Martin Luther King Jr And His Contribution

Artist Sketch by April Lynn Gosier

Today with the fueling of racism hot on the table, especially after accused white cop killing of black victims, and with the “gangsta rap” community indoctrinating youth that they are targets of police brutality, we can wonder if the conflict of race will ever go away.

One man in the 60′s attempted to unite races together, or at least to petition equal footing between whites and blacks. While his effort was remembered, his message memorable, it seems to have been buried with his body.

Martin Luther King Jr. accomplished what many have not. He penetrated his message into society through his “I Have A Dream” speech, that was a petition against segregation by nonviolence, as opposed to some of his contemporaries who promoted “power by any means.”

King was certainly stirred by segregation as he was a victim himself. He became angered by the obvious favoritism of whites and penalty to blacks because of their skin color and status. He adopted the movements of his predecessors, who may have been a bit more controversial in their approach. Especially that of violent protest, such as the message of rights advocate Frederick Douglas, who said, “He who would be free, must himself strike the first blow.” This promoted the idea that if blacks want to have any justice, they must act out.

While some of his contemporaries took a more literal violent approach, such as Malcolm X who taught by any means necessary. King though this to be counterproductive to his message. King seemed to adopt a more nonviolent approach to interpret “striking the first blow.” He promoted nonviolent protests that led the modern Civil Rights movement to pave the way for recognition of injustices and inequality. 

King argued that “The Negro must work on two fronts.” Direct-action protests against injustice must be accompanied by “a vigorous effort to improve his personal standards.” This echoed that of Booker T. Washington who taught blacks to rise up out of their conditions and prove themselves in education and promotion to exercise the tights to those privileges. This was a message to make opportunities and take them, rather than merely stand and fight and just demand equality. And told that no matter the job, you do a job, but do it well to achieve excellency in various fields of activity.

The second level of his message did however promote standing for civil disobedience if the injustices called for it. King affirmed “civil disobedience” as a means of protesting unjust positive laws. But this as a means to show its folly, not for the sake of disobedience itself and for protest in violence.

King message of approaching the issue with love and forgiveness rather than with anger and violence had criticism by his contemporaries. Malcolm X responded to King’s approach with scornful derision:

“The only revolution based on loving your enemy is the Negro revolution…. That’s no revolution…. A revolution is bloody…. Revolution overturns and destroys everything that gets in its way…. ”

Some preached a bloody violent approach of militant action. King scolded them that this was counterproductive to his cause, and would further divide and fail to accomplish any positive creative progress.

Society certainly has pressed down blacks and prevents some from achieving. But could it be the negative mindset that has contributed? Can the “you owe me” mentality be fueling the division? Especially when demanding retribution in the amount of social benefit through the political system. Rising up from poverty takes effort, but also breaking a generational mentality that unfortunately has been implanted in a race, as well as in others in society who look down on that rather than realize how the problem was created in the first place. A mindset both ways has been indoctrinated.

King recognized the root cause of social ills that afflicted black Americans. That which is rooted in unemployment, pitiful wages, and uneducation. He submitted a “Bill of Rights for the Disadvantaged” to hope to transform lives, and improve the conditions of school dropouts, family breakups, crime rates, illegitimacy, and social ills that continued to drive the community down. And to break the “ghetto misery.”

However, the response was not immediately favorable. It further proved that “America is deeply racist.” He wrote in a book published after his death, “White America must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society.” And at the same time the black revolution is forcing America to face the flaws of racism and poverty, which instead of reconciliation continues to create tension and bitterness between the races.

By nagging the issue, it has created further avoidance and separation. But by avoiding the issue it never gets addressed. Thus the dilemma.

So in the impatience of a solution, many in the black community have resorted to the Frederick Douglas approach, as well as adopting the militant Malcolm X mentality. As Black Power became dominant within the black community, which rose up violence and bitterness to address the situation, rather than rationale. But what do we do when the whites refuse to listen or understand? And the more the blacks draw attention, it further drives the two apart in resistance.

Some whites are hasty to put all the fault on the minorities, which keeps the tension. As some blame them for taking advantage of the “system” and remaining in poverty as a lifestyle choice. But for some it is a rut. And some know no other way as they have not been taught to get up, but stuck in a mindset, because they have been resisted against so long, as well as their generations. It is what is expected and indoctrinated. But then others who continue to look down upon them with contempt raises another issue. As subtle racism still exists, only masked behind class division.

Is forced equality the solution? Is social justice and benefits the solution? Well, possibly as a temporary means, but not as a permanent reminder and lifetsyle. However, what are we doing to remedy it? Perhaps we could educate. And make an attempt to help our fellow brothers and sisters. As Jesus taught, we are not to have hatred for one another in our heart. At least Martin Luther King Jr achieved the task of bringing the issue to our attention. However we want to look at it, he was respected by many on both sides of the isle and has contributed awareness.

But unfortunately the Elite powers rather use these issues to divide the masses. That way they can keep them in derision and from uniting to realize their potential against the real enemy, the Deep State. Possibly even the ones responsible for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.. And thus we have a topic for another time.

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Sources:

Information compiled from

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2014/03/martin-luther-king-jr-and-the-american-dream

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/king/aa_king_subj.html