The person whom I respect who fought for what he believed is a person whom we celebrate every year, on the third Monday in January. He was an American Clergyman and Nobel Prize Winner, one of the principal leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement and a prominent advocate of non-violent protest. That is right, it is Martin Luther King Jr. The reason I admire this man so much is for everything he has done for the black race, in the way of racism. It amazes me to see how one person challenged the segregation and racial discrimination in the 1950’ and 60’s and helped convince White Americans to support the cause of the Civil Rights in the United States. Why cannot we have leaders as these in our beloved nation of Zimbabwe who can we talk about of all the people that have led us since 1980, they forgot what we fought for and putting their personnel interests before the nation most of them never even hold the gun those who suffered were the boys and girls who had no education who were taught only to fight.
For one man to become a symbol of protest in the struggle for racial justice. After his passing to show how racism really is still out there and needs to be desegregated. I admire how he used nonviolent protests to get his view points across about racial issues. Martin Luther King Jr’s public speaking abilities gave him the strength and courage to fight non-violently for what he believed. I feel that he was a great person who was changing the society for the better of all human beings. Although he went through some rough roads, like his house being bombed. Martin Luther King Jr. did not give up. Who went on about what he believed and continued his marches, demonstrations, and boycotts.
To me Martin Luther King Jr., if not assassinated in the Spring of 1968 (4 April). He probably would have made the United States even in Africa a better place than it is now on racial issues. I look to him as a wonderful person who never gave up in what he believed, and died for doing so. I find it unbelievable that the King came to represent black courage, and achievement, high moral leadership, and the ability of Americans to address and overcome racial divisions. Even though he criticized the United States foreign policy and poverty, he soared above all and became a historical figure among the country. Martin Luther King Jr. is one who I will admire always. He was a great and remarkable individual who fought for the rights of Black. I applaud him for fighting and dying for what he believed in. And most of all, I respect all that he has changed for the United States with his marches, demonstrations, and boycotts. America lost a great person, but has gained a lot for his fight against racism.
In Zimbabwe they is now what l call black men apartheid government where the political leaders have resorted in suppressing their own people. Why do we lose direction when they are a lot of people who fought for us to be free? why do we have to suffer under own leadership not white but black?Centuries of slavery we endured and freedom l was given has now been taken away by the son of the same mother black as l'm..........lets us be free l need to walk in the streets of Harare not in fear... let my mind be heard whether correct or wrong...... let me open my mouth and shout that l'm free.... , let me fell proud when the name of my leader when called upon...., let me have my dignity that l have lot whilst in this refuge.
Martin Luther speech CONVERTED it will be my speech one day ......we are the future generation the future leaders we shall stand our right of freedom thus was given to us by those who sufficed their lives for us we shall reject leaders that oppress the people ....
It will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
29 score years ago, a great ZIMBABWEAN , in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, made an oath into office as the President of the country.The great momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of ZIMBABWEANS slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But 29 years later, the son of the soil still is not free. 29 years later, the life of the son of the soil is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. 29 years later, the SON OF THE SOIL lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. 29 years later, the SON OF THE SOIL is still languished in the corners of ZIMBABWE society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution , they were signing a promissory note to which every ZIMBABWEAN was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that ZIMBABWE has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, ZIMBABWE has given the people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind ZIMBABWE of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of injustice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the SON OF THE SOIL's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. 2009 is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the SON OF THE SOIL needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in ZIMBABWE until the SON OF THE SOIL is granted his citizenship rights by it's leaders. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the ZIMBABWEAN community must not lead us to a distrust of our fellow men for many of our leaders, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the SON OF THE SOIL is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the ZIMBABWEAN basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For our cruel leaders Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a SON OF THE SOIL in HARARE cannot vote and a SON OF THE SOIL in BULAWAYO believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality,the CIO and the political parties militia. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to BULAWAYO, go back to GWERU, go back to KAROI, go back to RWANDA, go back to MASVINGO, go back to the slums and ghettos of our cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the ZIMBABWEAN dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the hills of MUTOKO , the sons of former slaves and the sons of former leaders will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of HARARE, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by their political opinions or the parties they belong too but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in MHONDORO, with its vicious attacks, with its MP having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in MHONDORO little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little MP's child boys and MP's girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."2
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if ZIMBABWE is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New INYANGA
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of VUMBA
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of HARARE
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of MATOPOS
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from the dust roads of WEDZA
It will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
29 score years ago, a great ZIMBABWEAN , in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, made an oath into office as the President of the country.The great momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of ZIMBABWEANS slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But 29 years later, the son of the soil still is not free. 29 years later, the life of the son of the soil is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. 29 years later, the SON OF THE SOIL lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. 29 years later, the SON OF THE SOIL is still languished in the corners of ZIMBABWE society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution , they were signing a promissory note to which every ZIMBABWEAN was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that ZIMBABWE has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, ZIMBABWE has given the people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind ZIMBABWE of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of injustice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the SON OF THE SOIL's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. 2009 is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the SON OF THE SOIL needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in ZIMBABWE until the SON OF THE SOIL is granted his citizenship rights by it's leaders. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the ZIMBABWEAN community must not lead us to a distrust of our fellow men for many of our leaders, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the SON OF THE SOIL is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the ZIMBABWEAN basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For our cruel leaders Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a SON OF THE SOIL in HARARE cannot vote and a SON OF THE SOIL in BULAWAYO believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality,the CIO and the political parties militia. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to BULAWAYO, go back to GWERU, go back to KAROI, go back to RWANDA, go back to MASVINGO, go back to the slums and ghettos of our cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the ZIMBABWEAN dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the hills of MUTOKO , the sons of former slaves and the sons of former leaders will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of HARARE, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by their political opinions or the parties they belong too but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in MHONDORO, with its vicious attacks, with its MP having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in MHONDORO little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little MP's child boys and MP's girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."2
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if ZIMBABWE is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New INYANGA
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of VUMBA
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of HARARE
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of MATOPOS
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from the dust roads of WEDZA
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of MUTARE
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of CHIMANIMANI
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
Tendai Mazingaizo
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