The Weekly Blogger

January 15, 2007

Martin Luther King Day

by

Amiri Aton
Today is Martin Luther King Day; and here at The Weekly Blogger, and in the United States, we celebrate the day he was born. No matter who we think we are individually, the fact remains that we have been granted the opportunity to physically be here, and be whatever we are (race, sex, religion), and perceive ourselves as whomever we do, due to occurrences that came before us, completely out of our control. This has been the tradition of honor entrusted to us living, by those past, since the beginning of time. The hardships endured by those who came before us, we hope were not felt in vain. But more than hope, if we are respectful enough of ourselves to be honest, we can’t honorably disavow the innate sense of obligation to further our ancestors’ accomplishments. This is no different from a child bettering on the work of their parent. And no different from a child/parent relationship, we must outgrow myth, care to know, and understand the human circumstances of our heroes. Not to do so, would only nurture idolatry and admiration of the past, and create a system of individuals selling themselves short of their individual value.

In light of this day where we honor this great man’s legacy, let us remember some of the little truths that led to his assassination, so not to deny ourselves an understanding of what the man died for.

Not the first choice. The Civil Rights movement, like any great revolution did not happen by accident. It was methodically planned out to every socially conscious detail. Though Dr. King had a P.H.D. in ministry, and was a very intelligent man, he was not deemed as intelligent as the first potential candidate to front the movement. James Baldwin was an author and poet who specialized in the sociology behind black identity in America, but he was denied the opportunity to be the front runner for civil rights due to his homosexuality.

Conspiracies and Assassinations. James Earl Ray, King’s alleged assassin, has confessed multiple times that he did not shoot King and that he is a part of a government cover up. Whether this is true or not, the government is still suspect considering that upon creation of the C.I.A. the first main assignment given to the department was to follow and surveillance all the major leaders of black nationalist groups. The top three names on the C.I.A.’s surveillance list were Dr. King, Malcom X and Hughie Newton (creator and Leader of the Black Panther party), all of whom were assassinated.

Propaganda. It is often argued that Malcom X and Martin Luther King had conflicting views. King promoted nonviolence and X insisted a man should have the right to bare arms against unjust assaults. This was a conflict more heavily promoted by the movement’s opposition, trying to make it appear like blacks can’t get along, than by the two men themselves. In fact, upon X’s suspension from the nation of Islam, and finding out they were funded by Texas oil companies, he realized the segregation of the races in America was just another tool of control being enforced by a wealthier power. This is what lead to his assassination.

Finally, the ultimate result of Dr. King’s dream would be to see all ethnicities coalesce as one. If anything, we as a people diverge from this idea aggressively. Though, the ever more segregating nature of our society is newly contested by expansions in the internet. In sum, I will quote the words of the great Martha Minow. With the genuine full racial integration of America in mind, she said there are two types of people in the world, people who think there are two types of people in the world and people who don’t. King was obviously a man who believed in one type of everyone.

THE MARCH

The Boondocks This intuitive cartoon on adult swim has grown in popularity spoofing the modern day conflicts within the black American community. In this particular clip, the young aspiring rebel has managed to bring Dr. King back to speak at a modern day march on Washington which appears to be more like a club than a revolt for change. It speaks on the black circumstance in America today.

--------------------------------------------------------

You have just read one of the many Blogs being published in this week’s issue (Jan.15th-21st) of The Weekly Blogger. If you like what you see, please feel free to contact our writers with your opinions either by commenting on this submission, or contacting the writers themselves through MySpace. The following articles will be published throughout the week in this issue.

Blogger Staff

Amiri -Martin Luther King Day
Crystal -Sex on My Space
Dean -Why the Bad Guy Wins in Real Life.
Introvert in Grandma’s basement -Conspiracy Theory
Lee -AnimAsian
Simon Alexander -Editor’s Closing Address

The Weekly Blogger's Seal of Approval

All advertisements and consumer reports will be posted periodically throughout the week. If you represent a company and would like to advertise in The Weekly Blogger please e-mal your information to collegetownt@gmail.com.