Being a Canuck, I never grew up learning about Martin Luther King Jr. Actually, there aren't many blacks outside of the major cities here in Canada. Either way, I think it's truly fascinating what he did, and his famous speech should give anybody goosebumps his legacy lives on MLK Day, read all about it.
Here is a quick clip from the 2006 Documentary American Blackout. Congressman John Lewis Illustrates some of the courage of Black Americans had during the time of MLK.
via videosift.com
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. I have heard Congressman Lewis speak a number of times, and he is fascinating to listen to.
Looking at those old black and white films and photographs, one would think it was from some country with a brutal regime or dictatorship. Tough to believe it happened in the U.S. - but it did.
David S. at 6:07PM on Jan 21st 2008
2. I remember in the early sixties as a middle-schooler down South a classmate telling me that blacks did not deserve equality with whites...that they were descended from the son of Noah who uncovered him while he was drunk and so God punished them by turning their skins black and making them slaves forever...and then it wasn't that long ago that an interracial couple, the Lovings, in Virginia were arrested for being married and forced to stand trial and convicted but the Supreme Court threw out the guilty verdict...No doubt Pat Robertson thought The End was coming when that happened.....sign me, a white lady with some smarts
The Goddess Athena at 6:47PM on Jan 21st 2008
3. We need more like him today!
Patty at 7:20PM on Jan 21st 2008
4. What if we had a day when we celebrated the accomplishments of "white Americans" in the same manner that John Lewis has done regarding "black Americans"? Wouldn't that be offensive and racist? And Jeff, thanks for the memo about there not being many blacks in rural areas in Canada. I never would have guessed.
Dave at 8:32PM on Jan 21st 2008
5. Hey Hoard,
MLK was (is) a great American. And what made him so great was that no political party could throw money at him to keep him quiet. In other words, unlike activist/politicians today, he couldn't be bought-off.
By the way, I see where Canada took us off the torture watch list. It's amazing what an e-mail to France the UK and Austrialia is worth when it's necessary to slap Canada back in line (again).
Willet at 7:47PM on Jan 21st 2008
6. 5. Good point Dave. I think as soon as whites win freedom from the oppression that they have been suffering under for thousands of years, we should have set aside a whole week for that person who delivers us from oppression. (turning sarcasm off)
Sure, race issues are irritating. Many people get stuck on race issue and won’t/can’t move beyond them. I dealt with some of the worst criers and haters while in the Navy. Them: "You're just picking on me because I'm black/white/yellow/etc" Me: "No, I'm picking on you because you didn't do your job. I don't care what color you are. What I do care about is that you do your job." Of course this is “slightly” edited to remove colorful language of this former sailor. :)
Martin Luther King did a fantastic job of moving us toward making the statement “that all men are created equal” into a more true statement for this nation. I’m not naïve enough to think that race issues will ever disappear, but we can have a level legal framework for all people no matter what their color, sex, etc.
Ken at 9:25PM on Jan 21st 2008
7. who could blame him? I'd be asleep too if I was forced to sit through that crap
Nicole at 9:51PM on Jan 21st 2008
8. A few more facts about Dr. King that the politically-correct media won't tell you-
Dr. King had 2 advisers who were members of Communist Party USA- attorney Stanley Levinson and SCLC director Hunter O'Dell. A man named Bayard Rustin, who helped organize Dr. King's 1963 march on Washington, also had ties to the Communist organization.
President Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy tried to persuade King to disassociate himself from these advisers. When King would not comply, the Attorney General ordered the FBI to place wiretaps on Dr. Kings home, office, and hotel rooms.
One of the things the wiretaps revealed was that Dr. King engaged in numerous affairs with other woman. President Johnson said that King was a "hypocrite preacher". Even King's friend, Ralph Abernathy, stated in a book he wrote in 1969 that King was a womanizer.
Regarding his advisers, Dr. King said, "There are as many communists in the freedom movement as there are Eskimos in Florida." The head of the FBI, J.Edgar Hoover, said that King was "the most notorious liar in the country." King was also sympathetic towards the North Vietnamese during the war, stating how he admired certain aspects of their culture.
What's the most amazing is that we have a national holiday for this man.
DavesRaves at 10:02PM on Jan 21st 2008
9. It becomes obvious after reading posts submitted by "certain people" that their intention is not so much to comment on any given topic in intellectual discourse, but to "stir the pot" up a bit. Well, in honor of these stalwart spleen venters, I hereby present a clinic given by members of the Cambridge and Oxford Universities' Alumnni Associations. Some of you may have already seen this 6 minute tutorial:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y05EmK66Gsk
BILL G at 10:19PM on Jan 21st 2008
10. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ WAKE UP BILL, MONICA'S HERE
IRONBLUEEYES at 10:31PM on Jan 21st 2008
11. Lets try this again!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=y05EmK66Gsk
BILL G at 10:37PM on Jan 21st 2008
12. So now we are quoting J Edgar Hoover, the most corrupted public official this country ever had, possibly with exception of Richard Nixon, to discredict Dr King? Was he wearing the yellow sun dress or the red pumps when he call Dr King a communist? Pleaseeeee...excusme while I vomit
luis at 10:39PM on Jan 21st 2008
13. Bill Clinton tends to fall asleep during important and historical events. He also fell asleep during President Reagan's memorial service while leaders of the free world were speaking. I'd like to think he's just a really tired guy, rather than blatantly disrespectful.
laura at 11:22PM on Jan 21st 2008
14. I hate to break it to the trembling, little, cave-dwelling whelps here, but Communism never really was that great of a threat to begin with. So, sadly, using it as an insult, or as some sort of bizarre fuel to discredit a dead man, is pretty pathetic, and you simply come off looking more like a brainless 1950's rube whose time has long since passed than anyone who is capable of functioning in the 21st Century.
Still... It's fun to laugh at the addlepated half-wits and their ubiquitous "red scare redux."
Dan at 11:34PM on Jan 21st 2008
15. Our country sleeps with many devils( Dictator countries, non-democratic countries,despot regimes) to get materials for our economy, like Oil. Dr King would have worked with the devil if it meant he could achieve equality for Blacks.
Please convince me there are not many politicians sleeping with someone other than their wife now or in the past? I guess Laura Bush had problems with George early in his presidency due to his relation with the Gay "so called" reporter( I really hope this is no surprise rumor that I am spreading).
Tommy at 11:35PM on Jan 21st 2008