"So Disappointed.."

Good afternoon, everyone. Today I want to take a look at an idea that has been gaining momentum among my peers. I understand that things in America today could stand to be a lot better; unemployment is high, test scores are low, and the inequality gap is perhaps wider than it's ever been in our country's history. The other day I was contemplating the many ills facing this country and a single statement crossed my mind. It was quiet at first, but as I continued to muse, it grew louder and louder until it blocked out all other thoughts in my mind;

"IF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WERE ALIVE TODAY, HE'D BE SO DISAPPOINTED."

"I FROWN upon you! And you. And you. And you."

I'm pretty sure we've all heard this statement at one time or another; it is usually muttered by those of us who are disillusioned with the end result of the civil rights struggle and it usually follows the latest Tyler Perry movie or Worldstar Hip Hop fight. As this statement loomed in my mind, I asked myself, "how do we know?" Sure there's a possibility that MLK would be saddened at the state of the black community today; but we've also made several strides since the civil rights era that he'd likely be quite proud of as well.

Of course, this is all speculation. The closest we can get to knowing whether MLK would be disappointed in us is to look at the people who worked alongside him when he was alive, like Rev. Jesse Jackson. Now I'm not the biggest Jesse Jackson fan, but I do respect the work he's done in the past for our people. He knew Martin Luther King and was one of the people on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel when King was assassinated.

"Hahaa look that guy's car is gettin towed." 

Jackson and MLK were good friends; he knew MLK's views and what he stood for, so I think it's safe to say that his views of the black community today are pretty similar to what MLK's would be. And according to this article, he doesn't seem so much disappointed as he is CONCERNED about the issues we face today. I'm sure MLK's attitude would be similar. 

But then again, maybe it would be like this

While I'm on the topic, I want to bring up the subject of the second most popular "so disappointed" statement, Tupac Shakur. Hip-hop heads today swear up and down that if Pac were alive today, he'd either be really sad or reeeeeally angry. After all, 2pac was "REAL" hip-hop, nothing like that garbage that pollutes the airwaves today...but the thing about 2pac is that since he was killed at such a young age, he's forever immortalized in our minds as the angry bandana-wearing 20-something we've all come to revere. A permanent icon of hip-hop's golden age, he's been cemented in America's culture alongside greats like Elvis, Cher, Madonna, etc. Thus, it's understandable why some might feel that today's rap music is a blatant slap in the face of his legacy.

"IF 2PAC WERE ALIVE TODAY, HE'D BE SO DISAPPOINTED."

What makes us so sure? I wonder about Ice Cube sometimes. If he had been gunned down in his NWA days, would we hold his legacy in the same regard? Would we instead say, "if Ice Cube were alive today, he'd be so disappointed?" I hope not. Because in this reality where Cube has managed to survive all these years, we all know which direction his life has taken.

So who knows? If 2pac were alive today, maybe he'd be the one making family movies and bickering with beer bottles. He certainly wouldn't be a 25-year old firebrand leading a protest against mainstream hip-hop, flying around and throwing concerts on the sun. No, he'd be damn near 50 and probably too tired to even care about 2 Chainz and his impact on hip-hop.

He'd probably be married to Jada Pinkett, too.

In closing, I just want to say that it is important to honor and learn from the heroes who have come before us; but wondering if they'd be disappointed in us today is a waste of time. What we should do is take their lessons and apply them to our lives in order to better ourselves and the world. That's all we can do.

-Nick G.