Has Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy been whitewashed? | The Stream

Fifty years after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., how are social justice activists in the US remembering the iconic African-American civil rights leader?

Critics of King's mainstream portrayal say his "dream" was more than just desegregation and voting rights for black Americans. King was a Baptist minister who supported democratic socialism and spoke out against US imperialism. Near the end of his life, he organised a "Poor People's Campaign" for economic justice, yet alienated some progressive allies by publicly denouncing the Vietnam War.

In the decades since his death, has MLK's history been whitewashed or co-opted? And how does King's legacy influence the work of present-day activists?

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #MLK #MartinLutherKing

[markeysonwoodcraftandcarvi]

In many peoples' minds, Dr. King is directly contrasted to Malcolm X. So it's easy to picture him as a more passive, softer, and agreeable figure when comparing him to the more radical elements of his time. Even Malcolm X criticized King for his less aggressive stance.

[simondilling]

Absolutely. They have simplified and misrepresented Reverend King.

[Charmelllee]

I get so tired of the I have a dream speech. Cause he has some radical speech or I have to same " not turn the other cheek " speech.
Like the one when MLK Jr. Mentions " we are coming to Washington to get our check. That is when he makes mention of stolen labor and land. I loved MLK Jr. and he wasn't that down with turning the other cheek and admitted he made a mistake by that too. To me he is and was a better Saint than the Pope and never said he was god on In Peace with your beloved Coretta.

[RusstafaB]

My Grandad preached out in the USA during the late 50's and 60's on revivalist missions and met MLK and Billy Graham several times.
In the eyes of God we are al equal regardless of ethnicity or colour/anything .
My Grandparents who were Pentecostalists regularly had to escort their black brethren back home in London (Notting Hill area) in the 1950's early 1960's as the Teddy boys and other racists use to give black people a really hard time back then.
It is good the times have changed and hopefully we can all live together in peace and harmony.

[ajubragis]

the aljazeera anchor is really good at her job

[inder]

So proud to be to be from the land of Mahatma Gandhi who inspired Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther. In today´s world we again tools used by Gandhi and the rest. Gandhi was denied Nobel prize

[Mr.Moe...]

That lady at the start is a messed up lady. Lost my intrest in this channel after seeing that.

[muhammedshakeebodakkal]

World is proud ñelson Mandela and Luther king's

[eifelitorn]

He also plagiarised his thesis in College. What an honest guy.

[Mohammedvlogging]

Linda is a munafiq
We must boycott that yajuj majuj at all cost.