The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated 40 years ago, on April 4, 1968. On today’s celebration of the civil rights leader’s birth, we excerpted the conclusion of his 1963 “I Have a Dream†speech on the Opinion page. His words still ring with power and challenge the nation to live up to its ideals.
Also on today’s Opinion page is a Leonard Pitts column on the Clinton/Obama campaign dispute about who deserves credit for the civil rights movement. Pitts notes that this debate shows how much America has changed, in that it is occurring between a black man and a woman, either of whom may be the next president. “The most important thing about this argument is not who’s right or who’s wrong,†Pitts wrote. “It is, rather, who’s having it.â€
43 Comments
Still hard to believe that some in our country acted that way towards blacks. I saw some of it growing up, not a lot though. Never really understood that kind of racist attitudes.
Dr. King was a very brave man doing what he did. Very forward looking individual.
Having been raised in a small Oklahoma town I am sorry to say that I never came into contact with a black person until I went to Mempis, TN as a nine year old. I couldn’t believe that they had to drink from a fountain in the park that had very little water when the one for the whites gushed water. This would have been in the early 50’s.
MLK was a savior for his people and I to live for the day when we look at other and don’t see the color of their skin.
I have a niece who with her African American husband have 2 year old twin girls who look a lot like their daddy. Last week they had a new baby boy. He looks like his daddy too but has the most beautiful red hair just like his maternal grandma. I hope that by the time he graduates from highschool the majority of people are indeed colorblind.
What an all American family.
Let us not forget that LBJ and JKF wire tapped MLK’s phone lines.
They were affraid of Communist influence in the civil rights groups.
They were right to worry, a little, but paranoid and possibly illegal, in their response.
MLK was a great, heroic man.
I have been called a “n—– Lover” and I have had the N word spray painted on my dorm. I have had crosses burned in the yard of my Frat House.
MLK did all of us a favor.
My civil rights stance was ALWAYS rather selfish.
How dare anyone tell ME who I can talk with or live with?
MLK gave Whites the opportunity to cross those racial lines, as well.
I agree 100% with econ101. Dr. King was a role model for what all citizens should strive to become. It’s sad he hidn’t have longer time on the earth to effect more change. I cant help but wonder where we as a human race would be today if he had lived out his life…..
When one looks back at the presidential consequences of racism, one finds both Eisenhower and Nixon to be the ones at the forefront of opening doors for blacks in this country. Ike hated racism, and expressed often. Tricky Dick opened more colleges to blacks than any President before or since. Not a bad legacy.
I was raised in a town that was divided into three sections: White, Black, and Mexican American. While racism was a topic of discussion, there were very few racial incedents. Of course, this was in Venice, California, so there were no segragated buses, restaraunts, or water fountains, but the undercurrent was there. Mostly stoked by stories coming from the south.
When Watts blew up, it was more over how the blacks saw the police, who were, at that time, more instigators than public servants. Prior to the Watts riots, there were few places where anyone, white, black, or Mexican American could go. That changed after the riots. And I think that was mostly due to the killings that occured during the riots.
It started in WICHITA:
http://stubbornfacts.us/random/almost_forgotten_history
Kansas can be proud.
John Brown was a bit of a nut, but he had guts. Brown attacked the wrong people and had no political talent.
The Kansas Nebraska Act actually started the Civil War.
The burning of Lawrence was one of the “Free Soil” border war battles, prior to formal Southern rebellion.
However, what most historians miss is this:
Wichita TAUGHT the NAACP how to do these things, peacefully and successfully.
MLK learned from Kansas, and from Wichita.
Brown attacked the wrong people and had no political talent.
Sound like anyone in the White House we know??
Actually, I forgot to mention the “other” Brown, in Kansas civil rights history:
“Brown VS Topeka Board of Education”
I think that forced bussing was a bad idea, helping to eliminate the “neighborhood school” idea and removing parental assistance, in large measure, from many inner-city schools.
Even so, Kansas was a leader, again.
Paul – First, thank you for that link, it was a nice story to read about my home town. Second, wasn’t Kansas the first state to ratify the Civil Rights Bill? I was sure I had read that somewhere.
Sorry guys, I must have been thinking of something else; Kansas was not first to ratify the Civil Rights Amendment.
The U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark 1954 Brown VS Topeka School Board case said relative conditions of white and black schools wasn’t the issue. The issue was that students of all cultures should attend schools together to learn to live together successfully.
Now in 2008, Wichita’s USD 259 school system is considering taking another momentous step. That is eliminating busing for desegregation purposes. Of course, remember that busing for desegregation purposes is only a relatively small reason for busing students so we will continue to see school buses on the streets.
Most people agree we don’t want to see schools resegregate into one culture schools. This is a very complicated situation because the cultural mix has grown in Wichita. We now have sizable Hispanic, Asian, middle-Eastern populations. Many Wichita white and black populations can point to having some percentage of American Indian blood, often Cherokee Indian.
Discussing the current tragic riots taking place in formerly peaceful and progressive Kenya, in east central Africa, I was told by a Kenyan that some 30,000 Kenyans might be currently living in the United States generally pursuing educations that can, hopefully, be taken back to improve living conditions in Kenya. A close knit Kenyan group lives here in Wichita.
My point is America and the world, for that matter, is well beyond the world of 1954. The U.S. is a multi-cultural country and should be setting an example to the rest of the world on how to live peacefully together.
ARE WE DOING THAT?
Econ,
Where did that happen?
The Little Rock, Arkansas School desegregation pictures, white adults, twenties, teens, screaming hate at black little kids alarmed me, still does.
With my attitude, it wouldn’t have been good for others or myself if I was born during that time in the late 50’s.
I wouldn’t have followed the peaceful march’s in the 60’s.
People suffered trying to get protection from the Federal Government. I hate “State Rights” talk whenever it comes up. States Rights supporters in the past wanted to keep racist laws going, no matter what the Federal Government did.
I don’t understand old neighborhood covenants, no homes can be sold to blacks. It’s a tragedy people thought that way and some still do.
Racism is a waste of mental capacity. People are dumber if they are racist. If they act racist, they are *ssholes! It’s not an explainable position.
Every ethnic group has challenges in their membership. I like cultural differences. I hate cultural paranoia and mistrust.
Blazing Saddles is my favorite movie, its a joke more than anything to be racist.
When racist crimes occur, how can people be so dumb!
Econ,
Where was your dorm? What school?
The Little Rock, Arkansas school desegregation pictures and video always disgusted me. Those people screaming racist hate at children.
I would have been militant in the 50’s against those kind of people. I wouldn’t have walked peacefully in the 60’s marches.
I would have injured myself and others because the federal government wasn’t doing their job giving equal protection to citizens.
I hate “States Rights” comments today, because back then States Rights wanted to continue racist laws no matter what the Federal government did.
I’m black and really haven’t felt too much racism. I’ve heard it and got angry. Don’t bring that to my face. There will be a reaction.
I’m appreciative of past folks suffering under racist laws and opinions. How to hate that way, I’ll never understand.
Being racist is a failure to use mental capacity. Racists are dumber. Every ethnic group has challenges in their membership. There are some bad examples. There are criminals doing racist things. They are *ssholes in personality.
The NFL is getting their first black referee for the Super Bowl, that league has been around decades, its been too long for that to happen.
Challenges exist in business to be inclusive.
Kids learn values from biased parents do them an injustice. Racism is a learned experience and it harms a personality.
Mirage
Sigma Phi Epsilon, WSU, late 70’s to early 80’s.
The jerks liked to paint an “N” over the S.
—–
By the way, Eisenhower did activate Federal troops, in Arkansas.
Senator Fulbright, Bill Clinton’s political sponsor and mentor, was part of the problem in segregated Arkansas.
Mirage
One of the casualties of the civil rights era was, sadly, “States Rights” or the 10th Amendment.
Racists misused that Amendment, unfortunately for all of us.
TDT
Kansas was quick to ratify the 13th Amendment, which actually outlawed slavery in Delaware and Kentucky. Lincoln’s “Emancipation Proclamation” only freed the Slaves in rebel, Confederate States, not in loyal States. Kansas Ratified in the same month as all of those, ahead of us:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
Kansas was 9th to Ratify the 14th Amendment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
Kansas was 25th to ratify the 15th Amendment:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
You know it is rather funny to see people argue over whether Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr or Lyndon Baines Johnson did the most to pass a civil rights act. The FACT is that neither of them did. The people that did the most to bring about civil rights were the thousands of blacks (Negros as they were called in the 1960s) that took to the streets of Watts, Harlem, Chicago, Detroit and Newark and burned down half the city. That showed the white power structure in the country that they just simply were fed up with being “non citizens” and they they were not going to accept it anymore. The fact is that as long as the Negro marched in peace while the whites spit on their children and sprayed firehoses at them, the whites were content with the status quo. But when white politicians and corporate executives looked out the windows of their high rises and saw the cities below them on fire, only then did they call the politicians and say “do something because this is costing us money”. Power never conceeds anything without a fight. People do not give you rights because they want to be nice. They give them to you because you demand them. It is too bad it had to come to that but unfortunately it did and it looks like the Mexicans will probably have to do the same to gain their rights because we treat them as we did the blacks in the 1960s. Maybe even worse. Sooner or later they will get tired of it too.
“”"The Little Rock, Arkansas school desegregation pictures and video always disgusted me. Those people screaming racist hate at children.
I would have been militant in the 50’s against those kind of people. I wouldn’t have walked peacefully in the 60’s marches.
I would have injured myself and others because the federal government wasn’t doing their job giving equal protection to citizens.”"”
If one of those kids was my little girl, I would have went down there the next day with a Tec 9 and killed the first one of them that even got near her. I never understood why the Negro was as docile as long as he was. No white person would have ever put up with their kid being beat and spit on. When somebody does your kid that way and the authorities don’t want to deal with them, you should.
Econ,
There are many things that need to change at WSU. I had one friend at a Frat there. I knew one girl in a Sorority. I didn’t think they were having fun, but had to be part of that experience, y’know! Like it was a family obligation.
WSU didn’t seem to have a good environment for Frats and Sororities. I was there 84-85.
It’s sad guys were so bored they did that kind of vandalism. WSU doesn’t need an image like that people should remember.
At KSU Frats schemed to get girls drunk, seemed to be their only purpose. One Frat had a black pledge called him a wigger to his face and he had to suffer with it. Why would a guy want to be in a Frat like that?
I had to take a drunk girl that was a friend of mine, from them. They got in a threating stance, four of five of them. I said, I’ll fight to take my friend, let’s go at it. But they parted, let me get my friend out of there. She calls me crying they wouldn’t let her go. I told her not go to those Frat parties.
At another KSU Frat, they attacked two guys for no reason. Then a friend of mine, incredibly punched out about 20 guys in revenge. Beat up the whole Frat, he went inside to take them on individually.
It was funny and a shame. Violence begats violence, don’t threaten if you can’t back it up.
This isn’t a big town, surely you see those guys around occasionally. I see old classmates from WSU and KSU enough at random places.
Kev
You are simply wrong.
MLK showed the way, after taking his lessons from the Wichita, Dockum Drug Store sit ins.
The Black radicals who preached violence and hate were no better than the White racists.
Look at the Black Panter Party, and at some groups that were even more radical than they were. Black on black torture and murder, in the ranks of those political movements, was horrible.
waaaahh?
CapnAmerica complaining about no MLK thread and then doesn’t post in it.
Guess he was too busy putting up dead soldiers and dead baby copyrighted photos.
Econ,
I now see the value of peaceful protest. I was born in more peaceful time period thankfully. Social change had already occurred.
My personality today, I wouldn’t have liked those images of racist hate on TV. Dr. King had to be really powerful calming revenge minded people down.
The large peaceful protests can change society.
To solve neighborhood gang violence in sections of town, all of Wichita should march on some streets, to say, its not your gang blocks, these are our city streets.
Some of those dangerous places just don’t have enough street lights.
“The Black radicals who preached violence and hate were no better than the White racists.
Oh I don’t think I agree with that.
Yeah hate is hate. But one party had been victimized by the other for 400 years. Outnumbered 9 to 1 it is not likely they would have achieved the level of equality they have WITHOUT some acting out.
My dad was an athlete in high school in Fort Scott in the 30’s. He told me the white kids and the black kids had separate showers and locker rooms. And it just didn’t occur to anyone that it should be any different. Like the song says “That’s just the way it is.” Not so much prejudice as just ignoring it. To whit, accepting it.
Dr. King was one voice. An important voice, but his words alone could not have changed things. All of society had to be jostled awake and made to look at itself.
I have resisted posting on this thread today, because of the hypocritical statements in praise of Dr. King from the Right.
If Dr. King were ALIVE today, those on the Right singing his praises today would be savaging him just as they do any liberal citizen or politician.
Dr. King believed in non-violence – there are those here that do not believe that Jesus preached pacifism and non-violence.
Dr. King believed in racial equality – there are those here that scream “reverse racism” at the mention of Black History Month.
Dr. King believed in a hope for the future for ALL Americans – there are some here feel that “Piss On You” economics are the answers to the American economic condition.
Dr. King believed that America should help those of us that are less fortunate – there are those here that feel we should spend $5 billion a month on a misguided war before we spend $5 billion A YEAR for health care for the children of the working poor.
I am not given to hero worship, but Dr. King comes as close to a hero to me than any other man living or dead.
It is too bad that so many would tarnish his legacy.
WSClark
Posted January 21, 2008 at 7:20 pm
“I have resisted posting on this thread today, because of the hypocritical statements in praise of Dr. King from the Right. It is too bad that so many would tarnish his legacy.”
Who would those hypocrites be there William?
Are you saying that no one but yourself can say kind and honorable things about a remarkable man?
That’s rather arrogant.
Trolls, do not feed the trolls……………..
I ALMOST fell for it.
Trolls, do not feed the trolls……………..
I ALMOST fell for it.
Not quite.
“”"Econ,
I now see the value of peaceful protest. I was born in more peaceful time period thankfully. Social change had already occurred.
My personality today, I wouldn’t have liked those images of racist hate on TV. Dr. King had to be really powerful calming revenge minded people down.
The large peaceful protests can change society.
To solve neighborhood gang violence in sections of town, all of Wichita should march on some streets, to say, its not your gang blocks, these are our city streets.
Some of those dangerous places just don’t have enough street lights.”"”
I don’t agree. Social change will never occur without violence. Violence is what changes things. Marching about singing “we shall overcome” usually does not. When one group of people (whites) think they can bully another group of people, the other group will be bullied until they kick the bully back.
WS,
Dr King believed that abortion was wrong, Do you?
Kev
I do believe in the 2nd Amendment, precisely because I do not trust the government to always employ good people, and because we must have the right to protect ourselves FROM government run wild, if that day ever comes.
However, it is entirely possible to bring about change without violence IF the target of your nonviolent protests has a conscience.
King’s methods would not work against a lesser country. Not against Nazi Germany. Not against a Communist tyrant.
King’s methods were perfectly suited for America, because America is, basically, good. King appealed to our better nature.
If middle clase Whites had not seen the human side of the debate, presented by King and his followers, change would not have happened.
America would have no trouble discriminating against the likes of the Weather Underground and the Black Panther Party.
King changed the equation. White America was presented with someone to admire, rather than being presented with someone to hate.
—-
WS
You are a pompous ass.
I had the opertunity to stand for equality, long before my political views were formed.
In fact, my political views were formed, in large measure, by my admiration of Eisenhower calling out the Military, in Arkansas, againts the wishes of Segregationist and Clinton pal Democrat Senator William Fulbright.
One of the basic problems with bigotry and racism is “stereotyping”
You, WS, are one of the worst offenders, on this Blog, when it comes to stereotyping.
You presume to know what we conservatives would do, and what we believe, in all issues and in all cases.
On race matters, my views are nearly identical to J.C. Watts or Walter Williams, two Black leaders that I greatly admire.
Screw you, WS.
I owe nobody an apology, on this issue. Especially a pompous, know it all, prejudiced White guy like YOU.
“Dr King believed that abortion was wrong, Do you?”
Yes, but I also believe that it is none of my business to decide for other people.
“You, WS, are one of the worst offenders, on this Blog, when it comes to stereotyping.”
“Especially a pompous, know it all, prejudiced White guy like YOU.”
Stereotyping? Other than saying that I would never trust a Republican – which many Americans do not – how do I stereotype, Rossell?
And, Paul, I am multi-cultural, I am not a prejudiced white guy.
If you want the list, I am sure that I can write it all down for you…….
Loser.
“You presume to know what we conservatives would do, and what we believe, in all issues and in all cases.”
No, Rossell, I just respond to the idiocy that you post.
By the way, Rossell, care to refute any of the points I made?
WS
I think you know, full well, that some very good friends of mine are Jewish.
Also, you know full well that I am a vocal supporter of Israel.
I was honestly offended at your pre judging words, or prejudiced words.
I am not perfect, but I am no racist and I object when anyone plays the “race card” White or Black, in an inappropriate manor.
I think, Sir, that you did just that.
And
Kansas, please do not use the words “Heeb” or “Heebie” here.
If you are doing it, it makes us all look bad.
We should be above racial or anti-Semitic remarks and insults.
However, I leave open the posibility that someone else stole your nic, and used those insults, to make you look bad.
“I think, Sir, that you did just that.”
And how is that, Paul?
And, by the way, Rossell, James McCluer already admitted that he referred to me as “Heebie.”
No one stole his nic.
What the heck is a Heebie?
You mean Hebe or Heeb don’t you?
Heebie is from the term Heebie-Jeebies is it not?
“Heebie is from the term Heebie-Jeebies is it not?”
Nice try, Nathan, you bought McCluers pathetic attempt to defend his anti-Semitism. His statement was clearly directed at my partial ethnic Jewish ancestry.
“Heebie” is a variation on Heeb, etc, a clearly anti-Semitic term. It is as old as anti-Semitism it’s self.
WS Clark,
I didn’t “buy” anything. I simply know of the phrase “Heebie-Jeebies” and thought it was being mis-spelled when you said he called you a Heebie.
Usually the term which is used to be deragatory is spelled hebe, or so I thought.
Either way, if he meant to call you a hebe, it doesn’t matter.
Nice try defending your bigoted buddy, Nathan, but he clearly meant the statement as a slam on my heritage and he did it with a full understanding of what it meant.
Why do you think he switches nics every other week?
WS Clark,
Did you even read what I posted?
Here is the last sentence:
“Either way, if he meant to call you a hebe, it doesn’t matter.”
As in, it doesn’t matter how he spelled it, if he meant it in a deragatory way.
“As in, it doesn’t matter how he spelled it, if he meant it in a deragatory way.”
Well, it certainly wasn’t a god damned compliment.
You two are so far gone past being reasoned with that it is not even funny.
Obviously you have no reading comprehension at all if you think I was defending a bigoted comment here.
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