40 Years Later

It's been 40 years. Dr. King's Dream is still being remembered, and has yet to be fully fulfilled. Though much progress has been made, racism of all kinds (blatant and institutionalized) exists. But what often goes unnoticed, or at least there is a fear of mentioning, is racism that exists from minorities with non-minorities.
Today, the news is filled with those remembering Dr. King, and all that he symbolized and stood for. As a black person, it has been engraved in me the history, culture, and injustices of racism and Jim Crow laws, from their first hand experiences. I had always been in awe and respect of their experiences and accomplishments. But as I got older, sometimes hearing those same stories becomes 'old.'
The stories should never grow tired and old. That's how societies forget. But along with those stories, and many from that generation getting involved in government, politics, social activism, and social justice issues, comes infested anger and cynicism.
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the pastor and mentor to Barak Obama is an example of that generation. For much of that generation, boisterous protesting, demonstrations, and vociferous displays of civil disobediance, was their way. And it worked for the most part, to help create movement and positive results. It is unfortunately for much of that generation, still their way. It is not however, really the way of more current generations.
As a Generation X person, one who has been characterized as being loud, callous, and individualistic, our way has not been boisterous protesting. The Jessie Jacksons and Al Sharptons are seen more now as dividers instead of uniters, as Dr. King often reiterated. Just listen to the rhetoric of the leaders of that generation: loud, angry, bitter, complaining, complaining, complaining. It's very sad that much of that generation seems to have become that: bitter, complaining people, who seem to blame everyone else for the ills of black society, and don't look at themselves. They seem to fail to recognize the advances in race relations. I often wonder, what is the purpose these days, of organizations like the NAACP? Of course racism still exists, but is constantly yelling, blaming, and spewing near messages of hate a way to unite people, as the leaders of the Civil Rights generation claim that they are trying to do?
As a Generation X person, I think we prefer instead of loud yelling and protesting, how about doing. Instead of complaining about the inequalities of education, employment opportunities, etc., encourage and give more scholarships, low interest loans, community and economic redevelopment programs. Encourage more personal responsibility for actions. Don't just keep criticizing people like Dr. Bill Cosby, who challenges the black community, and actually uses millions of his own money, to help the cause of blacks and minorities.
While I will never forget the struggles and work that my elders have done, in order for me to benefit from the fruits of their labor, I must confess that I cringe when I hear them bitterly complain and yell to the high heavens. Their yelling like Rev. Wright does not inspire me to them, or their message, but inspires me to continue to turn them off, and away from them, and inspires me to continue believing in individual responsibility. After all, my way of dealing with racism is not by screaming or blaming, but by engaging and in discussion. You can't have a discussion if someone is yelling all the time, that's because then no one is listening.