Martin Luther King Jr. Mourns Trayvon Martin by Lauren K. Alleyne
For you, son,
I dreamed a childhood
unburdened by hate;
a boyhood of adventure—
skinned knees and hoops,
first loves and small rebellions;
I dreamed you whole
and growing into your own
manhood, writing its definitions
with your daily being.
I dreamed you alive, living.
For you, America’s African heir,
I dreamed a future
of open doors, of opportunity
without oppression,
of affirmation and action,
I dreamed Oprah and Obama
I dreamed Colin and Condoleezza
I dreamed doctors and dancers,
lawyers and linebackers, models,
musicians, mechanics, preachers
and professors and police, authors,
activists, astronauts, even,
all black as Jesus is.
I dreamed you dapper—
the black skin of you
polished to glow; your curls,
your kinks, your locs,
your bald, your wild,
your freshly barbered—
all beautiful.
I dreamed you wearing whatever the hell you want
and not dying for it.
For you, brother,
I dreamed a world softened
by love, free from the fear
that makes too-early ancestors of our men;
turns our boys into targets,
headlines, and ghosts.
I had a dream
that my children will one day live
in a nation where they will not be judged
by the color of their skin
but by the content of their character.
Sweet song of my sorrow.
Sweet dream, deferred.
For you, gone one, I dreamed
justice—her scales tipped
away from your extinction,
her eyes and arms unbound
and open to you
at last.
Every Mourning by Michael Kleber- Diggs
Morning: walking my neighborhood, I come upon a colony
of ants busy at work. I take care not to step on any and miss
them all, then encounter up a ways a fellow traveler greeting
the day. I am frightening her. No. She is afraid of me.
Is she an introvert? Is she a neighbor? Is she just in from the ’burbs,
from the country? Is she scared of the inner city? Am I the inner city?
Is she racist? Shouldn’t I be the wary one? Or is she a survivor
like me? It can’t be what I’m wearing: khakis, a blue and white
checkered button-down shirt, and the nylon sandals I favor
because they’re comfortable, my feet can breathe in them.
Dear friends, I am the nicest man on earth.
And I want to shout, Morning! But just then a weaver or
carpenter, just then a pharaoh or fire of pavement, just
then a little black ant struggles by alone, alone. And
in that moment, I want us to give ourselves over
to industry, carry the weight of the day together, lighten
it. I want to be a part of a colony where I feel easy
walking around. Cool as the goddamn breeze. Where
I can breathe, build structures sturdier and grander
than this—but the woman crosses to the other side
of the street, and I do what I usually do: retreat into
myself as far as I can, then send out whatever’s left.
Elon Musk’s gesture during President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, has elicited significant controversy and debate. While Musk has not publicly clarified his intent, a psychological analysis can offer potential insights into the motivations and implications of his actions.
Contextual Analysis
Musk’s gesture, interpreted by some as a Nazi salute, occurred during a speech at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., where he expressed gratitude to the audience for their support. He placed his right hand on his chest and then extended it outward—a movement historically associated with the “Roman salute,” later appropriated by fascist regimes, most notably Nazi Germany. 
Psychological Perspectives
1. Symbolic Communication: Public figures often use gestures to convey messages beyond verbal communication. Musk’s gesture could be interpreted as an attempt to align himself with certain ideological groups or to provoke a reaction, leveraging symbolism to communicate complex ideas succinctly.
2. Provocation and Attention-Seeking: Musk has a history of making controversial statements and actions that generate public discourse. This pattern may indicate a psychological inclination towards provocation as a means of maintaining relevance and control over public narratives.
3. Cognitive Dissonance: Engaging in actions that conflict with societal norms can create cognitive dissonance, both within the individual and the audience. Musk’s gesture may have been a deliberate act to challenge perceptions, forcing observers to reconcile the dissonance between his public persona and the implications of the gesture.
4. Identity and Belief Systems: Musk’s actions could reflect an exploration or expression of his personal belief systems. By adopting a gesture with loaded historical connotations, he might be signaling a shift in ideological stance or testing the boundaries of societal acceptance.
Implications and Consequences
The psychological impact of Musk’s gesture extends beyond personal motivations. Public figures wield significant influence, and their actions can legitimize certain behaviors or ideologies. Musk’s gesture has been celebrated by far-right groups, indicating a potential reinforcement of extremist ideologies. 
Conclusion
While definitive conclusions about Musk’s intentions remain speculative without his explicit commentary, a psychological analysis suggests a complex interplay of symbolic communication, provocation, and identity exploration. The broader societal reactions underscore the profound impact that actions of influential individuals can have on public discourse and ideological movements.
Elon Musk’s gesture during President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, has elicited significant controversy and debate. While Musk has not publicly clarified his intent, a psychological analysis can offer potential insights into the motivations and implications of his actions.
Contextual Analysis
Musk’s gesture, interpreted by some as a Nazi salute, occurred during a speech at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., where he expressed gratitude to the audience for their support. He placed his right hand on his chest and then extended it outward—a movement historically associated with the “Roman salute,” later appropriated by fascist regimes, most notably Nazi Germany. 
Psychological Perspectives
1. Symbolic Communication: Public figures often use gestures to convey messages beyond verbal communication. Musk’s gesture could be interpreted as an attempt to align himself with certain ideological groups or to provoke a reaction, leveraging symbolism to communicate complex ideas succinctly.
2. Provocation and Attention-Seeking: Musk has a history of making controversial statements and actions that generate public discourse. This pattern may indicate a psychological inclination towards provocation as a means of maintaining relevance and control over public narratives.
3. Cognitive Dissonance: Engaging in actions that conflict with societal norms can create cognitive dissonance, both within the individual and the audience. Musk’s gesture may have been a deliberate act to challenge perceptions, forcing observers to reconcile the dissonance between his public persona and the implications of the gesture.
4. Identity and Belief Systems: Musk’s actions could reflect an exploration or expression of his personal belief systems. By adopting a gesture with loaded historical connotations, he might be signaling a shift in ideological stance or testing the boundaries of societal acceptance.
Implications and Consequences
The psychological impact of Musk’s gesture extends beyond personal motivations. Public figures wield significant influence, and their actions can legitimize certain behaviors or ideologies. Musk’s gesture has been celebrated by far-right groups, indicating a potential reinforcement of extremist ideologies. 
Conclusion
While definitive conclusions about Musk’s intentions remain speculative without his explicit commentary, a psychological analysis suggests a complex interplay of symbolic communication, provocation, and identity exploration. The broader societal reactions underscore the profound impact that actions of influential individuals can have on public discourse and ideological movements.
GQ
Thank you Stephanie, for helping keep us all afloat.