What Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Would Have Said
Monday, we, as the people of this city, were assailed by the comments of Mayor C. Ray Nagin. Regardless of individual ethnicity, we were all disparaged by his tale of an angry God and his sermon of God’s pre-ordained composition of New Orleans. Hearing Nagin’s speech, I sure hope that his god isn’t the same as ours. Adding insult to injury, these words were uttered on the birthday of the greatest civil rights leader of all time, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Reverend King worked tirelessly and gave his life for the cause of equality. He did not preach that African Americans should have more than Caucasians. Though his support of instituted systems of Affirmative Action as a means of balancing years of disparity is probable, his true dream was that all people would see and respect each other as human beings who each possess the inherent rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Dr. King’s prayers and teachings proclaimed that everyone, regardless of skin color, is equal in the eyes of the Lord. His ideas were, indeed, fact—but many still cannot see this through blinders of intolerance. Even today, people are viewed as red, yellow, black, or white. Adding to this mix, one of the most egregious forms of discrimination, presently, seems to be founded in the judging of others on the basis of religion. As to this point, unfortunately, King’s corresponding message of peace seems to have been lost a long time ago.
Nagin’s remarks were meant to pander to a demographic that he usually ignores—poor African Americans. He probably figured that his off-color, racist remarks would make up for his years of indifference. His plan fell solidly, plunking to Earth and bouncing back through intergalactic airwaves. Nagin’s imagined communication with Dr. King would be better perceived as a spiritual channeling with a maniacal extremist, such as Adolf Hitler, who eventually led his own “chosen” people to slaughter. If Nagin had actually spoken with Dr. King, “chocolate” would not have been a word brought up in conversation. Our unique chance to bring people of all ethnicities together as one is something that Dr. King would have certainly expounded on. This great opportunity to build unity crashed into a heap of racist garbage. While I have the idea that Nagin has very few “chosen” people, besides himself and, perhaps, his family, it’s truly unfortunate that he has to take the entire city with him when he commits suicidal acts such as this.
Reverend King worked tirelessly and gave his life for the cause of equality. He did not preach that African Americans should have more than Caucasians. Though his support of instituted systems of Affirmative Action as a means of balancing years of disparity is probable, his true dream was that all people would see and respect each other as human beings who each possess the inherent rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Dr. King’s prayers and teachings proclaimed that everyone, regardless of skin color, is equal in the eyes of the Lord. His ideas were, indeed, fact—but many still cannot see this through blinders of intolerance. Even today, people are viewed as red, yellow, black, or white. Adding to this mix, one of the most egregious forms of discrimination, presently, seems to be founded in the judging of others on the basis of religion. As to this point, unfortunately, King’s corresponding message of peace seems to have been lost a long time ago.
Nagin’s remarks were meant to pander to a demographic that he usually ignores—poor African Americans. He probably figured that his off-color, racist remarks would make up for his years of indifference. His plan fell solidly, plunking to Earth and bouncing back through intergalactic airwaves. Nagin’s imagined communication with Dr. King would be better perceived as a spiritual channeling with a maniacal extremist, such as Adolf Hitler, who eventually led his own “chosen” people to slaughter. If Nagin had actually spoken with Dr. King, “chocolate” would not have been a word brought up in conversation. Our unique chance to bring people of all ethnicities together as one is something that Dr. King would have certainly expounded on. This great opportunity to build unity crashed into a heap of racist garbage. While I have the idea that Nagin has very few “chosen” people, besides himself and, perhaps, his family, it’s truly unfortunate that he has to take the entire city with him when he commits suicidal acts such as this.
posted by Carson W. Maxwell at 4:22 PM
3 Comments:
Racist?
Have you realized that vast numbers of African-Americans have experienced a diaspora of large proportions and have been dispersed from New Orleans across America? Have you not heard of the concerns about the "gentrification" of the City?
Mayor Nagin probably realizes that.
His use of God as an explanation is no worse than Pat Robertson's use of God or James Dobson's thoughts about God.
At worst, one could say that Mayor Nagin exercised poor judgement.
And as far as chocolate is concerned, why does everyone immediately think of DARK chocolate. There IS WHITE CHOCOLATE as well :).
Just a thought.
I have spent several years in New Orleans and look forward to her completer rehabilitation.
Let the good times roll.
Bob
Bob, you have got to be kidding, WHITE CHOCOLATE! I don't think so. Mayor Nagin has managed to turn compassion toward New Orleans to confusion. At a time when he should be rallying support he is alienating people with his racist remarks. Have you forgotten that he was responsible for herding all those poor people into the Super Dome instead of bussing them out.
When Ray Nagin invoked God, it was not quite the same as Pat Robertson, or James Dobson - primarily because the latter two are religious leaders, while the Mayor of NOLA is an elected official. But speaking religiously has little or nothing to do (imho) with what was racially divisive about Nagin's comments.
Americans have experienced a diaspora. It is precisely this continual need to distinguish "racially" that continues to divide.
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