Was it just a dream, the American dream, Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s dream? Now, I look clearly into the reality of a world gone sideways. In this sideway space where America finds itself, the division has toppled systems of stability. As we take a closer look at these stability systems, we begin to notice chains of limitation and hindrances solidified within its confines. They enable these systems to keep things quiet but not at peace.

Our Creator equips each of us with our unique Superpower.

The late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr proclaimed in his letter from the Birmingham Jail. “I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councillor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice, who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice;”. Justice must never compromise for the sake of superficial peace.

For years, our society had fallen asleep into a dreamlike state of the status quo. Cognitive inertia keeps oppressive systems in place until disruptive events occur, therefore exposing the naked corruption, oppression, bias, and dehumanization. The year 2020 was one of those inflection points in which the events exposed many hidden truths that forced a long-avoided yet ever-important conversation.

On April 16, 1963, from that Birmingham Jail cell, Dr. King found his voice. He spoke it with the accuracy of Clear Voice to define the real problem. At what would take on the appearance of demise, he discovered his Superpower.

Here in the 21st century, Marginalized communities of color, allies, and advocates must discover their individual and collective superpowers as the powerful set out to shut down this conversation.

If I were to describe my Superpower, It would be that of a problem solver, communicator, and storyteller. With the genesis of Three-Fifths Magazine, inspiration from our creator determined the best way to tell this story was through the collective of diverse ethnic voices, lenses, and worldviews, all determined to solve the problem of Systemic Racism and how to dismantle it as one.

“When you understand who you are it helps you partner with others; you can cast teams in ways where you bring in a diversity of perspective that leads to innovative thinking.” From an IDEO U article entitled “What’s Your Work Superpower (and its Shadow Side)?

From the inception of Three-Fifths Magazine, each of our thoughtfully and prayerfully conceived themes is communicated through a community and kaleidoscope of writers that allow Three-Fifths to have its unique harmony of clear voice that defines it as “a Voice of Clarity.” Over the past year alone, Three-Fifths Magazine has traversed many thought-provoking themes such as:

The March Theme: Crossing the Digital and AI Edmond Pettus Bridge

The February Special Black History Month Edition: Anthology In Black

The January Theme: Deconstructing the Myth

December’s Theme, Peace on Earth

November’s Thanksgiving, Collaboration, & the Dismantling of Barriers to Health Equity

The October Theme, True Colors

The September Theme: Empathy

The August Theme: Law and Order?

The July Issue, “Roots”

The June Issue: When “I’m Sorry” just won’t do. Real Talk About Reparations

Three-Fifths Magazine May, Colorblind Issue

Our reason for Three-Fifths Magazine is to Dismantle Systemic Racism. “Through a thoughtful conversation involving societal reckoning, racial equity, historical perspective, and spiritual insight, it is the hope that this magazine will become one of the many tools used to dismantle Systemic Racism.” This is done by presenting a factual history, articulate articles, and essays that reveal the truth in today’s divided book-banning, censorship-inundated conspiracy theory-driven America.

We educate and encourage subscribers, regular readers, and first-time guests because we are known as a Voice of Clarity. The conversation of Racial Justice is central. Three-Fifths Magazine’s audience ranges from those of casual concern with racial justice to those who highly value this conversation as essential. From learners, teachers/educators to DEI professionals who are under constant assault, all can find Three-Fifths Magazine as a safe place of encouragement and community. A 1980 song from the Gap Band called “Nothing Comes to Sleepers. The lyrics say, “Nothing Comes To Sleepers but a Dream.” Parts of Dr Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech have been quoted, misquoted, and misused at nauseam. There are forces that would rather keep Dr King’s Dream in the suspended animation of a dream state and define any attempt to wake up to the realities of racism in America as Wokism, an epitaph that has been satirically broad-stroked as an evil counter-cultural narrative that will erode the stability of American culture.

Christ cautions through a parable: “but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.” Mathew 13:25 NRS version. Even in His hour of agony, He reproved His disciples who had fallen asleep at the Garden of Gethsemane after he told them to “stay awake and watch”.

In his 1965 commencement speech at Oberlin College, Dr. King referenced the story of Rip Van Winkle.

“I’m sure that you have read that arresting little story from the pen of Washington Irving entitled Rip Van Winkle. The thing that we usually remember about this story is that Rip Van Winkle slept 20 years. But there is another point in that story that is almost always completely overlooked: it was a sign on the inn in the little town on the Hudson from which Rip went up into the mountain for his long sleep. When he went up, the sign had a picture of King George III of England. When he came down, years later, the sign had a picture of George Washington, the first president of the United States. When Rip looked up at the picture of George Washington, he was completely lost; he knew not who he was. This reveals to us that the most striking fact about the story of Rip Van Winkle is not that he slept 20 years, but that he slept through a revolution. While he was peacefully snoring up on the mountain, a great revolution was taking place in the world – indeed, a revolution that would, at points, change the course of history. And Rip Van Winkle knew nothing about it; he was asleep.”

Was it Just a Dream? Only if left to fear, intimidation, lethargy, and indifference. And yes, we will go on celebrating Martin Luther King Day, Black History Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, Asian Heritage Month, etc., while 365 Days a year will be dedicated to the sleepy status quo unless BIPOC communities, allies, and advocates truly wake up, “watch and pray”, use our collective Superpower, including staying up to date with Three-Fifths Magazine as we enter our 4th year.