Let me preface this blog by saying that like nearly everyone else, I'm a big admirer of the legacy of MLK. Unlike nearly everyone else, I'm also a free-thinker and open to accept the good and bad that come along with everyone. We are all human. That being said, here goes nothing ...
The person I most admire during the civil rights era is Rosa Parks. Most people poke fun and say "all she did was sit down". But that act took a lot of cahooneys. Back in the day when Blacks were ordered to stand, she sat. And sat multiple times. In fact, she and her husband were activists and did that routinely to draw attention to hat injustice. During the time she got arrested , Michael King was an unheard of young minister.
Who? I know you're wondering why I call him Michael. Well, that's the name given him at birth. Which leads to my ultimate vine: Michael's dad was also a preacher who called himself "Big Daddy" -- Big Daddy King. Who claimed that one day he had an epiphany, and that he was to be called "Martin Luther" King -- you know, named after the famous religious leader, Martin Luther. So, he began calling himself -- and his son -- "Martin Luther" King -- Sr. & Jr.
As many looked for someone who could withstand the wiles of White America, they sought the college-educated young preacher to the forefront. Similar to having a press secretary. Someone who can articulate on your behalf to the media. But, Michael did go on to do great things. Delivered some very stirring speeches. Could have become the first Black VP if he and RFK had stayed alive long enough.
Away from the public's eye, however, was much scrutiny and suspicion of corruption surrounding King's lifestyle -- women, drugs, money laundering, etc. -- that the government ordered his case files closed for a number of years (not doing any research right now, just going on memory) ... in MY opinion, so his wife and kids wouldn't have to bear hurtful, shameful facts during their lifetime.
All in all, I can honestly say that he was good for Black Americans, though. But he was BETTER for White Americans. Rather than the alternative he kept the peace. While Malcom was ready to fight, King was willing to sit. And take water in the face. Take dogs being unleashed. Take rocks being thrown. Hoping that the peaceful way of Ghandi would eventually win.
Posted By: Craig Amos
Thursday, January 15th 2009 at 4:37PM
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