An impossible dream?

For the past couple of weeks (well, essentially almost everyday) I've been thinking about this. Today is Martin Luther King Jr.'s, and all the hopes and dreams he had for equality and justice still are not reached. To me, it seems like the value of this date lessens each year. That the date only involves a quick history lesson in class, or we get to see the "Freedom Train" run on the news. It seems like we owe people like him a lot more because they did a lot more for us. When I say us, I don't just mean Black people, because his vision and that over many others extended well beyond that. And when I say that we we should do a lot more, I don't mean to decorate your house and have your own history lectures with your family and friends. It's not that easy.
I wonder if the day will ever arrive in which I will be only judged by the content of my character and not the color of my skin. When can I enjoy a day in which I don't get followed around a store? Or be welcome in a friends house (believe it or not, I still know folks whose parents don't like Black people and I have to pick them up somewhere else so they don't see me)? Or be able to say that I went to Cal and not have the follow up response be "Did you graduate?" or "How did you get in? Affirmative Action, right?" I wish I were exaggerating on these examples, but I am not. Not too long ago, someone tried to quiz me on my knowledge of Black history... nice huh? Asking me, What's a Jim Crow Law? Was he real? Does that still exist? But why did it happen? WHAT THE HELL!!!!
This is the stuff I am talking about. I am sure that regardless of your race, creed, or color, you have experienced something like this from one extent to the other. For me, I have to bear in mind that we still have not overcome -- regardless if folks still think so -- because I don't even see much of that promise land that Dr. King talked about. It's in sight, but we got a few more miles to go before we get there. I's important that we don't let their work not only go unrecognized, but to also continue where they weren't able to finish. Hopefully, someday we can wake up from that dream Dr. King had and see it as a reality... someday.

Hip-hop don't stop, be my lifesaver...

Tonight, I went to class with my friend Jenny, aka Jada or Jen-Rocka. As usual, was tons of fun. Not only because of the dancing, but because I haven't seen this chick in hells a long. We both teach, so we bounce over to the city to take classes together so that we can beef up our skills. Man, it's fun being a student. Learning new techniques and challenging yourself. The class I go to is the best, and it pushes me to do better. It's taught by Alan at Dancer Mission in the City, and he is an amazing dancer and choreographer, and I am happy to call a friend too. Tonight, we did such a fun and energetic routine, I almost forgot I have asthma... almost... haha. I like going to class with a buddy because we can support and help out one another when we get stuck and lost. Don't get me wrong, there are some really cool and helpful folks in class (which doesn't happen often), but then again, there are the cutesy girly cliques that linger. Like in any class, there are always gonna be the girls and guys that come to class as if there is some video or talent scout for Usher waiting downstairs. How some of those girls can dance in full on make-up, tight low-rise jeans, is beyond me. Props for holding it down, but it seems a bit much. I have been watching a lot of videos lately for project at my work, and some of the dancing... hmmm... I wish they could be a bit more creative. You can only get by on gyrating for so long. But oh well, the classes I go to and the dancers I have the opportunity to perform with shows that there is still hope and creativity left.