Leonard Pitts: Dear white conservatives:

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

When you’re right, you’re right. And you are definitely right about that quote from Martin Luther King.

When he stood at the temple of Lincoln in 1963 and declared his dream “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” he surely spoke a word for the ages. Your fondness for that word has not gone unnoticed. How could it? You invoke that line all the time – all ... the ... time – to show that King, had he not been murdered by a white supremacist in 1968, would have stood in solidarity with your social and political agenda.

Most recently, you’ve used it in opposing the teaching of critical race theory. You use it so much that a body might think you couldn’t name another King quote if the survival of the human species depended on it.

Well, did you know Martin Luther King said other things? It’s true! In a spirit of public service and in celebration of his birthday, here are a few of them. You’ll be happy to know that they support your right-wing agenda exactly as much as your favorite quote does.

For instance, use this one to show that King would have shared your love of capitalism:

“Something is wrong with capitalism. Maybe America must move toward a democratic socialism. We must develop programs that will drive the nation to the realization of the need for a guaranteed annual income.”

-more-

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pitts-dear-white-conservatives-130007545.html

[Casady1]

1. The truth about the confedracy

Go watch it on youtube. There are a couple of great videos and quotes by MLK that they don't bring out on MLK day.

[wnylib]

2. K & R

[scipan]

3. Well. I'm over 70 and that's the first time I have seen Emmett Till's face

after they got through with him. Yes they don’t teach us and they don’t show us the amount of pure hatred some white people have, but it’s a good thing to see it. That’s why his mother left the casket open.



Mamie Till:



Rest in power.

[Casady1]

4. Great video

Critical race theory is bo more than the “ southern strategy” redone.

[scipan]

5. Somebody should tell them you can't know who you are

until you know who you’ve been. As a nation that is. Not that they don’t know that and that is partly why they don’t want the truth taught. We might learn about white supremacy and that they are pure scum.

[scipan]

6. It was a very good video. I recommend.

Just can’t atm get that image out of my mind...it’s like the face of evil or something. They must have wanted to send a message, to his mother and other blacks: don’t step out of line. But sent with such malice.

People will be glad they have watched it although much of our history I already knew. I did not know the extent to which MLK was becoming radicalized for lack of a better word. He showed understanding if not tacit approval of the violent protests going on.

[Casady1]

7. On MLK day

I thought we should see the MLK they don’t show on MLK day. Jeffrey Robinson is so impressive. I was a history minor in college and they never taught this history.

[scipan]

8. I've always wondered

Why did they (J Edgar Hoover considered him an enemy even if by some confluence of events the FBI had nothing to do with his murder) think he was so dangerous? There were many more radical blacks with a following. Maybe they knew about his partial radicalization. But a simpler explanation was his popularity with white people. He had the potential to carry many of us whites with him. Not to dismiss the fact that he was already a danger to the white supremacist system.

But I do wonder if his movement toward a more radical position had something to do with his murder. He also came out against Vietnam.

[YP_Yooper]

10. Thank you for this

Last edited Tue Jan 18, 2022, 11:38 AM - Edit history (1)

Two notes:

* Interesting connection between Reagan running in the Deep South on a platform of racism and states rights that now define the Repubs
* Shows you where the racist strongholds are (not surprising)

Maybe a link between the Repubs and the map?

[link:|

[scipan]

9. I really like Leonard Pitts. A thoughtful person.

No one tells him what to say. He is his own person. As shown again by these much less popular quotes.

Let’s avoid the whitewashing of MLK. He is someone to listen to if anyone ever was.