Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2011

"My country tis' of thee, sweet land of liberty"

"Let Freedom Ring!"

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

For many years now, I have attended our local Martin Luther King, Jr. marade (march/parade). It's an important day to me, as it symbolizes something that matters a great deal to me, it represents freedom, it honors the people in our history that suffered, that were spit upon, ridiculed, burned, tortured, hung, killed & because of them my life is better, easier. They affected our world, they made our world a better place, and the world my son lives in a better place. My mixed-race adoption was made possible because others paved the road for me to experience equality, for my parents to adopt the child they selected & wanted. My son exists, because I am able to love, learn & journey in a country where free choice is possible. We choose the religion we want, we vote, we have opportunities in education, etc., much of which was affected and changed for the better because of people like Dr. King.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pioneer, a peacemaker, a dreamer, a progressive, a pacifist, a martyr, a preacher, a thinker, a writer (Letters from Birmingham), a leader, a prophet. I continue to honor and respect him on the holiday America set aside to do this, because I believe in what he sought for our future. I want my son to know his roots, our country's roots, and to be a peacemaker & a dreamer & a thinker too. I want to strife for a better America & for my son to have courage and determination, like that we saw & continue to see in leaders of the civil rights movement. Today, we did not make it to the marade, but I wanted to share a piece of this historical movement with my son, in some way.

I have this poster on the wall in my little home "office" space. It's the 'I have a Dream' Martin Luther King, Jr. speech poster. I look at it everyday. I played the video clip of MLK's speech for my two (almost three) year old son, and he climbed up on my lap to watch. I pointed to the video & then to the poster & told him that this was the same man. He said, "wow look at that mom, wow." It was pretty neat. It felt good to have him experience the MLK speech "live" and also make the connection to our home life, where he sees this poster everyday.

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Denver Marade 2010

Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for your sacrifice!

My lil marader all tuckered out from a long morning,

but not so much that he can't have a lolli

One People

Here comes the marade marchers

Taking a lil walk along the parade route with uncle Andy

Buddies waiting for the marade

We try to attend the Denver Marade (aka March-Parade=Marade) every year on Martin Luther King Jr. day. It feels good to be with and actively participate with our community and support King's ever lasting dream of an equal society, but also I like to honor my ancestors (our ancestors) who shed blood and endured agony, injustices, and suffering, so that the world I was brought up in and now raise my son in, would be a safer and better place. I think it is important that Freedom be exposed to all types of people, and see how other's contribute to and make up the uniqueness of a diverse society. This was Freedom's second Marade. We got downtown at what we thought was a good time, but the Marade must have been moving slow, because we waited probably close to an hour and a half + before the parade finally arrived. Granted we were waiting nearer the end, but I give a high five to Freedom and his sweet BFF, Thea, for hanging in there and doing a great job patiently waiting for the Marade to arrive. Keeping the dream alive! Amen!

"Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" -MLK Jr.