Those who tell me to be more like MLK expose their own ignorance of his legacy

Yahoo

11-02-2025

It's Black History Month, a time when many reflect on the significant contributions, the oppression and the struggles of African descendants in shaping American society.
I choose not to limit my appreciation of Black history to 28 days a year. I celebrate these achievements and honor this rich legacy every day. My history is far too vast to fit neatly into a single month, but I understand why some may feel it is necessary.
The month usually includes programs and films featuring Martin Luther King Jr. and other notable civil rights leaders, like Rosa Parks or John Lewis, emphasizing the movement's non-violent resistance and their remarkable ability to uphold hope amid severe racism and adversity.
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Yet despite the opportunity to learn the full and rich history of the Civil Rights movement, many Americans selectively pick which aspects of the legacy to emphasize. How do I know this? By the wave of emails I receive from readers who identify themselves as white expressing dissatisfaction with my views on racial issues. They often tell me I should model myself after King.
A good example of this came after I wrote several columns expressing concerns about President Donald Trump's policies, particularly regarding eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion and the implications for our country. Here are a few comments:
'Hiring should always be based on merit, not seniority or the color of your skin, whether male or female. Just like you did, James, and you, with your pulpit, can help realize Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision here in the Milwaukee area.' - Robert S.
'Well, at least you were able to benefit from DEI before it was ended. So you should be honored that anyone would publish your opinion.' – Andy C.
'I just consumed your race-obsessed trope on President Trump's cabinet. Equity of opportunity & consideration is secular from results… Meritocracy should be the overriding factor, not skin color. You would do well in re-reading Martin Luther King's ideals of character, etc., not just skin pigment.' – Hammond C.
When people tell me to be more like King and to read his 'I Have a Dream' speech, I usually fire back at them with what they think of this line in the speech: 'America has given its colored people a bad check, a check that has come back marked 'insufficient funds.''
Most don't respond. When they do, they often say that those times have passed and that things are different, or, in the best case, they say, "You made it, so you should be more like King."
It's amusing anyone would assume I haven't engaged deeply with what many consider the most eloquent speech of the modern era. Conservatives often cite King's line about his desire for his children to be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin, as proof of his desire for a color blind society.
This line has been twisted beyond recognition while conveniently ignoring the speech's most poignant and crucial words, particularly the ones about bad checks. This underscores the persistent struggles faced by Black people, a reality that hasn't budged in the 60 plus years since King delivered the speech.
This recurring oversight is a stark reminder of the work needed to achieve true equality and justice in our society, especially here in Milwaukee where Blacks live with a legacy of bad checks on a host of issues, such as weak public schools, low rates of home ownership and high rates of incarceration.
Ironically, some of the same people who advise me to emulate King virulently oppose diversity, equity and inclusion — the very principles King championed and Trump is trying to erase. King advocated for diversity because he believed that all men and women were created equal. He referenced equity in his 'I Have a Dream' speech and tirelessly fought through bus boycotts and sit-ins, demonstrating his commitment to inclusion.
So if someone tells you they are against DEI, ask them specifically what they oppose. The diversity part? The equity part? Or the inclusion part? Then ask them why.
King advocated that education is essential for Black individuals to reach their full potential and fight discrimination. While I agree that a quality education enhances earning potential and broadens job opportunities, I recognize that one can still be the most educated person in the room and encounter discrimination or be seen as not good enough. The same applies to women, individuals with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.
The current sociopolitical climate raises significant concerns, especially as the Trump Administration implements policies to erase DEI initiatives, target Hispanic communities that have resided in this country for years and attack the queer community.
These actions demonstrate that systemic discrimination is not merely a relic of the past but a challenge we continue to confront today. I can never be King, and it's frustrating when a white person suggests I should be. It's like me telling a white person to be more like William Lewis Moore.
Who was Moore?
A white postal worker killed on April 23, 1963, while marching for racial justice from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Jackson, Miss. He aimed to deliver a letter to Gov. Ross Barnett, urging an end to segregation. In his letter, he wrote, 'Do not go down in infamy as one who fought the democracy for all which you have not the power to prevent. Be gracious. Give more than is immediately demanded of you.'
Moore was shot just 100 miles into his march, and his body was abandoned on the roadside. The accused killer was a Ku Klux Klan member.
In 2019, a historical marker was placed where he was killed, featuring a quote from King: "The time is always right to do what is right."
Reach James E. Causey at [e-mail]; follow him on X @jecausey.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Those against DEI don't understand MLK's full dream | Opinion