King's successors should stress education as the path to success rather than events that breed racial discord.
Last week America observed the 50th anniversary of the "March on Washington" that culminated with Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech that helped push America toward a better place.
Unfortunately, King probably would be less than ecstatic over the amount of violence that still occurs in this country -- all violence.
Two sickening recent stories with racial overtones have added to the national debate over what some see as a double standard in the media and broader society regarding racism, or as some call it, reverse racism.
The story drawing major attention is the shooting death of Australian Christopher Lane, who reportedly was gunned down by three young people -- two black, one white -- in Duncan, Okla. Lane, a ballplayer, was visiting the town where his girlfriend lives. He was out for a jog when he was shot and killed for no other reason than the teens reportedly said they were bored. One of those charged, James Francis Edwards, only 15 year old, also reportedly had posted anti-white rants on social media.
Closer to home, Ray Widstrand lies in a Twin Cities hospital after reportedly being beaten by a slew of gang members while out for a walk in St. Paul the night of Aug. 4. Witnesses say Widstrand, 26, had the misfortune of stumbling into some kind of a gang dispute but quickly became the subject of their rage. He is expected to live but may have suffered permanent brain damage.
Some argue that these horrible crimes are not getting nearly enough attention from the media or the White House as the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin case. The comparison isn't entirely valid. The Zimmerman case was a debate about whether justice was served and the wisdom of "stand-your-ground" laws in Florida and elsewhere. Hardly anyone would argue that those who may be eventually convicted of killing Lane and pummeling Widstrand don't deserve harsh penalties.
The lesson for President Obama and selective opportunists such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton is that singling out Zimmerman or railing against "black on black" crime leaves themselves open to critics who suggest they don't feel the same remorse for Lane, Widstrand or their families. Taken a step further, the less enlightened members of our society may deduce that if "white racism" causes black suffering, than "reverse racism" is just a way of getting even.
This is not what King dreamed of or died for. Racial equality and economic stability are related. And the only way to achieve economic stability is to get an education, learn a skill and become valuable to employers, customers, medical patients, or what have you.That's the message African-American leaders need to preach. That's the only path to achieving King's dream.
