Dr. Martin Luther King remembered

What more could he could have accomplished if he had lived? Moreover, would the Civil Rights Movement have become a movement encompassing all disenfranchised races and groups, similar to the Reverend Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition, or would it have remained, like the NAACP, an organization devoted more to advancing the causes of African-Americans?

The Daily Helmsman recently contacted some local and national leaders, as well as students and faculty at The University of Memphis, to ask them their thoughts. The overriding question asked was, "Have we overcome?"

"It is necessary to understand that Black Power is a cry of disappointment," King said in 1967. "The Black Power slogan did not spring full grown from the head of some philosophical Zeus. It was born from the wounds of despair and disappointment. It is a cry of daily hurt and persistent pain."

Charles Williams, a U of M associate professor of anthropology, as well as professor of African-American Studies, said: "In terms of Black Power, we have to look at it from two perspectives. We have an inner perspective, where African-Americans are still struggling. Contrarily, externally, many people saw it as a militant overthrow of the government, but as Dr. King pointed out, it was rather a cry of inclusion. From the African-American perspective, that is how Black Power is viewed."

The struggle for Civil Rights in America, though, is not simply a black and white issue, according to history professor Lung-Kee Sun.

"I am not quite satisfied with race relations in America," Sun said. "We must all learn to live together. While black and white seem to have learned to live together, other foreigners are not as protected. I don't think others, like Arab and Asians, are treated as well. Black and white Americans are more similar. They share common bonds. But Asians do not have those same common bonds."

Williams said he disagrees.

"I do not share that same view," he said. "I think racism is alive and well in America for all people who feel oppressed - for anyone in a minority could make that claim. There is still a need for us to live together. We need to enjoy each other's life and culture, and the question is when do we get to the point that we begin to realize that we share with others who have a place in the process."

Gov. Gary Locke (D) of Washington said he can definitely testify to that.

In 1996, he faced fierce opposition in becoming the first Chinese-American to be elected Governor of a state. Yet he prevailed and after a receptive first term, was re-elected this past year over State Senator John Carlson (R). Locke said there were instances when reporters have asked him if the United States was attacked by the People's Republic of China, where would his loyalties lie?

"There is definitely a racial divide in this nation," Locke said. "Dr. King did not end racial prejudice, but rather he made us as a society confront it!"

Joseph Lane, Jr., a U of M freshman from East Memphis had this to say about racial diversity: "(Racial diversity) is what makes America, America."

Lane, though, added: "I am dissatisfied with race relations in America. People are coming up with all these solutions, but no one is trying to make them work, no one is trying to help. We are sadly going in reverse rather than forward in this country."

U of M sophomore Jihan Asharawhi said she thinks Dr. King might be pleased that on his birthday weekend, a movie about an interracial couple called "Save the Last Dance" topped box office charts.

"When we get to the point where we do not feel threatened," Williams said, "then we shall have overcome."