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From:
rkoch@banmlkday.com
“All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem
brings us face to face with another problem.” – Martin Luther
King, Jr.
On Monday, January 19, 2015, the U.S. will celebrate Martin
Luther King jr. This man who sang along with his Baptist church
at the premiere of Gone With The Wind in 1939, is known as the
most famous American Civil Rights leader in history. The
Reverend and Doctor, Martin Luther King jr. is celebrated every
January as a hero and an icon. What does he mean today, however,
in a racially charged 2015? The truth is slippery and
problematic, and so many other deserving names of our
forefathers and foremothers have been lost in the distant sea of
time.
Plagiarism ?
The fact of the matter is Black History is stained with cases of
plagiarism. Some theorize this was a natural response to an
unwelcoming academic world. In the case of the Reverend Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr., the New York Times reported in 1990 that
Clayborne Carson, the Stamford historian researching Dr. King’s
papers found “a pattern of appropriation, of textual
appropriation,” in his PhD dissertation. This discovery came
right at the time secrets and truths began to become uncovered
about the man and his sexual misdeeds.
Sex ?
Most of the shocking Sex scandal accusations were raised by J.
Edgar Hoover, the FBI’s also problematic leader. There are
obviously exaggerated allegations of sex parties, adultery, and
worse. A recently discovered uncensored letter from the FBI
denounces MLK’s “evil playmates and… orgies.” Now, I believe
people should have as much fun as they want, assuming everyone
is a consenting adult. But King prided himself on being a
spiritual leader, and this is contrary to what he preached.
Christianity ?
The Civil Rights movement led by the Black Church in the 1960's
is problematic for me as a Pagan woman of color — for sure. Even
within this public struggle for equality, first hand accounts
often tell of women left to run the kitchen and the home. Who
has to be in the kitchen, who has to be in the back of the bus…
when the lower status positions are determined based on the
color of one’s skin, or what is or isn’t hanging between their
legs — we have a problem. Christianity, despite its doctrine, is
not always the most welcoming of religions. Civil rights takes
on a new character when viewed through the lens of continued
religious intolerance. While Christianity is for many a uniting
beacon, unfortunately it has been a weapon too, and for those
who have been hurt, this is hard to ignore.
History is written by the winners, and anyone paying attention
today can see that the Civil Rights struggle was not won after
the 1963 March on Washington, and is still a struggle today. So
what gets remembered will always continue to be spotty… I
certainly never learned in grade school that this legend was
possibly a Republican ??? Or that he and Coretta spent their
wedding night in a funeral home. I’m not saying this man isn’t
worthy of tribute, but let’s expand our knowledge and focus to
include some of the other pioneers of Black History – Marcus
Garvey, Zora Neale Hurston (Anthropologist and Folklorist),
Stuart Hall (Godfather of Multiculturalism), and others. We all
need a hero, I need a hero… I’m holding out for one, but maybe
St. Martin just isn’t it.
Leader, Problem, Adulterer, or Icon, what do you think? I would
love to hear your comments below. And remember don’t forget to
share the problem (this post).
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/voodoouniverse/2015/01/pondering- the-problem-with-saint-martin-luther-king-jr/
--- SoupGate-DOS v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)