What History Forgets (Issue #36)
Today’s theme is Martin Luther King Jr. – a mindful exploration of our most celebrated Civil Rights icon and the myths around him.
Hi friends!
A few years ago, I made this Instagram post:
And then, a few days later, I posted this one:
It was the summer of 2020, shortly after the murder of George Floyd, when swipe graphics about racial and social justice dotted their way through countless Instagram feeds and story shares. It was a catalyzing time for me as a young Black woman living in Minneapolis, and I realized that folks resonated with the messages I had to share about my lived experiences, about history and systems, about racial and social justice. Quickly, my platform grew.
I no longer make online content like I did in 2020 (you can read more about my thoughts on that time and my reflections about online activism more generally here), but somehow every year these posts gain new interactions. Especially around MLK Day. And each January, like clockwork, I receive new hate comments and messages, pushing against a truth that makes a lot of white people uncomfortable – the real life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. is so much more than the revisionist history many of us were taught in school. During his lifetime, MLK was not “well-loved.” He was controversial, as was the entire Civil Rights Movement. He was an outspoken critic of capitalism and the white moderate. And the day commemorating his life and legacy that now serves as a day off for people across the country? Civil rights activists fought for the holiday’s approval by the federal government for 15 years! And still, another 17 years would pass before the day would be recognized in all 50 states.
And still, every year, I hear people touting Martin Luther King as the “right” type of Black leader. But the truth is, during his lifetime, MLK was considered the exact wrong person to be leading the movement.
And this revisionism? Well, I think it does a major disservice to MLK and the real revolutionary work he contributed to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.
So today’s issue is all about Martin Luther King, Jr., his legacy, and the under-told stories of his real and complicated life. Enjoy!
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
The Atlantic: When the Revolution Was Televised by Alexis C. Madrigal.
A feature of MLK’s political strategy I don’t often see discussed is his role as a media architect. His approach was intentional and strategic, as he navigated white-dominated TV and radio spaces and used their attention to forward the goals of the civil rights movement. This article is an excellent examination of his approach and its successes and failures.
HISTORY: The Fight for Martin Luther King Jr. Day by Erin Blakemore.
As I mentioned in the intro, the road to MLK Day becoming a federal holiday stretched out over 15 years! This article examines the resistance civil rights activists faced while advocating for the holiday, and how a series of tense debates on the legislation eventually swayed Congress.
BBC: Martin Luther King Day: The song that changed the US by Diane Bernard.
I grew up singing Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday, but never knew the full story behind the song. Stevie Wonder was a central figure in the campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a national holiday, and this song was a key part of his strategy. In fact, in January of 1981, Stevie Wonder gathered on the National Mall with Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, and Gil Scott-Heron to sing the song in tribute. This article dives deeper into Stevie Wonder’s full strategy and campaign for the holiday to be nationally recognized, and reading the full story has just made me love the song even more!
Action items to support and care for the world around us.
Established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, the King Center is a global destination and resource committed to honoring and carrying on Dr. King’s legacy. They have tons of amazing programs, including their Nonviolence365® Education & Training, the King Library and Archives, and other community programs. You can learn more and donate to support their work here.
National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian
When putting together today’s issue, I’ve been thinking a lot about how history is always in conversation with current culture and modern times. I first visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture a few years ago, and I felt the museum embodied what it is to engage in this conversation and hold history in constant dialogue with current events. If you’re ever in D.C. I highly recommend you pay them a visit (and you can donate to support their work here)!
Things to try + share in the group chat.
Note: Links preceded by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links that allow me to collect a small commission when you purchase something I’ve recommended. That said, I can promise I’ll only ever share items I love. Buying through these links is one way to support me and my small biz. ❤️
A pressing reminder from Bernice King:
I’ve recommended the podcast The MLK Tapes before, but it is just so good! It’s framed like your standard true crime show, and “explores rare recordings of eye-witness testimony and new interviews with people who were there to reveal the true story of the plot to kill Dr. King.” It’s an excellent historical deep-dive and a fascinating examination of the ways U.S. history is often changed and obscured to protect positive perceptions of the American government and its actions.
My husband Andrew has read multiple books about the life and work of Dr. King, so I’ve been lucky enough to learn through his summaries (honestly one of my favorite ways to learn about history is from Andrew). However, *King: A Life by Jonathan Eig is the first major MLK biography in decades. I especially love this ending to the book’s description: “Eig gives us an MLK for our times: a deep thinker, a brilliant strategist, and a committed radical who led one of history's greatest movements, and whose demands for racial and economic justice remain as urgent today as they were in his lifetime.”
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you back here on Monday!
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Thanks for sharing this! Such a thoughtful collection of your perspective, further reading and deep dives.