Dyson on King

[H2O Man]

(1)“The deeper Martin Luther King, Jr., sank into a private hell of unquenchable bleakness, the higher he rose in pulpits and rostrums across the nation to preach the fear from his own breast, and those of his fellow strivers. Just as he gave most of his pocketbook and preaching to the movement, King offered up his despondency as well.”


(2)“Martyrdom forced onto Martin Luther King's dead body the face of a toothless tiger. His threat has been domesticated, his danger sweetened. His depressions and wounds have been turned into waves and smiles. There is little suffering, only light and glory. King's more challenging rhetoric has gone unemployed, left homeless in front of the Lincoln Memorial, blanketed on freezing nights in dream metaphors, feasting on leftovers of hope-lite, drinking discarded cans of diet optimism.”

From: Michael Eric Dyson; Can You Hear Me Now?; Basic Civitas; 2009; page 133.

[H2O Man]

1. I'm Curious:

What, if anything, do these quotes mean to you?

In the context of King's life?

Your own?

For the USA?

[rosesaylavee]

2. He fought despite the fear that his words and actions would not

have the effect he had hoped for. And, given various present day examples, I would say he had cause for despair. Racism is not what it was in the 60s and before but it sure hasn't left us. Speaker Boehner's actions this past week, the 4 GOP congressmen who boycotted the joint session, the terrible disparity of opportunity and income between the classes now... the work he carried along thru the 50s and 60s is far from done.