Hello Meltingpot Community,
What do you think is the real meaning and purpose of the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday? I was recently disturbed when I saw a white woman announce gleefully that MLK day is when she takes her kids on their annual ski vacation. In other words, it’s just another day off work for her and her family. Clearly, she needs to read my previous post about the King holiday so she can squeeze some honoring of Dr. King in between swishing down the slopes.
That’s when it hit me. Not everyone is out here in these mean streets trying to spend this day making Martin Luther King’s dream of racial and social justice come to life…even for 24 hours. What’s more, even if folks are rolling up their sleeves and cleaning up school yards, feeding the homeless and/or visiting the sick and shut in, is this what King sacrificed his life for?
Whitewashed!
There are many public intellectuals and opinionated Black folks who are using their platforms to suggest that Martin Luther King, Jr.’s image has been whitewashed and his message diluted. Rather than paraphrase what people are saying, I’ll just give you some links for you to research yourself.
Kaitlyn Byrd says King’s legacy has been whitewashed by people looking for easy absolution.
Over on Scary Mommy Sa’iyda Shabazz says white people only want to remember Dr. King’s legacy of love instead of his call to action and change.
“This week, the US will indulge in an orgy of self-congratulation, selectively misrepresenting King’s life and work, as if rebelling against the American establishment was, in fact, what the establishment has always encouraged.”
The above quote comes from author Gary Younge who writes in the Guardian how King’s life and work was rewritten and revised to Americans feel better about their racist past.
Where Do We Go From Here?
What do you think, Meltingpot community? Do you think Dr. King’s life’s work has been whitewashed? What world leaders would be supporting him today? Who do you think is truly continuing his legacy in these mean streets?
I’m listening.
Peace!
Comments
3 responses to “Have We Whitewashed MLK or Just His Day?”
If people just read Dr. King’s book they’d understand what he asked us -society- to do. And there is an excellent reading list on the Stanford University Dr. King Center (I think its called) website.
Jane, Thanks for sharing – the website and your opinion. I agree that we’re all complicit in the softening of Dr. King’s message to a certain extent.
Yes. His calls for action, concerns about poverty, emphasis on peace (No Wars) are completely ignored and black people are implicit in not engaging in conversations and actions about these issues. I include myself. It’s hard to tear yourself away from middle class privilege.