Not So Happy Easter

My joy at the arrival of another Easter Sunday is tempered by the fact that this one falls on a sad date in American history. Today is also the 42nd anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It's a little tough to concentrate on listening to your minster give their annual Easter themed sermon about resurrection with the backdrop of Dr. King's senseless death weighing on your mind.

But in a sense, the themes of resurrection and rebirth kind of play out in Dr. King's life. He was a leader who resurrected our pride in ourselves as a people and got us African descended Americans to throw off the mental chains that were oppressing us.

That resurrection and rebirth of pride allowed us to become tough minded enough to march boldly for our constitutionally guaranteed civil rights.

As he said in his 'I've Been To The Mountaintop' speech, we as a people would get to the Promised Land. We're not there yet, but on every April 4 I take time out of my day to ponder what I can do to help myself and other Trans African Americans get to that promised land of freedom and fairness for all.

And Easter seems to be a perfect day to ponder that as well.