Martin Luther King Jr. is without a doubt one of the most well-known civil rights activists in history because of his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream” speech. Both his speech and letter pushed Americans to recognize the racial inequalities that have been brought upon African Americans and the injustice of them. Throughout Jenn M. Jackson’s article, “Martin Luther King Jr. Was More Radical Than We Remember,” the term “radical ” appears an eye-opening number of times to characterize King and his contributions to the battle for equality in America. Jackson’s word choice pushes readers to realize the extent of work King contributed to society throughout his fight, which has clearly been underacknowledged. “Radical” as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “very different from the usual or traditional: Extreme.” Given that the word “radical” is most often used with a negative connotation, it is interesting that Jackson uses it 11 times in this piece—including in the title to describe one of the most admirable activists.
We learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and his iconic “I Have a Dream Speech” from a young age. However, the arguments made in this speech, why it was made, and for whom it was made are not discussed in true depth, and the overall meaning of his speech is rarely acknowledged in the way it was originally intended. We simply learn and discuss the not-so-controversial ideas and beliefs that King had, which barely touch the surface of the true issues of racism. As Jackson points out, the significance of this speech has been “whitewashed” throughout time. This highlights the possibility that some of King’s actions and beliefs—particularly the more controversial ones—may have been minimized in favor of a less controversial notion, degrading the true extent of racial inequality during this time. As stated by Jackson, “that manufactured perspective — often told to young children and supported by mainstream, predominantly white commentators — was focused on erasing the divisions between black and white people, not necessarily by blaming white people for their participation in systems of anti-black racism, but by moving beyond racial difference altogether” (Jackson). King’s letter and speech both address the real, deep racism that African Americans experienced which is important to recognize both then and now. Aligning with Jackson, King’s work, speeches, and letters are not censored and are certainly not apologetic, they are strong, powerful, and “radical”. They are extreme and shine a powerful light on the true problems at hand within this country. Jackson powerfully ends the article by stating, “this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we would do his memory justice by honoring all of his legacy. Not just the parts that make white Americans comfortable” (Jackson). By embracing all aspects of King’s radical activism and dedication to social justice, we can truly do his memory justice.
Similarly, King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” highlights the extent of racial discrimination that America has endured, and the vigorous steps that must be taken to reform such a prejudiced America. King wrote this letter in Birmingham’s jail cell to fellow clergymen who had criticized and belittled his protest. In this letter, he presents a compelling case for the use of peaceful direct action and civil disobedience as vital instruments for opposing unfair legislation and promoting “radical” social change. According to King, “we know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” (838). Change must be acquired through radical measures. King emphasizes that sitting idly by for change will never truly bring reform to anything. To seek real change, it must be demanded. It is crucial to demand change because it gives people the ability to take initiative and have an impact on society’s advancement. People who actively push for change hold others in positions of authority responsible, raise awareness of pressing problems, promote solutions, and make significant strides toward building a society that is more just and equal. King was always searching for where he could make a difference and take a stand. It is clear that no matter the level of progress he made in reformation, it was never going to be enough until every individual was equal. King emphasizes his will to fight in his letter stating, “I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (836). King is expressing his firm belief that all people are connected and that it is only right to fight injustice wherever it occurs, no matter the obstacles. He understands that injustice is an ongoing threat worldwide and it is not merely something that occurs in certain places or communities. King’s efforts to promote equality stretch well beyond both of these two works and locations. Jackson draws attention to King’s antiwar activism during the Vietnam War and his leadership in the Poor People’s campaign. These details help us understand King as far more radical than the widely held perception that he is simply a peaceful dreamer. Jackson uses this argument to get readers to reevaluate their perceptions of King’s overall legacy and the reality of his dream in order to recognize the depth of his contributions to the civil rights movement.
Discussion Questions …
- Why do you think Martin Luther King Jr. is primarily remembered for his “I Have a Dream Speech”? Why are his other contributions toward his fight for equality not considered equally as important?
- Going forward, how can we change the narrative of King to ensure that his true legacy is remembered and acknowledged, in full depth, in today’s society?
Citations:
Jackson, Jenn M. “We Need to Honor MLK’s Real Legacy, Not the One That Makes White Americans Comfortable.” Teen Vogue, 31 May 2020, www.teenvogue.com/story/mlk-more-radical-than-we-remember?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tv.
King, Martin Luther, Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail. Penguin Classics, 2018.
Hi Giulia. I loved your gathering of information and interpretation of these readings. I think you really did a great job of breaking down each article, and picking out the main most important points that both King and Jackson spoke of. I strongly agree with your interpretation of Jackson saying that King’s “I Have A Dream” speech has been whitewashed. I believe that within the last decade or two wealth has gone up drastically for lots of white families, this can lead to priorities not only being set within biased lines but other issues may not be looked at seriously. As you stated some of King’s beliefs and words have been “whitewashed” almost in a way of people avoiding the overall problem adb hoping it will fix itself. Everyone turns away from these racial issues hoping one day things will change, but as stated in the article “Martin Luther King Jr. Was More Radical Than We Remember” by Jenn M. Jackson, “Figures like President Barack Obama have reminded us that King once said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” But over time, the great orator’s writings became less magnanimous and ever more convinced that white supremacy was the most significant obstacle in attaining liberation for all black people.” This quote helps portray that King’s dreams and goals for African Americans in our nation were blurred with the words of white supremecents and those who know they hold more power. Overall, King’s goals have not yet even been close to being met, yes lots has changed and there has been success since the 1950’s. Although it is an ongoing question of when African Americans will get the justice they deserve, and when will white’s stop hiding behind their financial, economic, and governmental gains. To answer one of your discussion questions, I think that King’s “I Have A Dream Speech” is remembered more often than all of his other attributes, letters, speeches, etc. due to the educational system. Throughout younger grades in elementary school we all learned about Martin Luther King Jr. and even in highschool, but as I have realized the main thing that academics focused on was his one speech. I believe that maybe people think all of his “concepts” could be gathered from one speech, instead of listening to the ongoing issues, society chooses to focus on one. This could partially also be because some people may be ashamed of how helpless they have been and they hope that others will fill their shoes in making the change.
This is such an excellent reflection on the two readings and on Martin Luther King’s legacy. I found both of these readings to be fascinating because while Dr. King is one of the most commonly referenced activists of the Civil Rights Movement, a lot of his work has been diminished in favor of creating a narrative that is relatable, inspiring, and non-controversial. In the article, “Martin Luther King Jr. Was More Radical Than We Remember,” Jenn M Jackson brings attention to the fact that we are often taught about Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream as children, which I think is key to understanding the narrative that has been painted of Dr. King – one that is simple and easy to understand for all, and does not raise questions. As a child, I remember learning about Dr. King in school, as a character that was respected, a true American hero. Someone who fought for freedom in the way that all Americans should. The article brought to my attention that this was not the public opinion of Martin Luther King Jr. at all. Jackson writes, “The sanitized version of King’s life and work — the colorblind “I have a dream” narrative — often fails to acknowledge how King’s increasing profile as a radical, anti-racist organizer drew antagonism from the FBI and its director at the time, J. Edgar Hoover, which began as early as 1964, four years before he was assassinated.” I think this part of his story is so important to understand, because it goes to show that America does not condone activism or an attempt to change the status quo. However, now with the legacy of the Civil Rights movement and more general acceptance of the idea of equal rights for all, it fits America’s narrative to highlight him as an American hero and teach about him in schools.
I think it is interesting to even look at how MLK’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech is thought about. I think one of the most famous lines from Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech is, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.” I remember learning this line in elementary school, and thinking how hopeful and inspiring it sounded. This line fits a white-washed narrative of the hope for the American Dream and that we can all live in peaceful unity. Ironically, the next line in King’s speech is “I have a dream that one day down in Alabama with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right down in Alabama little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” This line clearly calls out the racist behavior of American citizens and its impacts, which is too blatant and aggressive to be made the popularized line from his speech. Giulia, your analysis of both these readings conveys a strong reminder that history and the way it is told is in the hands of those in power, and we should be wary and seek the truth.
Source:
“Transcript of Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.” NPR, 18 January 2010, https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety. Accessed 4 March 2024.
1. Hi Giulia, I really enjoyed reading your blog post, and I loved how you tied in both readings together into your analysis. To answer your 1st discussion question, I think the reason that his other contributions towards equality are often look passed or considered not as important, is because white people tend to blanket our education on the history of African Americans as well as the history of racial inequality. When using the term blanket, I kind of tie it into what Jackson quotes in her article from Martin Luther King Jr.’s final book, ““Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance. It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the white people of America believe they have so little to learn. The reality of substantial investment to assist Negroes into the twentieth century, adjusting to Negro neighbors and genuine school integration, is still a nightmare for all too many white Americans.” (Jackson). I think this quote is so important because it touches on how ignorant we are to teach ourselves about a system that we set up. It is such a privileged way to think that we may not ‘want’ to think about inequalities and injustice. We, as a society, believe that if we teach the “I Have a Dream” speech in schools, that we touch so perfectly on the impact of Martin Luther King Jr. and his impact on the Civil Rights Movement, when really, that is not the case and that is just scratching the surface. We are able to say that because we believe that loosely knowing the history of inequality, that we have come far enough and can move on, but we know that in order to come close to understanding the depths of racial inequality, we must educate ourselves to the fullest extent possible, not just scratching the surface.
Hi Guilia!
I enjoyed you mentioning the fact that Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech has been whitewashed, as discussed in “Martin Luther King Jr. Was More Radical Than We Remember” by Jenn Jackson. I find this statement particularly true and eye opening. I had not thought about how often we hear this speech, but the full meaning is not fully grasped. I remember that in school, the most I ever heard of his speech is “I have a dream” and the part about everyone around the world holding hands in unity, It wasn’t until I decided to sit and listen to the full speech on my own did I realize that a lot of the message is glossed over, and somewhat ignored by the white community. In the article, king says “Loose and easy language about equality, resonant resolutions about brotherhood fall pleasantly on the ear, but for the Negro there is a credibility gap he cannot overlook.” That perfectly describes what made certain parts of his “I have a dream” speech so popular. White people grasped on to the easy concept of having peace and community with everyone but ignored the call to actually make a change and acknowledge the many struggles of black Americans, one of how they are targeted by police brutality, which is still a major issue 61 years later.
Why do you think Martin Luther King Jr. is primarily remembered for his “I Have a Dream Speech”? Why are his other contributions toward his fight for equality not considered equally important?
I think he is remembered best for his speech because it was in front of a massive crowd, televised, and the way he spoke that speech was really captivating. He was known for peaceful protests, which makes the appeal of his words easier for all people to listen to. I believe his other contributions towards the fight for equality were not seen with the same amount of accolade because he started speaking on issues that were harder to have a discussion about, like how white supremacy is integrated in schools and how he “departed from his colorblind yore” and that it effected his later work. It was hard to digest discussions, although important ones, they were not as easy to talk about as “I had a dream”.
Hi Giulia, I really like how you nailed the main points of the of texts from “Martin Luther King Jr. was more of a radical than we Remember” by Jenn M. Jackson and “a Letter from Birmingham Jail”. You analyzed how the text in Jenn Jackson’s article speaks out on how we can’t remember Martin Luther King’s Jr. legacy for his I have a dream speech, but we have to remember him not only for his nonviolent protest but his willingness to stand up to the corruption and the systemic racism despite heavy backlash nationwide. Not a single white man could believe what he was doing because it was so dangerous due to the KKK as well as legislation and laws put in place designed to put African Americans at a disadvantage financially and socially. Martin Luther King Jr. should be seen as radical not because he offended a bunch of racist, but because he challenged a system set in place for hundreds of years designed to make sure African Americans didn’t prosper or ever elevate their lives past the white man. The quote “and in 1966, the last year he was included in the poll, his positive rating dropped to 32% while his negative rating increased to 63%. However, by 2011, his rating was a 94% positive”. – Jenn Jackson. This shows over time people have started to change how they percieve King because time and culture has changed. To answer your first question, I think MLK’s legacy is mainly remembered by his speech because that speech not only was in front of 250,000 people but it brought the light of racism not only to the South but to a national stage in front of the whole country to see not just some rural part of Alabama. I think the speech gets more credit than his other gestures because some of the gestures even though they were nonviolent sparked riots which resulted in a loss of innocent African Americans dying which is something that people may want to remember less then an empowering speech that lifted up the spirits of millions. To answer your second question, we can continue to carry on his legacy not only by treating each other with respect and basic human rights, but also remember that although rich and powerful people don’t actually care about the rights and well-being of minorities, they do care about their money and if people decide that they don’t want to buy a product they don’t like due to controversial issues such as racism we as the consumer can do something about it.
This is an amazing blog Giulia, but to answer your question to why Martin Luther King Jr. is primarily remembered, I think it is because of the power of a life. That him losing his life saying that he wants equality was too much for people to ignore. Also on live television with thousands of people watching. Other contributions were noticed but not taken as much into consideration. It is a very sad world we live in, that it takes people dying for there to be a realization that something isn’t right and that there should be change. And I agree with the take that the speech has been whitewashed. From a young age I was taught about Martin Luther King Jr. and the majority of the information I was taught was from white people who never fully understood or could relate to the situation. So it wasn’t as authentic as it could have been or even informative.
Hi, Giulia I enjoyed reading your blog post and I like the discussion questions you brought up at the end of your post. The reason I believe that Martin Luther King Jr. was mainly known for his “I Have a Dream” speech is that it was just like what was mentioned in the article “Martin Luther King Was More Radical Than We Remember” “The sanitized version of King’s life and work — the colorblind “I have a dream” narrative — often fails to acknowledge how King’s increasing profile as a radical, anti-racist organizer” throughout history Martin Luther ideas and radical engagements he led tends to be downplayed and not acknowledged as much because it might make the Caucasian people upset to hear the true history and how difficult because of how radical King had to be just to get people to listen for simple civil rights. It’s sad but it’s our history and I think people have been trying to hide that fact over the course of history to save face. “This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we would do his memory justice by honoring all of his legacy. Not just the parts that make white Americans comfortable.”