Kings Never Die

Hello Dr. King.

My name is Joseph Patterson. We’ve never met before, but we do know each other and I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I wanna write you a letter for your birthday and tell you about how we’ve been doing down here since that fateful day you left us back in 1968. First off I just wanna let you know I really look up to you and admire you. Though I’ve always shared more in the views of the brother Malcolm X, I admire you and respect you just as much because at the end of the day we needed you both equally, especially Black people. So you might be wondering what the world has been up to since you’ve been gone, well that’s a lot to unpack, but I’ll keep it simple.

In the 56 years since you’ve been gone the world is a much better place for African Americans than it was in the 60’s, but I’m sorry to say the struggle still continues. Our communities are still corrupted with manipulation and self hatred and the genocide against our people still continues. Race relations have gotten a lot better, as you said they should. Though these relationships face a lot of pushback from all sides, the people who are truly grounded in what they believe continue to move forward.

Even in the midst of the harmony of race relations, the injustices that you gave your life fighting for are still happening to our brothers and sisters everyday. Just like the brutality of Bloody Sunday was televised, so are our injustices. Black men have been savagely beaten and murdered on camera and have had their executions broadcasted over what is known as the internet for the world to see. Black women have been murdered in the beds where they rest, not harming anyone, not even moving. Black children have been gunned down in their neighborhoods like savages, doing nothing wrong other than just being declared a perceived threat all because of the color of their skin. When most of these injustices occur what hurts so much is that the people responsible for them rarely face consequences, just like back in your time.

I know this isn’t the kind of update on Black America that you wanted to hear, but I felt it was important that you know. The riots that you always said were the voices of the unheard are more and more frequent with every injustice that our people face. In a good way, every other race is just as upset about these injustices we face as we are. You should also know that we continue to march and protest in the ways of non violence as you once did. We’ve kept your weapon of non violent combat alive and well. Sometimes we stand, sometimes we kneel, but every time we do whatever, we do it just like you would have wanted us to protest.

Some of the biggest faces in the world have taken part in these protest, so I hope you’d be happy to know that much. When I said me and you never met, but we know each other, I meant it. Though we have never met we both share the same ideas of a world united. I live a life filled with people from different backgrounds of all sorts. We are all very different on the outside, but we share much of the same content of character on the inside as you would say. I feel like the way I live my life is the way the world should be, the way you would’ve wanted it to be. You should be happy to know that I am not the only person who thinks and lives like this. Countless others share in my ideals. So it’s definitely a safe bet to say we are honoring your dreams.

So, good doctor, though the struggle you gave your life for still continues, we continue to fight it and we continue to progress. Many of us have achieved your dreams and will continue to keep your dream alive. Happy birthday, Dr. King and may you continue to rest peacefully in the beautiful afterlife where we will one day meet.

~~Happy birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.