Before too many white ppl (1) congratulate ea other for progress against racism (2) in re Dr King’s birthday, we need to do something too few Americans want to do. We need to remember history. A Harris poll in early 1968 showed Dr King’s disapproval rating at near 75%. 1/4
Dr King won the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize for work against racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act became law by way of the work of Dr King, and many others, just not ppl amongst that 75%. Racism was & is deep in the USA. 2/4
Dr King was assassinated in April, 1968, in Memphis, where he had traveled to speak for and help in a strike by Black sanitation workers. He was not there for the pay. Despite federal law voting rights were ignored in some parts of this country. That 75% carried weight. 3/4
So today, as speeches are made & Dr King’s name invoked, remember his work for the poor and against racial inequality. One should read the political position of the speaker. If s/he opposes equal protection of the law and the right to vote, switch channels from Fox. 4/4
You need to be a member of Civil Discourse Now to add comments!
Join Civil Discourse Now