Membership Spotlight
UBC Features Poet/Writer Ms. Genesis Martin
Genesis wrote and read this poem as a contribution to our 2010 REverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Service held at Union Baptist Church. We are proud of her continued development of the God-given and God honoring Gift.
“Dreaming with Dr. King” by Gee Gee
Hopes and dreams entangled in a country that is socially free
Aspirations and goals set in a society that allows liberty to be me
And what have we done with such strong power; are we all participants on the winning team?
Some days I wonder just how we are doing with achieving Dr. King’s dream
I am taken back to a day in January and the year Two-thousand ten,
I am Sitting in a room watching TV when a familiar face walks in
A blast from the past that people my age had only seen in History books
He smiles, sits downs nods hello and then gives a serious look
A moment of silence lasts briefly as I ponder on my own life’s accomplishments
An involuntary reaction that I’m sure we would all have if placed in such a predicament
Dr. King I say, you are such an Icon you fought so hard for us to have the rights we have
It’s because of activists like you the path to success doesn’t have to be so bad
And with immature excitement I say, just look and see at all of the things we’ve done
From Maya Angelou, Al Sharpton, and President Obama it appears that we may have actually won
Yet silence still as I pause my chatter anticipating where the conversation will lead
Because with all the tools he fought so hard for; many still stall unwilling to succeed
Then he speaks, and I do what many others would do when given such an unreal opportunity
I listen, as he begins to speak of things that are a reality in all of our communities
He says, I fought to give equal access to reach goals my brothers and sisters yearned to achieve
I took beatings as I continued to take a stand so the future could effortlessly lead
I marched for equal rights; and preached of a country not easily divided
I did all of this in spite of myself because I knew by whom I was really being guided
And here I am some decades later to check out the progress that was started
Only to find you’ve chosen violence, money, and drugs, and from my dream many have departed
But there is a group of people who can still get to the masses
All it takes it a little faith in God mixed with obedience and things will happen
My dream started in a place where hope could barely be seen
Now its time to relive those words and on its vision work as a team
We need to bridge the gap between young and old, and eliminate color coded excuses
We must take advantage of the many new opportunities and teach that success is not illusion
And Don’t be afraid to stand for what is Biblically right after all you are not standing alone
In time if you stick to these patterns you will begin to see the fruit from the seeds you have sown
And at that moment as real as it seemed my eyelids started to flutter
I raised my head and opened my eyes recalling each word without a stutter
So, I guess I too had a dream in a literal but also figurative sense
If Dr. King showed up right now just what part of his dream would you represent?
Would you be the dream recited back when opportunities were jaded?
Or have you embraced that his dream is a reality; much more than a yearly celebration?
Dreams and aspirations weaved in a society that needs to be willing
Present goals engulfed in hope destined to be fulfilling
With all of the resources and simple things we have now effortlessly been afforded
Amidst all the notable speakers and the history that still has yet to be recorded
If willed in our hearts we are able to live the cliché “We can be anything”
In fact I’d suggest it’s our obligation to actively live in the dream God gave Dr. King
Hopes and dreams entangled in a country that is socially free
Aspirations and goals set in a society that allows liberty to be me
And what have we done with such strong power; are we all participants on the winning team?
Some days I wonder just how we are doing with achieving Dr. King’s dream
I am taken back to a day in January and the year Two-thousand ten,
I am Sitting in a room watching TV when a familiar face walks in
A blast from the past that people my age had only seen in History books
He smiles, sits downs nods hello and then gives a serious look
A moment of silence lasts briefly as I ponder on my own life’s accomplishments
An involuntary reaction that I’m sure we would all have if placed in such a predicament
Dr. King I say, you are such an Icon you fought so hard for us to have the rights we have
It’s because of activists like you the path to success doesn’t have to be so bad
And with immature excitement I say, just look and see at all of the things we’ve done
From Maya Angelou, Al Sharpton, and President Obama it appears that we may have actually won
Yet silence still as I pause my chatter anticipating where the conversation will lead
Because with all the tools he fought so hard for; many still stall unwilling to succeed
Then he speaks, and I do what many others would do when given such an unreal opportunity
I listen, as he begins to speak of things that are a reality in all of our communities
He says, I fought to give equal access to reach goals my brothers and sisters yearned to achieve
I took beatings as I continued to take a stand so the future could effortlessly lead
I marched for equal rights; and preached of a country not easily divided
I did all of this in spite of myself because I knew by whom I was really being guided
And here I am some decades later to check out the progress that was started
Only to find you’ve chosen violence, money, and drugs, and from my dream many have departed
But there is a group of people who can still get to the masses
All it takes it a little faith in God mixed with obedience and things will happen
My dream started in a place where hope could barely be seen
Now its time to relive those words and on its vision work as a team
We need to bridge the gap between young and old, and eliminate color coded excuses
We must take advantage of the many new opportunities and teach that success is not illusion
And Don’t be afraid to stand for what is Biblically right after all you are not standing alone
In time if you stick to these patterns you will begin to see the fruit from the seeds you have sown
And at that moment as real as it seemed my eyelids started to flutter
I raised my head and opened my eyes recalling each word without a stutter
So, I guess I too had a dream in a literal but also figurative sense
If Dr. King showed up right now just what part of his dream would you represent?
Would you be the dream recited back when opportunities were jaded?
Or have you embraced that his dream is a reality; much more than a yearly celebration?
Dreams and aspirations weaved in a society that needs to be willing
Present goals engulfed in hope destined to be fulfilling
With all of the resources and simple things we have now effortlessly been afforded
Amidst all the notable speakers and the history that still has yet to be recorded
If willed in our hearts we are able to live the cliché “We can be anything”
In fact I’d suggest it’s our obligation to actively live in the dream God gave Dr. King