Here is a link to a very nice post detailing what Martin Luther King did (through the eyes of one self-proclaimed “African-American” woman) titled: “Most of you have no idea what Martin Luther King actually did”. I highly recommend this refreshment of history to everyone, it is well worth the read and comes from a perspective I am unfamiliar with.
Happy MLK day!
-Justin
Posted in: In the News, Justin Caouette
A Philosopher's Take 
darthphilosophicus
January 20, 2014
This is going to be critical, but I want you to know it is coming from a good place. I found the article you linked to demeaning to the legacy of King and demeaning to the civil rights movement as a whole. The writer presents King as one of the “Great Men of History” reminiscent of the way Newton and others have falsely been portrayed in the science textbooks. My point is that King became the leader of a movement that was already moving, and it was not King alone that made life more tolerable in the south. The writer also diminishes the impact of King on Americans as a whole and in doing so reinforces black Americans as an “other” in America. King was concerned about democracy and America as a whole, and about the victims of American foreign policy elsewhere in the world. When he was killed he had turned toward the eradication of poverty in the U.S. and was concerned with ending the Vietnam war. The legacy of King is who he was and what he stood for, not what he accomplished because he alone was not able to accomplish victories in the civil rights campaign. The greatness of King is his care and concern for all people, no matter the color of their skin, in the face of brutal oppression. I appreciate the sentiment, but I think your decision to link to this particular writing (in light of the many alternatives available to honor King and educate people about him) is tasteless and reveals either ignorance or just plain laziness on your part, maybe both. I criticize out of care, this is not a “gotcha” like is often the case in our world.
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Justin Caouette
January 20, 2014
Just in case you failed to read the first line of the piece let me quote it for you “This will be a very short diary. It will not contain any links or any scholarly references. It is about a very narrow topic, from a very personal, subjective perspective.” In other words, this is not an in depth look at his life or national legacy. Also, it is not intended to be a “teaching” tool for the masses, as the quote seems to put quite clearly.
The piece was written by a black woman giving her “subjective” take on what MLK meant to her and how she sees his historical legacy. I found the piece to be powerful and honest. The purpose of posting this link was not to give everyone a history lesson on King, rather, to share this one woman’s perspective. As a white man I understand his legacy differently, and to be honest I think it’s important to try and be charitable to all perspectives, especially those who see him in a favorable light and who have a different perspective on the world than you might. Anyone who wants to learn the details of his life can and should go elsewhere for MLK scholarship. I am sharing this piece, not out of ignorance or “laziness” but out of interest in different takes and perspectives.
You are entitled to your own take on what you think his legacy is. Likely, his legacy has different meanings for many. I suggest that you do not discount the meaning he has for others and privilege your own as if you have the last say on the topic. Further, I would prefer that you use your own name rather than a pseudonym, especially because of the name-calling–it’s classless to hide behind a pseudonym to talk down to others. If you’re confident enough to call people out in the manner that you have then you should be able to stand by your words with your real name. In the future, please apply the principle of charity and refrain from name-calling or you will not be allowed to post on this site.
Thanks in advance.
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Justin Caouette
January 20, 2014
For another great article on MLK I recommend this one https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/01/restoring-king/
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trueandreasonable
January 23, 2014
http://www.audible.com/pd/Religion-Spirituality/A-Knock-at-Midnight-Audiobook/B0032N4NOG
Here are some of his sermons. I listened to them 10 years ago and they were amazing and inspirational.
It seems audible doesn’t have the rights to the audio any longer. That is too bad because how he speaks adds to what he says.
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Justin Caouette
January 23, 2014
Thanks for this! I’ll check the web to see if I can find them. The sample was good in itself!
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trueandreasonable
January 23, 2014
Hmm I clicked on the copy I have it seems to still be available.
http://www.audible.com/pd/Bios-Memoirs/A-Knock-at-Midnight-Audiobook/B002V8L6C0/ref=a_listener__cco_1_1_t
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Justin Caouette
January 23, 2014
Thanks!
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