Community Checkup

I love the fact that King’s birthday is a national holiday, but I also often become frustrated by the oversimplification of his message seen in the media, politics, and education. Everyone knows about King’s fight for racial justice, his belief in non-violence, and a few words of his I have a dream speech. But many are unfamiliar with his speeches later in life that displayed his continued and unparalleled conviction, compassion, and courage and that made him much less popular than he was earlier in life. His “Beyond Vietnam” speech (audio version here) is a perfect example of this and is a piece I always find myself coming back to reading on MLK day. It really captures more of the complexity of the man and what he stood for. It is a must read.
In this speech, he speaks of his reasoning for his opposition to the Vietnam war. One of his main reasons is that he saw the massive amount of resources required for the war as an affront on the poor people in the U.S. and the world. His exposition on this, and the audiences and support he alienated as a result, demonstrated his clear commitment to fighting injustice and inequality–period–not only racial injustice. I wish more people know about this and the kind of (com)passion behind it.

From an AP article:

[H]e took on issues of poverty and militarism because he considered them vital “to make equality something real and not just racial brotherhood but equality in fact,” Sitkoff said.

While there has been scholarly study of King and everything he did, that knowledge hasn’t translated into the popular culture perception of him and the civil rights movement, said Richard Greenwald, professor of history at Drew University.

“We’re living increasingly in a culture of top 10 lists, of celebrity biopics which simplify the past as entertainment or mythology,” he said. “We lose a view on what real leadership is by compressing him down to one window.” [Source: CNN]

Every time I read this speech, I yearn for an injection of King’s kind of courage and conviction into the world of politics. As much as we hear about “change” in the the primaries, and as much as King’s name is invoked in politics, no one comes close to standing up for the kind of change King was talking about. Edward’s strong position on poverty and corporate greed probably comes the closest, followed by Obama, but overall, neither can compare. Yet, I am encouraged by the fact that action and conversation is broadening and deepening beyond the black-and-white perspective of the Bush administration.

Today, I hope more people will take some time to become more familiar with King’s rhetoric and actions at the end of life. His whole life, not just when he was most popular, is the perfect lesson in what the real fight for equality, justice, and change is all about.