The Character Assassination of a King

What purpose does downgrading Martin Luther King's societal contributions serve?

Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash

Recently conservative pundits Charlie Kirk and Matt Walsh created some social media heat (something they’re very skilled at) when they “celebrated”the federal holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by attacking the King legacy and the hallowed cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, The Civil Rights Act.

Their comments were made on podcasts and various posts so I found a brief summary but please keep in mind this is from Media Matters…take it all with a hefty dose of salt. Here is a link. Sharing this link is not an endorsement of MMFA. Let me be clear!

Given the inroads Trump has been making with Black male voters in particular and given how many conservative pundits excitedly share posts and articles from disillusioned Black voters who are thinking of voting Republican, I found it odd that these popular conservative influencers would choose that day to criticize a figure that Black Americans - and most Americans - hold dear.

I don’t really have a problem with their take on the issue. There’s no reason to pretend King was a saint and there certainly are some details of his activism that are problematic. I also love robust debate and I’m no conservative if I suggest people should keep their opinions to themselves. I trade in ideas for a living.

However, I was disturbed by vitriolic nature of some of the commentary, and even more disturbed by the seeming lack of care about the upcoming election.

All men are flawed and the greatest leaders often have the deepest weaknesses. A sad consequence of our human nature is that we tend to deify popular leaders, making their messages dependent on their character instead of the truth of the matter. This was a huge criticism I had for my Chicago-based friends who drooled over Obama. It made no sense to me. You know everyone in politics there is corrupt. It’s so universally understood there it’s practically a meme. How in the hell do you think Obama was the lone man who got all the way to the top of Chicago politics without a whisper of shadiness? Take of your blinders!

Deep flaws are universal for the greatest leaders in history. We go to great pains to point this out to the progressive dullards who insist on judging our Founding Fathers by 21st century social norms. We are right to. It’s a childish point of view.

Why should we not offer that same grace to the most influential civil rights leader in American history? King was speaking and protesting in a time that (thankfully) looks much, much different than modern-day America. It looks so different in large part because of King and others who sadly have gone on to turn their heroic trajectory into villainy (I’m looking at you, “Reverend” Sharpton). When it comes to his political ideas, particularly toward the end of his life, we cannot look at him with our modern eyes.

Even so, King’s less attractive qualities are still a reality. Am I suggesting people lie about that?

Certainly not.

I guess my point is this - what is your mission?

I’m desperate to see a win in 2024. I believe conservative values are the best hope for the prosperity of Black America. It is why I’m a conservative. I believe the Republican Party has been derelict in their duty to spread and defend the message of freedom and Constitutional values and that has allowed Democrats to monopolize the public square and means of information dissemination. I have conversations every single day with Republican voters who complain about the garbage messaging capabilities of the GOP in an era where messaging is everything.

This is a messaging issue. Whether you like it or not, King is a hallowed figure, deeply respected (again, for better or worse) in the Black community. That is the world the way it is, not how we wish it could be. We are six months out from a vital election. If conservative pundits are concerned for our union and want to win, what purpose does it serve to choose now to disillusion Americans about a beloved figure who has unmatched racial significance?

Again, I’m not opposed to the conversation, but I’m opposed to crappy messaging. Can I take Charlie Kirk’s rantings into my Black circles and persuade people to vote Republican? If you think I can, then you don’t understand the American Black community.

Which is a large part of the problem here.

I want to win. Certain pundits want to earn more clicks.

It’s difficult to break down all my objections in the written word, so I made this the subject of my latest podcast. Later this week I’ll go through the Civil Rights Act on 1964 so we all know exactly what’s in it. I think some people will be surprised what is and is not there.

I hope you’ll take a listen and let me know what you think. As always you can drop your comments here or email me jlty@protonmail.com

You wouldn’t campaign for Muslim votes by shouting at Muslim voters about the fallacy of their prophet. Even if you believe that is true, what purpose would that serve to secure their sentiments?

Why do we think reaching out to Black voters requires any less sensitivity?

King’s legacy is simply a reality in modern America. If we want to win elections, we damn well better figure out how to trade on the ideas of freedom he so eloquently defended, whether or not the exist side-by-side with other unpleasantries. If we don’t, we’re purposefully walking away from extremely persuasive arguments that could be offered to disillusioned and hurting voters.

The harvest is ready for reaping. Perhaps now is not the time to head to the bar for beers and bullshit.