The further removed we get from that time, the more difficult it is for younger people to appreciate just how chaotic those times were and how dangerous it was for a man like Martin Luther King to fight for what was right and speak out the way that he did.
Coming into the 1960’s, African Americans still had to deal with the Jim Crow laws, which had been created and enforced by White Democrats during the past 90 years. These laws mandated separate but equal status for African Americans, but resulted in inferior service and accommodations. They also were designed to restrict their civil rights, thus disenfranchising African Americans by restricting their ability to vote.
If that weren’t enough, there was the feeling of superiority and fear on the part of some European Americans (my preferred term for Whites), and the desire to keep African Americans down. Like most beliefs, there were differing levels of how passionate people felt on this subject, and that included many who were ready to commit violent acts to support their beliefs.
While these laws have been eliminated and tensions and attitudes have improved with time, it makes it harder for today’s youth to fully understand how great a man Dr. King was. He was a great leader and a hero for all of Mankind.
If Dr. King could pop in on us today, I think he would be proud of what changes and improvements have been made, but disappointed by how long it has taken and how much more work needs to be done. But, beliefs and attitudes that have been built up and existed over generations, will also take time to be corrected. This is similar to the changes that the US is trying to implement in the Middle East. Our presence may be required for longer than some people desire, but that is the only way to accomplish long lasting change.
Dr. King would be proud to see an African American playing an instrumental part in this presidential election, but he would be disappointed by the fact that there is so much attention paid to the fact that Barack Obama is an African American. Dr. King deserves better. Like all of our heroes, he should be remembered and celebrated for all they have accomplished, and not more so just because some pretender reminds a few people of him.
During this year’s celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., I heard many people trying to compare him with Barack Obama. This is not a fair comparison. The only place that the two are close is in their oratory skills. While Dr. King was a hero and a great leader, Mr. Obama is the poster child for the “Peter Principle”. He is already incompetent as a Senator, but now some are ready to promote him again.
Yes, it has to be said, comparing MLK to BO stinks!