MLK Mug Shot

Martin Luther King Jr. is a man in history that I deeply admire. I have tried to learn from him. At the National Civil Rights Museum at the Loraine Hotel in Memphis I felt what a significant figure he was in the struggle for human rights. The history of freedom for African Americans began when the first slave ship arrived but took a sudden downturn after King was assassinated. The movement seemed to have stopped.

Now almost everyone, black and white, pays homage to Dr. King, but do we follow him. When he was killed, he was organizing a Poor People’s Campaign on Washington D.C. Poor people of all kind of backgrounds, Hispanic, Whites, Blacks were to set up a camp in the Mall called Resurrection City and not leave till our President and Congress made significant changes to guarantee basic human rights. The Campaign went on as planned but we left after a while and to many in the poor community, especially in the Black community, we have gone backwards.

In Milwaukee this is certainly true as Milwaukee now suffers more segregation, with more impoverishment of blacks, poorer education, more violence, breakdown of family, worst housing conditions and education, higher unemployment, more imprisonment of African American males that it ever faced in the 60’s when Martin Luther King was alive.

Yet as a nation and a city we honor him more. I think Martin Luther King Jr., if alive today, would gently but firmly scull us for mouthing the words of human rights and ignoring the conditions we face.

This year there are so many celebrations of King that I decided to list them (see Guide to Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrations below after continue) and send them to peace and justice friends in Milwaukee. I do not know what one to attend and maybe will not attend any of them. After the list of six celebrations I make the comment that MLK will probably go to the Power of the Poor picket on Tuesday where we will try to arrange a meeting with the Archbishop to reform the Milwaukee St. Vincent de Paul Society. This is where, with the poor struggling for justice, I think Martin Luther King will be.

The Guide to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations 2016

Friday, Jan. 15, 2015 Table of Saints
Celebration and Prayer Breakfast at Our Saviors Luther Church
3022 W. Wisconsin Ave. 8am-10:30am Advance Tickets $20 General, $15 for Sustainers, $140 for Group of eight, $25 at the door. Keynote Speaker: Rev. Kenneth Wheller. RSVP to TABLEOFSAINTS2009@GMAIL.COM or Call 414 573–1591

Saturday Jan. 16th 25th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Service
1:30 PM St. Francis Assisi Church, 1927 North 4th Street Guest Speaker: Celia Jackson, Director of the International and Intercultural Center, Alverno College

Saturday, Jan. 16, 2015 MICAH Martin Luther King Day Celebration
At Our Savior Luther Church . Call William at 552–2769 May have been changed.

Monday, Jan. 18th 15th Annual “King Fest” Celebration
12pm −6pm at UACB Green-Bay-Millennium Campus, 3872 North 8th Street, Milwaukee WI. Vendors, Video, Reflections 53 Years Later 2pm-6pm; Drumming Spoken Word, Songs, Praise Dance Local/National Speakers.

Mon., Jan 18 , Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Justice Program and March.
1:00 pm, St, Francis of Assisi Church, 1927 N. 4th St.
The program is followed by a 3 block march to Dr. King’s statue on M. L. King Dr. with an open microphone.

Saturday Feb. 6th MICAH Prayer Breakfast celebrating Black History: A Legacy for Everyone
at. St. Benedict the Moor. 9th and State Door opens 7:P30, breakfast from 8–9 Program in the Church 9:15–10am Tickets $15 each

MLK scheduled to attend Power to the Poor picket to Reform Milwaukee SVDP at 9:am, Tuesday, Jan. 19th 8:45 - 9am at St. Catherine’s Home, 1042 E. Knapp.

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