It is almost as if we cannot tolerate the truth about powerful people, especially when they live as agents of challenge and change, banging against the status quo of our comfort.
History-makers, when hard a work making history, are not easy to control!
Once they are gone though the process of "domestication" begins. Before long we are able to add another icon to our collection of American heroes without much thought of the radical, world-shaking nature of their ideas or work in life.
Today we "celebrate" the life, work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The great civil rights leader and peace activist lived a thoroughly amazing life.
These days most of us lapse into sentimentality when it comes to Dr. King.
Want a challenge? Want to think more deeply about Dr. King, his work and his continuing challenge to America during this confusing time of war and continuing injustice in the United States?
Go to http://www.blackcommentator.com/121/121_mlk_pf.html and read Paul Rockwell's essay, "Dr. King Was Not a 'Dreamer.'"
Once you've done that, take a look at a copy of The Dallas Morning News today. The "Viewpoints" section on the editorial page has a wonderful and challenging essay by one of my partners here at Central Dallas Ministries, Rev. Gerald Britt, Jr., our Executive Director.
Or, you can go to Gerald's essay at:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/ opinion/viewpoints/stories/011705dnedibritt.9515a.html
Now, celebrate the day by remembering the truth about the national leader whose amazing life stands behind it!
I can't help but think it must be a bit frustrating for the family and friends and other people who knew Dr. King well to see his legacy reduced to the repetition of a portion of the "I Have a Dream" speech (not even in its entirety!) once a year when his work and life encompassed so much more. I have to admit that my personal knowledge of King's work was pretty limited (partially due to growing up in a rural, majority white school where the civil rights movement was quickly skimmed over in history class)until just the past couple of years when I began to read several of his books and was astounded at how powerful and significant his writings are. Its a shame to me that he is only credited with a couple of paragraphs from a well-written speech when he is the producer of so much more that is now relegated to the shelves of black leaders and preachers when the message is relevant to a far greater segment of society. The "Dream" speech is "safe" to talk about because people can give it an application they are more comfortable with, like setting goals and working to achieve them. After all, that's the American way, right? Let's trim that justice stuff out and focus on the personal perseverence part. Anyways, I appreciate the challenge in this post and Gerald's article to look more deeply at what King was about and find the significant truths that are still crucial to dismantling injustice of all kinds in our world today. Dr.King had so much more to say than just in his short speech in 1963--let's really honor him by truly seeking to hear what those deeper messages and truths are.
ReplyDelete--Rachel Embry
It is amazing how at times we idolize ones even to the extent it would appear that one is being worshipped. We overlook all the negative because of the positive. And if one responds negatively or in opposition, then he or she is deemed divisive and in some cases even attacked as a racist. Why do we only remember and teach certain aspects of Mr. King's life and not all? Why don't we inform our children as well as the entire poplulation about the negative things in Mr. King's life as well as the good? Perhaps if we did so, we would not honor Mr. King like he was some god. Perhaps then we might see him as just a man - neither black nor white - just a man. But I guess that would not be politically correct. And by the way who wants to lose a holiday? But I do suggest if one is going to lead others to reading favorable material about MLK, then counter material if existing should be made known as well. One such source is the following
ReplyDeletehttp://www.martinlutherking.org/thebeast.html
Perhaps if all truth is known, we may come to see that worship is meant for God and God alone.
Of course, the fact is both the positive and the negative about Dr. King's life has been reported and recorded in many forms and in many places. Every repudible biography tells the whole story, so to speak. There have even been a couple of important books written about J. Edgar Hoover's compulsive attention to King, his work and his personal life. Reporting the whole story is what we usually do in the US. The same thing could be said about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Kennedy and Bill Clinton. Even though we know "both sides" of these important leaders, we usually don't feel the need to air the whole story on days of national celebration. The inherent and self-deceptive nature of our racism may be signaled in any call for such full reporting on the King holiday, but not on President's Day next month.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, the point I am trying to make is being misconstrued. I simply believe Mr. King is revered as a god in our society. Why is this acceptable? Yes, of course, the truth is available if someone were to spend the time in searching for such and had access to sealed FBI files, some of which will not be open to the public for quite some time. But how many do so?
ReplyDeleteWhat percentage of the population knows about the negatives of Mr. King? Why? Could it be that it is not politically correct to voice such? Is such taught in the schools to our children today? Why not?
Instead we glorify Mr. King on MLK Day and only the good is spoken and for the most part that is all that is ever known. You mention President's Day. How will such be celebrated? Will any of our president's get the attention and glory that Mr. King gets on MLK day? Why does Mr. King get his own day and yet no one else has such? Was he a greater man than all the presidents (Abe Lincoln, Lyndon Johnson,etc.)? How about Ben Franklin, Edison, Salk, Einstein, etc.?
Were there holidays during biblical times ordained by God whereby a man was honored?
So if I was understood as if I felt the need to air the whole story, I apologize. I hope that is not the condition of my heart. It was my intention to bring to issue as you would put it the state of our "national heart".
It is my opinion that Mr. King was a mere man. I am not sure we should be celebrating his life, work, and legacy. Is it possible, even remotely possible, that the good Mr. King did was simply that which God had him to do? If so, should honor be to Mr. King or to God? I think such honor should be reserved for God and God alone. It is ironic that we want God's blessing and at times I think we even expect it. Then in the end, we give the glory to man.
I'll respond one more time to the previous post: no sealed FBI files need be opened to know about Dr. King. Every reputible biography reports the negatives spoken of here, just as do the biographies of other national heroes and heroines. Ordinary people can read of the whole of his remarkable and very human life. That is not the point of national celebrations in civic life. The King holiday is about more than Dr. King. It is about a movement and our national values. There is a subject to really take on: national values, not so narrowly defined as is the case today. King David was not perfect, but celebrated in Israel. Even the apostle Paul advises that we should "give honor to whom honor is due," and when he said that he was not referring to deity, but to human beings. By the way, in the not too distant past the US had a day of celebration for Mr. Washington and Mr. Lincoln.
ReplyDeleteThis is my last comment as well. I wonder why I originally responded. I typically don't do such. I do disagree with you but that is one of the good things in this country that is allowed.
ReplyDeleteMost ordinary people do not read the biographies. I would imagine it would be safe to say if one were to do a survey of our school age children and/or those not alive during Mr. King's lifetime, the majority would not know of the many negatives of Mr. King's life. In fact, I think most would not care.
We don't know what is in the sealed FBI files so I am not certain one should imply opening such is not needed in order to know about Mr. King. The fact is the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to these files. For some reason, it was thought in this country's best interest to keep such information from the public for at least 50 years. That is a long time. Could such information, if released, have prevented a MLK Day? Could it have prompted more riots? Nonetheless, we don't know the truth. Perhaps the truth would "set us free", yes "free at last".
You are correct in saying MLK Day is more than Mr. King. It is truly about our national values. And they are found lacking. It is interesting to look back and see how the State of Arizona was treated for not having MLK Day be a state holiday.
I did not follow the point regarding King David. I am sorry if I misread what you are saying but it seems that you are guilty of what you speak about on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 "Our Entertaining Use of the Bible". Yes he was far from perfect and yet he was a man after God's own heart. Yes he celebrated. Yes he honored King Saul. But I don't recall him celebrating a day in the honor of another man. I don't recall the nation of Israel celebrating a day in the honor of King David. This was a man after God's own heart. Who better to have a holiday in honor of? Again I am sorry if I misread you but I did not see the relevance of King David to the issue of a MLK Day.
And yes, Paul advises that we should "give honor to whom honor is due." I may not have thought that one over enough. My recollection is that passage was about government and those in power since those in power have been established by God. I don't see how the passage relates to whether there should be a MLK Day and the high esteem we as a nation show Mr. King. Should we bestow upon Mr. King the honor of Dr. when we know his dissertation was plagiarized? Would this be "giving honor to whom honor is due?" I think the passage may be more geared to the respect and honor we exhibit toward others such as the current president. Your comments on Thursday, January 20, 2005 "Inauguration Day in the USA" seemed to me as what you suggested my comments were about MLK Day - "we usually don't feel the need to air" such things on such a day. On MLK Day, we were exhorted to "celebrate the day by remembering the truth about the national leader whose amazing life stands behind it." We were even given a challenge to think more deeply about his work. On inauguration day, we were exhorted to think about where we really are in this country and the state of our "national heart". It seems Mr. King got more respect and honor on MLK Day than our president got on Inauguration Day. Please note my comments on this subject were not given on MLK day. They began at a later date.
By the way, I find it ironic that Mr. Washington and Mr. Lincoln be demoted while Mr. King is promoted. I am not suggesting there be a day set aside for Mr. Washington, Mr. Lincoln, or any other man. As a nation we say such days are a good thing. As I think about such, I am reminded of the words, "Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil..." I sincerely hope I am wrong but I think God has weighed our nation and has found it wanting.
Blessings!
I do feel the need to weigh in on this conversation regarding King's "worthiness", relative to his holiday. I think it is fair to say that King would not have wanted a holiday in his honor. Given what is available in biographies, documentaries and his own writings and sermons, Dr. King courted public attention only as it help fuel the demonstrations and protests of the movement he led.
ReplyDeleteAs an African American, I am seriously offended by attitudes that suggest that people of color are unworthy of celebration because they are imperfect or suspect! Does anyone remember the scores of entertainers and artist branded as communist during the McCarthy era? Are we to beleive that directors, actors and screenwriters, many of whom are only now receiving vindication unworthy of credit or recognition because they were "accused" of being communist?
As to whether or not King's holiday is worthy when juxtaposed to Lincoln, or Washington, it was Congress that made the determination to combine their birthdays into one and honor ALL presidents who have served their country.
King was excoriated, beaten, stabbed and critized by politicians, civil rights leaders, fellow preachers and ordinary citizens during his life time. Yet, because of King we have the 1964 Civil Rights Bill, that stood NO chance of passage without his work; we have the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which even Lyndon Johnson opposed as untimly and would not have passed if it had not been for King led protests in Selm, Alabama.
All legitimate leaders for human rights in the area of women's liberation, the Hispanic freedom movement, even Lech Walesa's activism for Polish liberation confess they owe their inspiration to the leadership and work of Martin Luther King.
Yes, King was unfaithful to his wife - it is documented in EVERY legitimate biography about his life; no he did not credit EVERY quote used in his writings, speeches and sermons (I would point the anonymous critic to criticism of Dr.W.A. Criswell along the same lines!) King was not trying to be an academic, he was presenting an ethic upon which to build a freedom movement and it was based on exposure to legitimate scholars (many of whom he dialogued with personally, or with whom he had correspondance) ALL PREACHERS ARE GUILTY OF FAILURE TO ATTRIBUTE ALL OF THEIR SOURCE MATERIALS! It doesn't make the truth of what they are saying any less valid.
Yes King was advised by some those who were FORMER members of the communist party. Stanley Levison was a trusted advisor; yes Bayard Rustin was a communist sympathizer, if not member and yes he was gay. Does that mean that we no longer mention the March on Washington because he helped organize it? Were 250,000 people who gathered on that day completely delusional and unpatriotic?
Finally with the absolute ridiculous assertion that honoring King is in some way a loss of perspective and that we should really be honoring God. Thumb through your Bible, there is no "Book of God" in all 66 books? We do find the names of heroes and heroines of the faith, all imperfect: Esther, Ruth, Job, Nehemiah, Amos, Peter, John, Matthew. They are all named after people and their memories are honored with designation of books they did not write.
This reaction to King can only be branded as racism at its worst, or racial insensitivity at best! It is the product of the unreflective thinking of our culture that only is comfortable with views that are only compatable with those who hold those views.
Read the speeches and sermons of King, or listen to them on tape, or get a documentary: do ANY of them espouse ANYTHING but love for one's fellow man, forgiveness of the oppressor, self determination, the imperative of a relationship with God, justice for all people, an end to bigotry and poverty? In which one of King's books does he incite Black people to become communist, or to cheat on their wives, or to do less than their best in school?
Which one of the leaders who has grown to ANY level of prominence has sought on the basis of his teachings to overthrow the American way of life? I can't find any. I can find U.S. Congressmen, I can find state legislators, I can find business leaders, mayors and leaders in the world of commerce, as well as human rights leaders who have been influenced by him. Isn't the measure of a man how he impacts the lives of the people who are around him? Doesn't a Noble Peace Prize count for anything? Doesn't the fact that he died broke because he gave money away, rather than risk being tainted by accusations of fiscal responsibility count for anything? Or is the ONLY thing important that we have evidence that he cheated on his wife, evidence gained by a meglomaniacal leader of a justice department that has been proved and judged by history to have a corrupting influence on government and its citizens. Doesn't the fact that he co-pastored a church with a membership in the thousands (the church where he grew up, as a matter of fact), count for anything? Or is the ONLY thing that matters is that his enemies were able to print their hatred?
I may not change the mind of this person regarding whether or not King deserves a holiday in his honor, but his attitude shows why we have one - because we all too soon forget those who make our lives possible and at least ONE TIME a year we ought not be guilty of the sins of jealousy, bigotry and ingratitude.
Sorry this is so long, but I viewed this lame response to MLK day as long as I could. I hope that it clears the air....
Yes
Quite worthwhile info, thank you for the article.
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