Mixing Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches into politics is wrong
Many liberals and conservatives use Martin Luther King Jr., or MLK, as the epitome of color-blind ideology. In fact, those same conservatives and liberals reference MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech so much that it is a wonder why he is so revered. In addition, MLK is used by those against affirmative action as a tool to discredit the entire black liberation struggle from the conception of this so-called democratic country. However, using MLK as a mechanism to support racial injustices is not only inaccurate but disrespectful. People need more education on the post-“I Have a Dream” MLK.
Could MLK support affirmative action and realize that it is a mechanism to remedy past and continued racial injustices? It is quite obvious that this is so. Moreover, MLK once stated “the vast majority of white Americans are racist.” Again, MLK did not say that we are all walking hand in hand, black and white; he stated that America is a racist country. So please, do not use King as an instrument to further faulty liberalism and conservative ideology.
Kyle Mays
Social relations and policy and history senior and member of the Young Democratic Socialists
as appearing in The State News, October 30, 2007
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