from keith (sent 1/18):

Hello UUSS friends!  I am off soon to MLK birthday events — a BLM art display on our local courthouse steps, and a virtual King commemoration later. Our daughter Maya’s good high school gal pal (African-American) is leading the art celebration, so a part of me has some ‘paternal’ angst for all those youth. (Remember where we live) . . . I think maybe a silver-bearded 63 year old white male by their sides and not among those perhaps in trucks on Main street with Trump and Dixie flags may be of some support.

Those of us of a certain age (or older! 😊) can probably remember where they were when they first heard of Dr. King’s murder on April 4, 1968. I recall vividly riding my school bus to middle school past my future high school, Menlo Atherton, where my older brother Ed was a junior, and seeing our entire (white male) police force with pale blue helmets and billy clubs standing in pairs at every exterior hallway entrance. (About 25 – 30% of “M.A.’s” student body was and is African-American). (addendum -there was no violence!) TV images of BLM protests & our capital just bring those memories back again, so no bad puns and jokes today.

For most of my high school and college teaching career ( Sept 1980 – May 2021) I’ve taught Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and / or his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” I will again, as my last semester starts tomorrow. Below is a link to his last speech, which I have shown ever since VHS players first came into my history, English, & Humanities classrooms on a cart! To connect this spiritual moment, if I can call it that, to music, listen for the ‘call and response’ from his audience, which is common in black church sermons. And, anticipating Wednesday’s inauguration, enjoy Barack Obama singing “Amazing Grace” at an AME (African Methodist Episcopal) church memorial for a South Carolina state senator. . Note how the organ and band figured out what key he was in and joined him instantly, along with the inspired black clergy behind him. Following this musical thread: from 7 to 8 p.m. this Wed I’ll teach a Wellspring on black spirituals and Gospel music! Join us if you can.

Dr. King, April 3, 1968, in Memphis:

President Barack Obama, June 2015, in South Carolina:

in love, friendship, and solidarity

Keith