Black Americans Learned Optimism in Pursuit of King's Promised Land

Jan. 16, 2012 - PRLog -- Here are 13 essential features of optimism that where inherent in the civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

1. Hope is essential for, but not equivalent to, optimism.  Hope describes the dream and optimism makes it happen with that “never give in – learn from mistakes – take on and overcome tough challenges” mentality.

2. In 1963, Martin Luther King gave the world a message of hope in his “I Have a Dream,” speech.  His dream: 1) blacks and whites would sit together as equals and brothers, 2) even the most racially prejudiced state, Mississippi, would be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice, 3) children born in the 1960’s would be judged by their character and not the color of their skin, and 4) hope for racial equality would be hewn out of a mountain of despair.

3. In 1963 when King expressed HOPE he was inspirational, but he WAS NOT FEARED.

4. In 1968, as the civil rights movement was reaching a crescendo of success, he delivered the famous “I have seen the Promised Land Speech,” a message of OPTIMISM that spoke of  effectiveness – we NOT ONLY WILL BUT HAVE overcome – we will succeed through hard work – nonviolent effort.

5. In 1968, with the HOPE of 1963 transformed in five years of OPTIMISTIC challenge, struggle and “make-it-happen success,” KING WAS NOW FEARED.  He was assassinated the day after the “Promised Land Speech.”

6. In the spring of 1968, first with the assassination of Martin Luther King and then Bobby Kennedy, I like many suffered a few or more pessimistic moments.  But, the civil rights movement went forward and the equality King strove for was grandly symbolized three years ago when a “black” man was sworn in as president.

7. The less grand, but important “take-away” message for those struggling through the average everyday moments of life: “A SKILLED OPTIMIST IS TO BE FEARED.”  The “skilled optimist” gets things done, overcomes obstacles and keeps rolling forward with unstoppable progress like the 30 foot high mass of muck containing steel, earth, timber, cement, and rubble from crushed homes pressed on by twenty million tons of water that spilled through a broken dam, in less that 20 minutes, that caused the Johnstown, Pa. flood of 1889.

8. If you are in business or sales and learn to become a “skilled optimist” your competition will retreat, sidestep, and fade away as you roll over the landscape.

9. “Only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “preposterous” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

10. “When people get caught up with that which is right, are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “persistence” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

11. “We are poor people, but collectively we (black Americans) are richer than all the nations of the world with the exception of nine.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “power of collaborative” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

12. “We are going into court tomorrow to fight this illegal, unconstitutional injunction. We aren’t going to let any injunction stop us. We are going on.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “overcoming obstacles” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

13. “I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.” ~Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1968, reflects the “self-confident” thinking of the “skilled optimist.”

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