MLK

I had today off because it was MLK Day.  Well if we had a day off to celebrate the spirit of  knowing we can do better to work for justice... then it's okay.  However, as a person who has worked about 30 years to improve disability rights there can be no days off--the dream is far from here ESPN showed college basketball all day to celebrate  the day--what a bad decision... isn't this stereotypical  and sad.  Maybe ESPN should have shown  the names of every  oppressed person who  earned a scholarship and turned pro as a chemist or a kindergarden teacher.  That would have been a tribute.  sometimes I think are nation still has a real fear of a racially motivated uprising from African american  citizens---why?  Let's look at  our history--has a group of  Black Panthers ever seized a federal building and held it for a month to demand justice or change?   No--oh wait that  was a group of disability rights advocates--and have we had any  African americans chain themselves to the white house  gate lately?    Oh no wait that was a person with ADAPT a group of disability rights folks too..  HMMM maybe the country  fears us... is that why  they won't hire people with disabilities at a rate of about 80 percent---maybe.  Oh you say  the official unemployment rate for people with disabilities is only aroung  20 percent--well  that may be so--however, when you take into account that  only about  1 in 5  people with disabilities of working age even aspires to work anymore--I bhave to ask the question Do we have a dream?




We have come  a little ways on the road to civil rights for all--we have oh so far to go--oh so far.