My youngest son is away in college in Irving, Texas; my wife at work.
The day began very cold and overcast in Austin, Texas. I was the first Kappa brother on the scene, and patiently waited at the base of the MLK statue on UT's East Campus. I met with people from my local church and people I hadn't seen for years.
I go every year, however, because of my sister.
I have dim memories of her "discussions" with my parents regarding participation in marches, sit-ins and general non-violent protests. My parents were aware of the work many leaders, including Dr. King was doing for Civil Rights: they for safety reasons, didn't want it involving their daughter!
Marching was not a casual exercise of plastic bags and water bottles. The action could in many demonstrative ways end your existence. Hence, my parents' concern.
March she did: through water hoses and police batons; biting dogs and incarceration.
I like to think her passion was part youth; part hope and part seeing a better world for me to grow up in - to "dream dreams and see visions" of a less segregated future whereby a career in science was not only possible, but attainable.
Martin Luther King was apparently a big "Trekkie." He met Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Nyota Uhura: literally "star" and "freedom", or Freedom Star in Swahili) and said he was a big fan. He convinced her not to quit the show because of her role and "what images on television tell us about ourselves."
I think that was part of the "Mountain Top" he'd seen: a future where we could contribute to science and technology, my sister one of his many foot soldiers that followed their visionary.
So, overcast skies were not an impediment: I marched proudly with my Kappa Alpha Psi brothers, honoring Dr. King...and my big sister.
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