From Dr King's "The World House..."
Some years ago a famous novelist died. Among his papers was found a list of suggested plots for future stories, the most prominently underscored being this one: "A widely separated family inherits a house in which they have to live together." This is the great new problem of mankind. We have inherited a large house, a great "world house" in which we have to live together-- black and white, Easterner and Westerner, Gentile and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, Muslim and Hindu-- a family unduly separated in ideas, culture and interest, who, because we can never again live apart, must learn somehow to live with each other in peace.
However deeply American Negroes are caught in the struggle to be at last at home in our homeland of the United States, we cannot ignore the larger world house in which we are also dwellers. Equality with whites will not solve the problems of either whites or Negroes if it means equality in a world society stricken by poverty and in a universe doomed to extinction by war.
All inhabitants of the globe are now neighbors. This worldwide neighborhood has been brought into being largely as a result of the modern scientific and technological revolutions. The world of today is vastly different from the world of just one hundred years ago...We live in a day, said the philosopher Alfred North Whitehead, "when civilization is shifting its basic outlook; a major turning point in history where the pre-suppositions on which society is structured are being analyzed, sharply challenged, and profoundly changed."
What we are seeing now is a freedom explosion, the realization of "an idea whose time has come," to use Victor Hugo's phrase. The deep rumbling of discontent that we hear today is the thunder of disinherited masses, rising from dungeons of oppression to the bright hills of freedom. In one majestic chorus the rising masses are singing, in the words of our freedom song, "Ain't gonna let nobody turn us around."
All over the world like a fever, freedom is spreading in the widest liberation movement in history. The great masses of people are determined to end the exploitation of their races and lands. They are awake and moving toward their goal like a tidal wave. You can hear them rumbling in every village street, on the docks, in the houses, among the students, in the churches and at political meetings. For several centuries the direction of history flowed from the nations and societies of Western Europe out into the rest of the world in "conquests" of various sorts. That period, the era of colonialism, is at an end. East is moving West. The earth is being redistributed.
https://www.beaconbroadside.com/broadside/2010/01/martin-luther-king-jr-the-world-house-excerpt.html
22 comments:
It's always nice to ruminate on the words of King, but how do they translate to the climate of today? Oppression...TRUE oppression of the kind too many on the left use the word to describe that which isn't...goes on all over the world, in China, N. Korea muslim majority countries, etc.
Yet even within a country like ours, living together in the same house is getting harder and harder given the lies and false narratives of the left. True peace, understanding and unity will never be achieved while so many lies are pushed down the throats of those seeking truth.
It's always "nice" to think of King's words... until you disagree with them and then it's "nice" to dismiss them. This has been the history of too many white folks.
Then you should stop doing that. The rest of us cite him accurately without pretending the guy was infallible and some sort of Biblical figure. He wasn't.
I can't think of any of King's words with which I've necessarily dismissed or disagreed. I have disagreed with your poor understanding of them. For example, you presented his description of rioting as (paraphrasing here) "the voice of the unheard", as if he was justifying, rationalizing or condoning rioting.
You're far more guilty of disagreeing and dismissing "white folks" who don't buy into your bullshit narrative and who instead prefer truth, facts and evidence.
I can't think of any of King's words with which I've necessarily dismissed or disagreed...
King on Reparations and debts owed to black citizens...
"There are those who still feel that if the Negro is to rise out of poverty, if the Negro is to rise out of slum conditions, if he is to rise out of discrimination and segregation, he must do it all by himself … But they never stop to realize the debt that they owe a people who were kept in slavery 244 years.
In 1863 the Negro was told that he was free as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation being signed by Abraham Lincoln. But he was not given any land to make that freedom meaningful. It was something like keeping a person in prison for a number of years and suddenly, suddenly discovering that that person is not guilty of the crime for which he was convicted. And … you don’t give him any money to get some clothes to put on his back or to get on his feet again in life..."
On money given to white farmers that was withheld from black people...
"...at the very same time America refused to give the Negro any land, through an act of Congress, our government was giving away millions of acres of land in the West and Midwest, which meant that the gov't was willing to undergird its white peasants from Europe with an economic floor.
But not only did it give the land, it built land-grant colleges to teach them how to farm. Not only that, it provided county agents to further their expertise in farming; not only that, as the years unfolded it provided low interest rates so that they could mechanize their farms. And to this day thousands of these very persons are receiving millions of dollars in federal subsidies every year not to farm... and they are the very ones telling black people to lift themselves by their own bootstraps.
...We have come to get our check."
More information on how modern whites are misreading or simply ignoring the parts of King's teachings that they don't like. That you don't know of any of King's words that you disagree with only shows that you don't know all of what King said and wrote.
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-mlk-quotes-context-20220115-6qjjvhfdrrgr5m4vr4vgbrbt5u-story.html
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”
—A Time to Break the Silence: April 4, 1967
“The evils of capitalism are
as real as the evils of militarism and racism.
The problems of racial injustice and economic injustice cannot be solved
without a radical redistribution of political and economic power”.
—King to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) board on March 30, 1967.
“…the price that America must pay for the continued oppression of the Negro and other minority groups is the price of its own destruction.”
—The American Dream: July 4, 1965
“White Americans must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society.”
—Where Do We Go from Here? 1967
“Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance.
It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the white people of America believe they have so little to learn. The reality of substantial investment to assist Negroes into the twentieth century, adjusting to Negro neighbors and genuine school integration, is still a nightmare for all too many white Americans…These are the deepest causes for contemporary abrasions between the races. Loose and easy language about equality, resonant resolutions about brotherhood fall pleasantly on the ear, but for the Negro there is a credibility gap he cannot overlook. He remembers that with each modest advance the white population promptly raises the argument that the Negro has come far enough. Each step forward accents an ever-present tendency to backlash.”
— Where Do We Go From Here: 1967
“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
—Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963
“Again we have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifices.
Capitalism was built on the exploitation of black slaves and
continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor, both black and white, both here and abroad.”
—The Three Evils speech, 1967
https://www.cityheightscdc.org/stories/mlk-quotes-too-radical-to-be-white-washed
Do you know what King's "Three Evils" are?
“We must see now that the evils of
racism,
economic exploitation and
militarism
are all tied together. And you can't get rid of one without getting rid of the other.”
Are you supporting white people putting "in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance..."? Are you reeducating yourself out of your racial ignorance?
"I imagine you already know that I am much more socialistic in my economic theory than capitalistic... [Capitalism] started out with a noble and high motive... but like most human systems it fell victim to the very thing it was revolting against.
So today capitalism has out-lived its usefulness."
"Capitalism forgets that life is social.
And the kingdom of brotherhood is found neither in the thesis of communism
nor the antithesis of capitalism,
but in a higher synthesis."
[alluding to, I believe, this very Beloved Community which you appear ready to denigrate and separate from Jesus.]
"Call it democracy, or call it democratic socialism,
but there must be a better distribution of wealth within this country
for all God's children."
"I am now convinced that the simplest approach will prove to be the most effective - the solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed matter:
the guaranteed income...
The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty."
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/21/11-most-anti-capitalist-quotes-martin-luther-king-jr
More from King...
“For years I labored with the idea of reforming the existing institutions of society,” he said, through “a little change here and a little change there, but now I feel differently.
You have to have a reconstruction of the entire society, a revolution of values.”
This is what he had in view in a 1966 article in Ebony magazine. “Our goal,” he wrote,
“is to create a beloved community and this will require a
qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”
That is also what he had in view when he declared in his last address to the SCLC in 1967, “What I am saying today is… ‘America you must be born again!’”
https://ibw21.org/commentary/uncompromising-anti-capitalism-martin-luther-king-jr/
One of the critiques of many modern white folks (including some moderate and liberal types) is that we want to embrace the 1/10th of King's words about a "color blind society" and non-violence without realizing the context of such words or the radical vision behind 9/10ths of what King had to say. Educating ourselves from ignorance on this point is an important first step.
Thanks for reminding me of his later socialism. I do indeed disagree with that. Capitalism has done more for the impoverished than any other system. To denigrate it because not everyone has achieved is what is truly evidence of misunderstanding. Rather than being a problem, capitalism is what is best for blacks who follow King's earlier focus on self-discipline, personal responsibility and work ethic.
Those who focus on that 1/10th of King's words are those who were never the racist segment of society in the first place. They are not Democrats, "progressives" and socialists. The 1/10th are the words most important for the betterment of all. The rest is socialist crap which doesn't do anything to lift up the poor, to change the ethic of the lazy or to eliminate the racism of those like you.
Marshal...
Those who focus on that 1/10th of King's words are those who were never the racist segment of society in the first place. They are not Democrats, "progressives" and socialists...
The 1/10th are the words most important for the betterment of all. The rest is socialist crap which doesn't do anything to lift up the poor, to change the ethic of the lazy or to eliminate the racism of those like you.
Unsupported claims are meaningless.
Do you recognize King as one of THE greatest leaders of the 20th Century?
Marshal continued to attack King with unsupported allegations and said that he (Marshal) struggles to recognize King as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century.
Hypocrisy knows no bounds.
It appears that for Marshal, as with so many white people, they are fine with ripping from context words from King like, "judged by the content of their character..." and say THOSE words are okay, but then those same conservatives ignore or abuse the greater context and meaning of King's words.
"The two issues – misuses of King’s memory and the Jan. 6 attacks – may seem like unrelated phenomena.
Yet in my book, “The Struggle for the People’s King: How Politics Transforms the Memory of the Civil Rights Movement,” I show how there is a direct line from distortions of King’s words and legacy to right-wing attacks on multicultural democracy and contemporary politics."
"In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a sanitized version of King was part of a conservative political strategy for swaying white moderates to support President Ronald Reagan’s reelection by making King’s birthday a national holiday.
Even after Reagan finally signed the King holiday into law in 1983, he would write letters of assurance to angry political allies that only a selective version of King would be commemorated."
"That version was free of not only the racial politics that shaped the civil rights movement but also of the vision of systemic change that King envisioned. In addition, Reagan’s version left out the views that King held against the Vietnam War.
Instead, the GOP’s sanitized version only comprises King’s vision of a colorblind society – at the expense of the deep, systemic change that King believed was needed to achieve a society in which character was more important than race."
https://theconversation.com/how-the-distortion-of-martin-luther-king-jr-s-words-enables-more-not-less-racial-division-within-american-society-195177
Other questions, Marshal:
Do you recognize the reality that the FBI tried to destroy Dr King? That they were actively seeking to undermine him and the Civil Rights cause?
Do you recognize how wrong that was?
Do you recognize the anti-"communist" fear and politicizing that happened in the 50s and 60s and beyond was mostly hysteria and counter-productive and oppressive of human rights and free speech?
Do you recognize that in our nation, we are free to consider and critique the weaknesses of capitalism and explore other options and how very wrong it was for a gov't agency to attack people who may have seemed to be considering or advocating Democratic Socialism as an alternative?
Marshal, abusive, vulgar, misogynistic comments will not be allowed here. You should know this.
"Do you recognize the reality that the FBI tried to destroy Dr King? That they were actively seeking to undermine him and the Civil Rights cause?"
I only know that King apologists who hate anyone who would dare question the life and/or character of King in any way are keen on trying to make that case. As I search out info, I continue to find tons of stuff all referencing the same source...which is typical with leftist crap. I'm willing to buy into FBI malfeasance with regard to many things in which they were involved, but I won't regard as "reality" anything those like you demand I must. IF there was any point where the FBI no longer concerned themselves with King's associations with known commies and focused instead on "destroying" (and really, for what reason would they), I've not been able to find it.
"Do you recognize how wrong that was?"
Depends on details I've not been able to uncover. And no, I won't take the word of King apologists. I only want facts and evidence before determining wrongdoing. I know that's anathema to lefties like you, but there it is. I will say, however, since you're a little petulant girl about such things, if your perception is accurate, then yes, that would be wrong. You'll have to satisfy yourself with the fact it's the only reasonable answer I can give to an incredibly unreasonable worshiper of King.
"Do you recognize the anti-"communist" fear and politicizing that happened in the 50s and 60s and beyond was mostly hysteria and counter-productive and oppressive of human rights and free speech?"
I only recognize that much of it went too far, but there was already infiltration into our government by commies. Communism is anathema to American ideals and all that's best for mankind.
"Do you recognize that in our nation, we are free to consider and critique the weaknesses of capitalism and explore other options and how very wrong it was for a gov't agency to attack people who may have seemed to be considering or advocating Democratic Socialism as an alternative?"
Yes. We're Constitutionally protected in questioning anything. But there's nothing at all wrong with the government of, by and for the people protecting the people from proven bullshit alternatives like "Democratic Socialism", considered by idiots to be a worthy possible alternative simply because "Democratic" is in the title. What's really important in this question is what is meant by "attack". Not all attacks are equal or equally immoral or wrong.
Marshal...
I'm willing to buy into FBI malfeasance with regard to many things in which they were involved, but I won't regard as "reality" anything those like you demand I must. IF there was any point where the FBI no longer concerned themselves with King's associations with known commies and focused instead on "destroying" (and really, for what reason would they), I've not been able to find it.
King was an innocent man who had done nothing. NOTHING. In this free nation where citizens are FREE to form their own opinions about economic systems, including capitalism and communism/socialism, having opinions about communism IS NOT and WAS NOT a crime.
King represented a threat to that part of the white population who did not want black people to gain power and possibly support more socialistic ideas, as King did raise, nor did they want them to question capitalism, even though it was NOT working for many historically oppressed minorities. But, that many white people feared black people gaining more power and daring to question systems common in the US, including capitalism, does not justify the FBI abusing its power to investigate a man who was innocent of all actual crimes.
Marshal...
I won't take the word of King apologists. I only want facts and evidence before determining wrongdoing.
Again: The fact is, it was NOT a crime in free nations like the US to criticize capitalism or consider socialism. Thus, the FBI - who was admittedly populated by racists, according to the data and what was and is clearly obvious - had NO justification to do all the surveillance into King and the threats that they made to him and to the Civil Rights movement.
Do you recognize that reality, that FACT, that criticizing capitalism and considering socialism was NOT a crime?
Do you then recognize that the FBI therefore had NO legal reason to do all the attacks and surveillance they did against King and the Civil Rights movement?
Marshal...
But there's nothing at all wrong with the government of, by and for the people protecting the people from proven bullshit alternatives like "Democratic Socialism"
Holy shit. So, you support fascism and gov't officials using the weight of the gov't to investigate people who have committed NO CRIMES? In the name of "protecting the people..."?
Do you not understand how fascist that is?
As to your attacks on King for ALLEGED "infidelities" made by racists who were actively trying to take King down... while defending King David who definitely (in the Biblical story) committed adultery AND who used and abused his power as King to seduce a married woman and then send her husband to his death (ie, murder) to cover up his crime? You think alleged gossip about consensual sex is worse that abusing gov't power to kill a man whose wife he'd slept with?
Is it possible you forgot that part of David's story (again, a man after God's own heart - LIKE KING - and a biblical hero and one who is considered a saint), the whole murder thing? You think these gossips of the racists at the FBI mean that King is worse than King David?
For what it's worth, I think the evidence shows that King probably did engage in infidelity in consensual meetings, but I am not accepting the word of the racists at the FBI at the time who, when they found NO CRIMES committed by this innocent man they were attacking, went with the "infidelity" charges and really built it up with UNPROVEN allegations.
That you listen to those racists while denigrating King is quite telling. We see where your allegiances lie.
Marshal...
But there's nothing at all wrong with the government of, by and for the people protecting the people from proven bullshit alternatives like "Democratic Socialism"
Yes. Yes, of COURSE, there is something wrong with that sort of fascism. That idiots like the racists at the FBI and people like you fear even the consideration of Democratic Socialism is NOT justification for witch hunts and attacks. That's fascism not suitable for a free people.
But that you think this is okay "not at all wrong with it..." wow. That says so much.
I'll give you a chance to walk back this crazy claim.
Marshal...
"and focused instead on "destroying" (and really, for what reason would they), I've not been able to find it."
?
Hm. What reason could there POSSIBLY be for a bunch of racists who wanted to keep white people in control and who feared even a hint of black and liberal people getting more power...? It's impossible to know.
Good Lord.
I'd said...
"Holy shit. So, you support fascism and gov't officials using the weight of the gov't to investigate people who have committed NO CRIMES?"
And Marshal responded...
Holy shit. So, you're going to continue lying about the legit concerns of a guy associating routinely with known communists?
"Associating with (allegedly) 'known communists'" is not and was not a crime!
And yes, there was the "anti-communist party" act that was passed in the 50s, but it was unconstitutional and eventually dismissed.
https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1071/communist-control-act-of-1954
Marshal also said...
And in that day and age, it (waging war against people accused of "associating with communists") was absolutely justifiable. Don't forget the times
Oh, I haven't. You're one of the few who appear to look back at the irrational, fearmongering "red scare" days with nostalgia. The craziness associated with the "red scare" conspiracy theories were wrong then and counter to a free republic, and they're wrong now.
Don't forget the times, indeed.
Marshal...
I didn't say it (associating with "communists") was a crime, you lying bastard. I said it's a legit reason during a period of intense commie activism in this country to look into the business of any who have close relations with known commies, especially someone leading a huge movement. It's not at all unreasonable,
It's "legit," in your head, to spend millions (?) of dollars and countless hours persecuting an innocent man because YOU PERSONALLY don't like the people he might have (but didn't) associate with legally?
You're sick. Your thinking is contrary to reason and a free republic. Unfortunately, this is a common malady in the modern GOP, which is living in a previous time and reality.
Marshal continues to complain, insisting the "commies" and "liberals" are inserting fear and division to gain control... FAILING to realize that red scares and stupidly false claims about the media, "liberals," "socialists," people of color, immigrants and LGBTQ people are precisely what the GOP has been using to try to sow fear and division in their efforts to gain power. Modern conservatism and their views are no longer the majority view and so the GOP no longer has a majority of people to vote them in to office, so increasingly (but for a long time), the GOP has been playing the fearmonger to try to get people to be afraid of The Other to try to consolidate power they don't have by just sheer numbers.
By Marshal's definition, I guess that makes the modern GOP a bunch of "commies..."
"It's "legit," in your head, to spend millions (?) of dollars and countless hours persecuting an innocent man because YOU PERSONALLY don't like the people he might have (but didn't) associate with legally?"
There's no "might have", liar. There's no doubt King associated with communists and marxists and was bent in that direction as well, particularly toward the end of his life. And again, in those days, communism was a globally spreading threat to democracy and liberty. This is not in doubt, either, as any first year world history student can attest.
So stop lying about me, the GOP and especially about King. Try "embracing grace" instead of merely talking about it.
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