Doing nothing would have been better than the King approach!

By Sinclere Lee

ATLANTA, Georgia (BNW) – All due respect to Dr. Martin Luther King; I personally think that Dr. King was a man of great courage who could even hold his peace when people were trying to kill him everyday of his life, for nothing.

Can you imagine dealing with race terror, murder without justice and lynchings in the South during the civil rights era? It took people of great character, goodwill and patience to put up with that kind of evil. I am from the South, and personally, I couldn’t have taken it!

Having said that, I also think that the nonviolent movement was the wrong approach at the wrong time for the wrong people. I have taken this opinion after taking a fresh look back at the nonviolent movement forty years later.

Well, I know hindsight is always 20/20, but I think just doing nothing, plus keeping our mouths shut, and hiding in the corner from whites like we do today would have been a better approach for the civil rights movement rather than marching in the streets and getting so many people maimed, killed and lynched for nothing.

All them marches and demonstrations only made the white man mad, and he’s still mad at us today — that’s why with all their money — these crackers ain’t never broke a nigger off nothing!

For example, things for Black people as a whole in this country have not changed. There are more Blacks in poverty, per capita, now than forty years ago; there are more Blacks in jails and prisons in this country than forty years ago, there are more your men being raised in home without a father than forth years ago, and our educational system is far worse and less motivational for our children than they were forty years ago.

So, what did the nonviolent movement accomplish?

Nothing! Nothing, but hundreds of innocent loss lives which resulted in the deaths of thousands of souls, and the cracked heads and jail time for many more Blacks who had the courage to take a stand in the face of all that racial hatred by whites people in this country.

As history has proven, niggers took a lot of ass kickings back then. I read about the nonviolent marches during the civil right movement in school, and how niggers always got the beatdown. So, I know the last thing the Black demonstrators wanted to see in Birmingham was Bull Connor and them sticks up-side their heads and them biting them dogs in the ass. That was wrong, the way Martin sent Blacks out to be beating and battered like that!

Even the killings of the four little girls in the Birmingham church bombing can be laid at the feet of the nonviolent movement — not to mention hundreds or maybe thousands of other Blacks who were killed just for being Black in America. Why, even Martin, got his own fool-self killed talking about nonviolence to some violent white racist, killers in Memphis.

For those us today who look back at the nonviolent movement forty years ago, we don't know what Martin was thinking with his dumb strategy of nonviolence in the face of wicked, violence! It didn't make sense for the leaders of the nonviolent movement to let white Americans beat and murder innocent Black people for nothing, just to make a point.

I know you don't like me saying these things, but it's true, it doesn't make sense now and it didn't make sense back then. Now, all Americans are inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., and took part in marches and rallies around the country Monday, drawing from the late civil rights leader's message to call for an end to the Iraq war, advocate affirmative action and speak out for gay rights.

In King's hometown, parade spectators lined the streets dancing to Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday" and listening to King's speeches blaring over the loudspeakers. Thousands of marchers, braving the winter chill, then walked through the Atlanta district where King grew up and preached.

Joining high school marching bands, union workers and civil rights activists, a group of several hundred people came in support of gay rights, saying King's message was one of inclusion.

"Dr. King's dream is for everyone, not just one specific group of individuals," said Michelle Bruce, a Riverdale city councilwoman who marched with a transgender group called TransAction. "If you hate discrimination and racism, this is the place to come and march."

In a commemorative service marking the holiday at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta,, Martin Luther King III asked the congregation to remember his father's legacy of peace as America wages war in Iraq, and to remember his message of compassion in light of the tsunami disaster.

"Let us respond to this challenge by reaching out to help our sisters and brothers who are suffering because of the tsunami," he said.

King preached at Ebenezer from 1960 until his assassination in 1968 at age 39. He would have turned 76 on Saturday.

At a King day breakfast in Boston, Sen. John Kerry made some of his strongest comments since Election Day about problems with voting in some states.

While reiterating that he did not contest the presidential election, Kerry said: "I nevertheless make it clear that thousands of people were suppressed in the effort to vote. Voting machines were distributed in uneven ways. In Democratic districts, it took people four, five, 11 hours to vote, while Republicans (went) through in 10 minutes -- same voting machines, same process, our America."

"Martin Luther King reminded us that yes, we have to accept finite disappointment, and I know how to do that," Kerry said to chuckles from listeners. "But he said we must ... never give up on infinite hope."

In Atlanta, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss told the crowd at Ebenezer that King's work is unfinished.

"The dream of Dr. King will not be fulfilled until everyone who is uneducated is educated, everyone who is homeless has a roof over their head, and all who hunger become fed," Chambliss said.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, affirmative action supporters used the holiday to demonstrate against a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at banning racial preferences.

In Denver, tens of thousands walked two miles to remember King and honor his message of nonviolent change.

A diverse line of walkers accompanied by drums and parade vehicles whose loudspeakers blared excerpts of King's speeches started singing "We Shall Overcome." Many walkers pushed toddlers in strollers or held a leash as a dog trotted alongside.

"Dr. King set the example and we all have the responsibility no matter who we are to pass it on," said Darryl Searuggs, who brought his teenage daughter and son with him.

Thousands also marched in San Antonio, and in Philadelphia, 45,000 volunteers showed up for the 10th annual day of service named for the civil rights leader. The roughly 600 community projects included renovating area schools and churches and making care packages for troops overseas.

Meanwhile, in Washington, President Bush attended an event honoring King at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a visionary American and a dedicated leader who believed deeply in liberty and dignity for every person," Bush said in a holiday proclamation. "His faith and courage continue to inspire America and the world."