WWMLKD?

So today is Martin Luther King day. 39 years ago Dr. King was murdered in Memphis, Tennessee. I will not go into the details of his life, but I will ask one fundamental question:would he be happy with what he sees today.

A controversial cartoon The BoonDocks explored that very question. It was a thought provoking epeisode and I encourage everyone out there to take a look at it when you get the oppertunity.




I wonder what Martin Luther King would say about the state of Black America today? One of King's beliefs was integration and the idea that a man would not be "judged by the color of his skin". Yet that happens all the time in America today. Part of that is based on the deep seated racism in the country and part of it is due to the severe state of political correctness. In America we are not supposed to say Black, but African American. But how do you know the person is even an American to begin with? Thats a suppsoition that you are nto compleltey aware. If a person was from The Virgin Islands, how much would they like being called an American? Probably as much as I want to be called a Frenchman!

What about the needless and senseless violence on America's streets. Do you know who Darrent Williams is? He was the Denver Broncos Cornerback that was murdered hours after the last Bronco game of the season. While it is not compleltey sure the reason, one thing is certain a young man's life was ended way too quickly. Some have suggested that this is another example of black on black violence. What about the gang warfare, drug dealing, and degradation of women in music and music videos? I believe MLK would be quite dissapointed with all of this.


What is interesting is some of the things his speeches and his movement led to.
For example a law prohibiting racial discrimination in employment was somethign he not only championed but was something that became law. Yet we see the practice a live and well on college campuses in the form of "affirimative action". If he was truly a man of his word(and I believe him to be)and in favor of equality for all, he should be strongly against this measure.

Now while Dr. Martin Luther King was a great man, he was still a man and not without folly. He had several extramarital affairs, was known for spending SCLC(Southern Christian Leadership Conference)on hookers and prostitutes. Furthermore he was a supporter of Marx and and fairly anticapitalist. He also plagarized his doctoral thesis at Boston University. That being said, his vision of equality was one that will put him in a special class of people. Sadly, 32 years later his dream his not alive for a varitey of reasons.

On the episode of the Boondocks I referenced, Dr. King watched TV and is throughly disgusted with what has happened to Black Culture. He then utters the line, "Where did we go wrong Huey". And the word that coems to mind is dissapointment. Thats how I really believe he would feel if he saw the world 32 years after his death.