"I Am A Revolutionary"

I have a dream. Something that will take me far.

A dream that will take me from here to Mars.

Yes I can't breathe in Mars.

But correct me if I'm wrong. My dreams have no container, keeping them grounded to the ground.

These dreams have weight, I did not just come up with them all on my own. It's anchored in a history, the same brown shade as the skin that covers my skeletal bones.

Giving hope to the hopeless, and a voice to those who forgot the skill of speech. Their vocal boxes shattered, and all you here is the static sound that radios make when the frequency is off.

But he gave a speech. Not just a speech, but a march that went before it. Years of preparation and precaution and what did he receive for speaking of this dream?

He got shot at a hotel down south.

He did not even die right then as many thought.

The doc in the hospital press the pillow to his face and took his breath away.

That's not just dream, that's a man exercising faith in the unseen. Seeing the playing field and viewing the future of what could be.

But it can't be if nobody initiates the march. But King was not the only dreamer and marcher, there were many more.

Fred Hampton I thank you too. Young King, with the passion like the fire crackling on the fire place. Many times, just like King, your people wanted to react to injustice, but y'all were teaching us how to respond.

A response where we take control of the chess game. Moving while they shooting. Marching and preaching instead of looting.

Despite the push back, Fred you gave a new image to a black man. Not a monster, not a gangster. But a leader, an innovative, the glue that brought other groups together.

They tried to show the Black Panthers in a negative light, but they reacted, they did not respond to the good. They did not know who you all were. They did not know or care to take the time to learn.

All they wanted was control and power. They wanted to keep their tables white with no shades of brown. They kept their parties "perfect" and free of blemish.

But if they studied their history, they would learn that a lot of the culture they ate up came from us black folk.

Jazz, soul food, rock, hip - hop, and so on. They were mad that we were moving and growing in number.

Just like with slavery, they knew that a man that learns how to read, is a man who learns how to fight back.

But they did not understand the make up of these people. They tried to break them, but when people are broken in unity, they learn to rise together.

They studied the Good Word and made hymns. Singing in their native tongue, the captors, were too uneducated to understand. They attained book knowledge, but not street knowledge.

Fred they tried you. Still you implemented the free lunch program for schools. You gave to the community, while they act as if they are the savior, but they are selfish in nature.

The only way they could get to you is through your own. Using an informant to befriend you. Hoover couldn't stand you. You were and are still more powerful than him.

They did a number on William O'Neil and hit him with options that both would most likely lead to death. So would you blame him?

The white man knew what he was doing. Not caring about yours, Will's, or any other black person's life.

As you all celebrated the accomplishments that once seem far fetched, the poison was dropped into your cup.

Brother Hampton, I wish I was there to tell you what was in that cup, but all I could do was learn of the betrayal from the movie theater seat.

Seeing you walk to you bed, I knew what was about to take place. You closed your eyes and the raid begun shortly after.

They tried to rouse you.

Wake up young King!

Come on young King, we got much to do!

But you did not move.

Just like King Jr, your body was lifeless.

They killed you.

They tried to take power from you.

In 21 years of life you did much more than they could think or imagine.

They thought the dream and free lunch programs ended with you two.

I write this letter to inform you, that it is alive and well.

I'm working and serving the youth. I'm dreaming and starting my own.

We will rise despite the chaos.

They will hear us and they will see us.

Thank you for teaching us how to dream and march. How to implement change and how to sleep when the job is done.