, the United States is one year into the most historic presidency and those words from Martin Luther King Jr. still hold relevance. Is it me or do we have an obligation to form a bond and steer away the powerful politics of injustice?
In Arizona, an Immigration Bill is awaiting the Governor's signature that will make it law for Arizona police officers to investigate the immigration status of any individual with "reasonable suspicion". This law has already been passed by the Arizona State House and the Senate and has yet to be a nationwide issue. Where is the NAACP? When Martin Luther King Jr. spoke those words he spoke those words in hopes that 47 years from then he will be able to see change. This law will make it legal for police officers to profile a potential immigrant. I understand Arizona has had a continuous problem with illegal immigrants but I also understand that the foundation of the entire state came off the backs of immigrants legal and illegal. Coming from the south I have seen my share of profiling but this law supports it and also forces fellow Latino and Mexican police officers in a potential family crippling position.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. (Martin Luther King Jr.)
Martin Luther King Jr. stood for unity and pursuing the equality that America was once built to withhold. We hold a responsibility to lend a hand to our Hispanic and Asian brothers and sisters. As a young black male I felt it is my duty to let my feelings towards legal racial profiling be known. I have had friends and family members wrongly harassed by "powerfully insecure" police officers. I have seen the damage wrongful racial profiling can cause. Arizona has just passed a law that completely erases the line between what is constitutional and unconstitutional. It cannot be constitutional to put people in prison because the person in the backseat has no ID. It cannot be constitutional for police officers to take one look at me and label me an immigrant.
These are the concerns of residents in Arizona legal and illegal. This is the time for (us) the American people to recognize that we are all brothers. We all struggle together, we all work together and we all live together. A line made famous from the movie New Jack City spoken by Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) "I am my Brother's Keeper" comes to my mind when I see this boiling Latino/Mexican Civil Rights movement forming. No matter what, we are all "our brother's keepers," we have a chance to speak out against something demeaning to the American name. I don't know if you noticed but this same injustice is what brave civil rights activist fought to demolish. There were many Hispanic's on the frontline for that fight. #imjustsaying
P.S. Is legal marijuana more important than the rights of our brothers and sisters? Think About It… Follow Me on Twitter @reelthewriter
Check out these sites for more information about the Immigration Bill in Arizona.
http://www.thestate.com/2010/04/19/1250689/arizona-senate-sets-final-vote.html?RSS=untracked
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/arizonas-immigration-bill_b_546842.html
