1. Who was MLK?
2. What did MLK do?
3. Why is MLK important?
Martin Luther King Jr. was a powerful figure whose beliefs were constantly evolving to promote greater social and economic justice for all people, regardless of race or socio-economic status.
By the end of his life he had become a "radical" who advocated passionately for change in areas such as equitable pay, unemployment insurance, fair minimum wages etc., through his Poor Peoples Campaign movement. His political thought developed over time from an optimistic reformer to a passionate advocate for radical criticism and ultimately equality across society - something that still resonates today with many communities around the world striving towards it even though Dr King's plans remain unfulfilled in some quarters due decades later.
According to the provided web search results, Martin Luther King Jr. is considered a radical at the end of his life. In source [1], it states that by the end of his life King was a "social and economic radical" who advocated for "the necessity of economic justice in the pursuit of racial equality." source [2] states that King turned his focus to the Poor Peoples Campaign and the issues of equity pay, unemployment insurance and fair minimum. source [3] states that King was a radical and highlights how his political thought evolved from a hopeful reformer to a radical critic.
It is important to maintain a clear History of Martin Luther King and many other fallen Leaders in the struggle for social change by confronting White Supremacy and the systems that maintain it. We must also look at the Historical Legacy and the Systems that manage it. "Commodification Of Dead Leaders"
After the death of a leader, their image and legacy are often commodified, meaning they are transformed into a commodity or a product that can be bought and sold. This can take many forms, such as the sale of memorabilia, such as clothing or other items bearing the leader's image, or the creation of films or books about the leader's life. Additionally, places associated with the leader, such as their birthplace or home, may be turned into tourist attractions. This commodification can be seen as a way for people to connect with and remember the leader and their legacy. However, it can also be seen as a way for others to profit from the leader's death and legacy.
A leader's likeness and impact can be hyper-commercialized. Whether it is the sale of apparel or trinkets with their face on them, biopics that document their lives, or historical sites dedicated to them - they become products that generate profit in some form. On the one hand this commodification gives people an avenue through which to remember these influential figures, yet there are those who utilize such memorialization for personal financial gain without regard or acknowledgment for what was lost due to the leader’s death
According to the provided web search results, Martin Luther King Jr. is known for his views on human rights. In source [1], it states that King is a "civil rights legend" known for leading the movement to end segregation and counter prejudice against Black Americans. In source [2], it states that King and the American civil rights movement helped inspire the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the first international human rights treaty after the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. It also states that King's legacy is perhaps felt the most through his philosophy, which adopted nonviolence and civil disobedience as means of achieving change. In source [3], it states that despite decades of civil rights progress, racism remains integral to the criminal justice system in the United States, King's human rights legacy is still being felt today. Yet Data indicates that Disparte Impact and Disproportionality based on Race continue with no movement to embrace the protective measures outlined in the International Treaty to Eliminate Racial Discrimination. ICERD which the US has Signed and Ratified with no Intent to enact. The Legacy of MLK is a reminder of the work to do and the Mighty Struggles of those that came before us.
"Very little is ever spoken of the fact that a Memphis jury found the United States government guilty of conspiring to assassinate Dr. King on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968."
In essence, MLK's legacy serves as a reminder of the struggles we have yet to overcome and the work that must be done to make this world a #HumanRights focused place. It is important to remember MLK without nostalgia, by remembering his radicalism and his dream for an equitable society. By doing so, MLK can continue to serve as a beacon of hope in our fight for social justice.
References:
1. "Martin Luther King Jr., A Civil Rights Legend". Smithsonian National Museum Of American History, 2021. https://americanhistory.si.edu/mlk-legend
2. "When Human Rights And MLK Meet". United Nations Human Rights Office Of The High Commissioner, 2021. https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/WhenHumanRightsAndMLKMeet.aspx
3. "The MLK Legacy: A Commitment To Racial Justice". Civil Rights Education And Enforcement Center, 2020. https://civilrightseducationenforcementcenter.org/mlk-legacy-commitment-racial-justice/.
4."How MLK's Assassination Shaped America". The Atlantic, 2018. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/how-mlks-assassination-shaped-america/557569/.
5."International Convention On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Racial Discrimination". United Nations, 2021. https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/.
6."MLK Jr.", MLK Day, 2021. http://mlkday.gov/about/.
7."Martin Luther King", Biography, 2021. https://www.biography.com/activist/martin-luther-king-jr.
8."Martin Luther King Jr.", History Channel, 2021. https://www.historychannelclubhouse.com/heroes_of_history/martin_luther_king_jr/.
9."Martin Luther King Jr.: A Man Of Courage And Conviction", The King Center, 2021. https://thekingcenter.org/martin-luther-king-jr/.
10."Martin Luther King Jr.: The Most Influential Voice Of The Civil Rights Movement", Thoughtco., 2021. https://www.thoughtco.com/martin-luther-king-jr-biography-1773065.
11."Racial Disparities In Sentencing: MLK's Human Rights Legacy Continues To Be Felt". American University Washington College Of Law Human Rights Brief, 2020. http://hrbrief.org/2020/02/racial-disparities-in-sentencing/.
12"The MLK You Don't Know", Smithsonian Magazine, 2011. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-mlk-you-dont-know-139389921/.
13."White Supremacy Is The Enemy MLK Warned Us About", The Hill, 2020. https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/506929-white-supremacy-is-the-enemy-dr-king warned us about.
14."Why MLK Matters Today", American Civil Liberties Union, 2021. https://www.aclu.org/other/why mlk matters today?utm_campaign=2020 MLK Day&utm_medium=email&utm_souce=action.
15."Why MLK Jr.'s Legacy Is Still Relevant Today", The Washington Post, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/01/12/why-mlk-jrs-legacy-is still relevant today/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.3a5a2bbcbcf2.
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