Because people were bombing black churches and he preached. Because blacks had the right to vote in 1870 and Jim Crow laws denied the right, he marched. Because he protested Viet Nam, a war in which Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, 30 years later admitted we couldn’t win, he spoke out. Because his message and actions were nonviolent. Because this Martin Luther King’s birthday, January 15th, I pay homage to the man and the legacy. It is a day I sit in amazement of the strength, belief and fortitude it took to be the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.
It’s somewhat ironic that January 14, 1963, King’s contemporary, George Wallace took the oath of office as governor of the state of Alabama. In his speech, the line that stood out was:
In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.
In September of 1963, Wallace attempted to block 4 black students from enrolling in 4 different elementary schools in Huntsville, Alabama. After federal intervention, they were allowed to enroll on September 9, 1963 to which Wallace responded “The President (John F. Kennedy) wants us to surrender this state to Martin Luther King and his group of pro-communists who have instituted these demonstrations.” On Sunday, September 15, 1963, members of the Ku Klux Klan set off dynamite beneath the steps of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church which killing four little girls and injuring 22. These acts of violence did not deter King or weaken Wallace.
From March 7 – March 25 of 1965, King led the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama for voter rights The march started with 600 and ended with about 25,000 people for the end of discriminatory practices barring blacks the right to vote. After Bloody Sunday were marchers were beaten and bloodied by state troopers as they approached the Edmund Pettis Bridge, President Johnson in a speech said,
“Every man should have the right to vote and that the civil rights problems challenge the entire country, not one region or group. “ and the President asked Congress “to help him pass legislation that dictates clear, uniform guidelines for voting regardless of race or ethnicity and that allows all citizens to register to vote free from harassment.”
President Johnson went on to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was a step forward, but by no means a fait accompli in race relations. On April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee. In 1970, in a run for his second term as governor, Wallace ran what has been called the most racist campaign ever. Wallace aired television advertising with slogans such as “Do you want the black bloc electing your governor?” and circulated an ad showing a white girl surrounded by seven black boys, with the slogan “Wake Up Alabama! Blacks vow to take over Alabama!” Yet, Wallace stated, “I’ve never made a racist speech in my life.” But wait, there is more.Is Wallace a villain?
In his third run for US president as a democratic candidate, in 1972, Wallace was shot in an assassination attempt. He tried for a fourth run at the presidency in 1979. Then in the early 80’s, he contacted civil rights leaders he’d opposed in the 60’s and 70’s including Congressman John Lewis who suffered a fractured skull during Bloody Sunday. He gained the support of the African-American electorate and in 1983, became governor of Alabama for the third time AND made more African-American political appointments than anyone else in Alabama history. The Johnson tapes describe George Wallace is described as someone who does not listen and does not trust anybody. One of his three wives said, “I don’t believe George needs a family. He just needs an audience.” The family as audience wasn’t enough for his ego.” What caused the reversal? Is it possible once shot and confined to a wheelchair, he had to trust and take counsel in his recovery and everyday life. Is it possible, the vulnerability changed the ego?
NPR aired a story on Recy Taylor. In 1944, 6 men kidnapped and raped her as she was walking home from church. Despite being told to keep quiet, Mrs. Taylor reported crime. The first trial ended after 5 minutes of deliberation by a jury of all white men. The case was dismissed. The defendants admitted to the rape during the second trial, but the all male, all white jury refused to indict. Her home was firebombed. There were some who said, well it was consensual, that Mrs Taylor was a prostitute. She received death threats from white supremacist for 25 years until moving to Florida. The state of Alabama apologized in 2011. The sentiment was, well that was the time, that’s how we were raised, everyone did it. Is this a legacy we want to embrace? Because Alabama is all of us and it’s happening again.
In the recent Alabama Senate race, there is Judge Roy Moore. This man who was removed from the Supreme Court of Alabama for refusing to obey a federal court order. This man was banned from the mall in Gadsden, Alabama because of his predatory behavior toward young girls. When accusations of sexual assaults came from women who were 14 and 16 at the time, his supporters said, echoed a familiar chorus, “well it was different back then, we don’t know if it’s true.” An exasperated Charles Barkley finally said to Alabamians, “We’ve got to stop looking like idiots, do not vote for Roy Moore.” Roy Moore lost the election….and now, this,
The man who endorsed Roy Moore, AFTER, the allegations were known, Donald J Trump. Because he refused to shake the hand of Angela Merkel. Because he said to Billy Bush, “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything; Grab them by the p****. You can do anything.” Because after Charlottesville he said “violence on both side” Because he said o fMexicans, “They are not our friend, believe me. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” Because he said of Carly Fiorina in a Rolling Stone interview “Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that? Can you
imagine that, the face of our next President? I mean, she’s a woman, and I’m not supposed to say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?” Because 19 women have accused him of sexual misconduct including assault. Because he said Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?
Some media outlets have sane washed his last statement, “well he said what we were all thinking.” Or as he himself said, “I used strong language” Today, he said, “I am not a racist, I’m the least racist person you have ever interviewed.” Yes, and as noted before, George Wallace said “I’ve never made a racist speech in my life.” How do we want to go down in history. Is this another time when racism, sexism and assault go unchecked because, “it is the time and we can’t be sure?”
How many times will we flunk this test? How will time treat your views and opinions? Will you say,” well that was the time?” On this Martin Luter King day, what will you be, what will you stand for?
Balancing on Unstable Surfaces 