page60 (1/2)

I ask what I really want to know “What do you think? Is it time to tell the world?”

“I’ve thought about that these past few years The movement opened doors That’s true Doors that had once not even existed But that has mainly been for the black elite and hts, and Fair Housing Acts created a whole list of new freedoe of”

“And the poor?”

“Exactly The poor The inner city The disadvantaged Little has changed for them More to the point, they seemed to have become demonized It’s easy to beat up on poor people, and it comes from both sides of the political aisle Look what Clinton did in the 1990s He caved to the Republican Congress and signed welfare refor but create even er have a champion So theyin poverty, with few jobs, even fewer opportunities It’s not hard to see why they decide to kill one another Black-on-black violence seems epidemic For me, there’s no doubt that Martin’s dream remains unfulfilled”

I, too, had thought about that question on the flight frohteen years I have kept the secret, lying to Stephanie, never revealing what I possess nor what I kno here I a Jr, faced with a decision

“We all made a serious mistake,” Foster says “Myself included After Martin died, we grieved hi he never anticipated The love and respect people felt easily allowed them to elevate him to a lofty perch Nearly every town in this country has a street or boulevard named for him His birthday is a national holiday To criticize hiarded as treasonous to the black race Which is odd, considering that, in his life, he dealt far ot that his faults, and he had s, which we all possess, made him real He was no saint But he was a savior”

“Why are we here?” I ask

“I’ve lived with the pain of hter’s for nearly twenty I don’t want to live with either any longer I did not pull the trigger when you left ave his life and he asked ive mine, only in a different way He wanted e When nothing was ever publicly revealed, I realized that you were keeping that pledge, too”

We stand in silence for a few moments

“My daughter never had the chance to experience a full life,” hea child of her own, and that was all my fault If I’d only made the deal with Valdez and traded the coin for the files, then burned the files, none of it would have ever happened But I foolishly thought e I thoughtI was”

I can see where this is headed

Which has been a long ti

“Martin was right about me,” he said “I was never meant to be a captain”

“No You’re a general He trusted you with the most important decision he ever made He chose you to make sure it all could be possible And you didn’t disappoint him You did exactly what he wanted And look what you becaht about you He knew you better than you knew yourself”

“A part of me wishes I never met him”

I hear the defeatism and know it’s over “Are you ready for me to leave?”

He nods “Thank you for tellingTake the tapes and the flash drive and decide what needs to happen on this fiftieth anniversary You’ve done well so far I trust you to ht call”

No sense arguing, so I retrieve the four items from the side table and head for the door,that covers the hardwood

“Take care,” Foster says

I stop, turn back, and say, “You, too”

I leave, gently closing the door behind ht Sweet Auburn rests quietly aroundleft, straddling Auburn Avenue A few cars pass on the street

I hear a bang

Deadened by wooden walls