This comment by wellokaythen on the post Three Martin Luther King Quotes You Probably Won’t Hear Today
This is why so much of the commemoration stops the story at the “I Have a Dream” speech of 1963. Much of the stuff after that is considered too unpalatable for many white people. A lot of Northern white allies were much more comfortable thinking of racism as that thing that white southerners do and did not really want to think about what it meant for northern cities. They were thinking, “Make those hillbilly southerners desegregate, but don’t worry about the North and West, because we treat everyone the same up here….”
Using the word “freedom” is always much less controversial in America than using the word “equality.” “Freedom” is vague and patriotic, while “equality” has too many radical connotations. That’s why even conservatives are okay with quoting the “I Have a Dream” speech.
Another great MLK antiwar quote:
“Today…we have guided missiles and misguided men.”
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Question of the day:
Are we striving for a color blind society or one that celebrates our differences and provides equality to all regardless of color, race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation?
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In your question of the day: Are we striving for a color blind society or one that celebrates our differences and provides equality to all regardless of color, race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation?
You left out disability. I guess even in your progressive utopia some will be more equal than others.
Thank you for pointing this out. Most of us view disability as included in the other groups, however, I see your point and it is an important one. Disabled people are discriminated against separately from being a part of other groups as well and should be protected and included just like everyone else.
El Hajj Malik Shabazz (Malcolm X) was too radical for most Blacks today! Many would still recite Martin’s words in public and Malcolm among each other. MLK was major in America. His impact did lead to White and Black and all other types of people marrying, having love children, and contributing to a Mulatto/Black president. Martin – I got your back bro. Don’t trip.
“Freedom” is so vague and patriotic that it even acts a as buzzword for war, imprisonment, and violations of constitutional rights. Torture a terrorist suspect and it’s “freedom.” US national security interests = freedom.
He was a wise man who understood that change takes time and that you have to engage people in baby steps, especially in what was a radical and controversial issue of race equality at the time, and in some circles still is. We have made strides towards equality since 1963, but there is no doubt that we have a long way to go.
While folks LOVe to cite and quote the speech, he DID say much more Radical things 20 minutes BEFORE he even started saying “I have a Dream”………
A lof of white folks wanted something they could feel comfortable quoting. Malcolm X, the Black Panthers, and the later incarnation of SNCC scared the bejeezus out of them. (If “bejeezus” is offensive to anyone, I apologize.) Fair to say that Malcolm X was just too hard for your average 1960’s white person to quote.
Ironically, MLK got a little more radical before he was killed, and Malcolm X actually got a little more moderate before he was killed.
And, the wording of the “I Have a Dream” speech is politically very centrist, even a little conservative in some senses. It sounded pretty radical to some people at the time, but when you really analyze the word choices and the examples MLK chose, you can see how middle-of-the-road it was. It’s the easiest, most palatable speech for many whites who were/are not so sure about “this whole civil rights thing.” The speech is so popular precisely because it doesn’t require all that much. It’s patriotic and celebrates the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Christianity, the nuclear family, and capitalism… Read more »