bigted Posted February 10, 2006 Report Share Posted February 10, 2006 Russell Simmons Salutes Coretta Scott King By Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis A Hip-Hop Salute to Coretta Scott King: Continuing the Struggle for Freedom, Justice and Equality February 8, 2006 Across America and throughout the world, millions of people have taken the time to say a prayer, to utter a word of condolence, or to make some expression of gratitude for the living legacy of Coretta Scott King. Like the living legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mrs. King’s life-longed contributions to the freedom struggle now stand as a living testimony to the oneness of humanity and to the transcendent power of God’s love. Today the hip-hop generation of youth inherits and appreciates the progress, sacrifices and remaining challenges of the civil rights generation in word, deed and spirit. In the wake of the tremendous public outpouring of support and solemn respect for the King family and the effective movement that they led, we did not want this historic moment to past without offering a sincere salute to Coretta Scott King from the perspective of hip-hop culture. In her elegant and dignified manner, Mrs. King lived the life of a freedom fighter in her own right. She was an outspoken leader who was not afraid to raise her voice against injustice. She consistently refused to bow down to the temptations of a world gone mad with poverty, war and ignorance. The poetry of hip-hop captures the essence of the continuing struggle for freedom, justice and equality. When Dr. King and Coretta Scott King were a young married couple, they both had high aspirations and resolute faith that “The Movement” would eventually overcome the evils of that day and time. The good news is that today’s youth have those same high aspirations for a better quality of life and a resolute determination not to be satisfied with an impoverished mindset or living condition. Now young people all over the world are reaching out to one another in solidarity through the music and other cultural manifestations of hip-hop that transcend the racial and social divisions of the past. The legacy of the civil rights era connects directly with the resilience and recommitment of this new emerging force for change and empowerment. We will not forget the wisdom and perseverance of Mrs. King and all of the other elders of the struggle. We mourn her passing, but we celebrate her dedicated life and example. We know the importance of speaking truth to the powerful in behalf of the powerless. May the words of mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable in the sight and presence of God. May God bless the living legacy of Coretta Scott King. Russell Simmons, Co-Chairman Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Co-Chairman Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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