[Martin Luther] King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, appears to have made a profession at being a widow in mourning, and used that stature to milk as much money as possible for herself and her family from an unsuspecting public.
Members of the black leadership network Project 21 are mourning the passing of Coretta Scott King. Project 21 members praise her legacy of exhibiting strong family unity in the face of great personal tragedy and for maintaining her husband’s dream of equal rights for all.
Phony would be one way to describe these bunch of hucksters, but that would be way too nice.
Related
Black Cons: Whatever Shall They Do?
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Uh- Hello Oliver. Do you think there is anything that you have ever written in the past that some other members of a group you may belong to now might now have a different take on when the person you wrote about dies?
Let me put it another way.
Are there any liberals, Democrats, or what ever, that in the past made critical statements about Ronald Reagan and his style of governing, who when he died paid deference to the type of man he was?
In other words, shut the hell up and quit playing stupid. Only you would rip somebody for making a deferential satement about someone who died.
It’s always politics to you isn’t it Oliver.
“Or it could show that Project 21 was willing and able to play the game of their masters…”
Heres the sentence directly proceeding the start of your quote:
“The descendants of those other honorees have not done what the King family has had the audacity to do - demand payment for the “right” to use King’s image, likeness and name.”
The King family here in Atl has been working to profit from the MLK brand for some time. And they are well within their rights to do so. As was Project 21 for criticizing the commercial use of such an enourmous icon of American history. I reread that article (actually remember the controversy it caused when it first came out) and do not see anything offensive about it. I hope that everyone who sees this post bothers to read it as well, because they will see that your selected quote is merely used to be inflamatory, and in no way represents what the entire article is about.
I find your worldview quite interesting at times. It seems that in your opinion, there is no way a group of like-minded individuals whose skin happens to be dark can not, on their own, form an organization like Project 21, and actually think for themselves. In your world they are just doing the business of their “masters”. How insulting.
“I hope that everyone who sees this post bothers to read it as well, because they will see that your selected quote is merely used to be inflamatory, and in no way represents what the entire article is about.”
I read it. Seems to me that OW’s selected quote quite clearly represents what the entire article is about. It is perfectly clear that the original article was intended to be inflammatory. After reading the article, I find it very hard to believe in Project 21’s newfound admiration for King.
Here are the first few lines:
———————————————————————————-
“I’m going to King-Land, King-Land; in Atlanta, G-A, I’m going to King-Land…” - with apologies to singer Paul Simon.
It appears that the family of slain civil rights giant Martin Luther King, Jr. is looking for more ways to milk the King name for as much money as humanly possible. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if a theme park in Atlanta is in the offing. The King family would be able to charge as much as an admission to Disney World, and be able to pocket the majority of it.
In defense of Marty, his point was that Project 21 was merely honoring the wife of perhaps the most influential civil rights activist in the history of the US. Yes, you should acknowledge her death, accomplishments, position in history, and not try to alienate your constituency by bashing her on the day of her death. There’s no reason for that…not at all. But Oliver is right, I can’t see a bigger hypocritical turnaround then the one I’ve seen there in their latest press release. Hopefully, her surviving family will be more willing to make some progress in cementing MLK’s legacy for millions of Americans to enjoy.
Or it could show that Project 21 was willing and able to play the game of their masters and call Mrs. King names when she was alive, but now that she’s passed away and receiving universal acclaim for continuing her husband’s mission - they’re backing away.
It’s always reality to me.
Oh, no, no, no, Oliver. Not backing away. Latching on! These vultures show up to pick the corpse and feed themselves on her accomplishments.
“They are bought and paid for. Like slaves.”
Simply amazing.
It seems that in your opinion, there is no way a group of like-minded individuals whose skin happens to be dark can not, on their own, form an organization like Project 21, and actually think for themselves.
In the case of Project 21, that is perfectly true. Project 21, like much of the black conservative infrastructure is no more than a front group for white conservatives to claim that their policies appeal to blacks. They are bought and paid for. Like slaves.
In my opinion, their admiration for King’s accomplishments are not in question. Quite the opposite. Project 21 was not attempting to tarnish that legacy in any way. Quite the contrary, they were arguing that the King family’s attempts to profit from the name were doing just that. I take no position regarding that issue one way or the other, quite frankly, as I think the King family has every right to do whatever they see fit with the name and legacy of Dr. ing. But I can also understand Project 21’s position here, and do not fault them for it. Nor do I fault them for speaking out on practices they found abhorent. There is definately a line to draw here. It is possible to criticize the business dealings of the current King family while at the same time acknowledging the obvious contributions Dr. King and Mrs. King made to society.
Whuh?
You’re not even trying, Farris. Media Matters a front group? They hired a bunch of liberal media watchdogs to mask their real agenda as, um…what again?
If you’re going to try for the reversal, it has to at least make some sense.
“In my opinion, their admiration for King s accomplishments are not in question. Quite the opposite. Project 21 was not attempting to tarnish that legacy in any way.”
But the context of the article should be considered, right? In this case, the article is published by an organization that, arguably, supports public policy that King fought (or would have likely fought) against. I realize this point opens up a HUGE can of worms but if we are discussing King’s legacy, positions on current public policy issues should be considered. Unfortunately, not everyone can seriously claim to defend King’s legacy.
Judging by the articles and press releases on Project 21’s website, I believe this organization is more concerned with current conservative policy than with King’s overriding message of unity and equality along racial lines.
Start convincing me that GWB’s vision of our country is even in the same ballpark as King’s, and I’ll agree that Project 21 isn’t attempting to tarnish King’s legacy.
[...] William Blake « All I Can Say IsWhy Black Conservatives Are RidiculousOliver Willis » Why Black Conservatives Are Ridiculous Phony woul [...]
Media Matters is no more than a front group. They are bought and paid for. Like slaves.
You really should rename this site “Demagoguery for Dummies”.
And hats off to nawoods. This is wingnuttery at its finest:
Why couldn’t we see it? We must’ve had our liberal blinders on.
Project 21 was actually defending King’s legacy while his greedy family was just trying to exploit his memory for financial gain.
Thanks for clearing that up for us, nawoods.
Farris,
“Media Matters is no more than a front group. They are bought and paid for. Like slaves.” C’mon, don’t leave me hanging… by who? Who does Oliver work for? The KGB? Michael Moore? George Soros? I demand to know what shadowy figure is behind this conspiracy of quote gathering! Who dares point out hypocracy? They must be stomped out and shot like the dogs they are! Who will join with me and stop this evil, EVIL non-profit internet based group who gathers information? Information is dangerous!
Wow… sarcasm overload.
Back to the original topic at hand, It does seem hypocritical, but Marty’s right. Evrytime someone famous dies everyone, no matter what they ACTUALLY thought about him, praises them. Hell, when Nixon died, we couldn’t say enough about him. I don’t think its hypocracy to push aside political differences and acknowledge the contribution someone made.
Project 21 and many other right wing groups exist expressly to push conservative policies that are targeted at black Americans. Sure there are true black conservatives out there, but they aren’t the shuck and jivers at project 21 & company. Project 21 and their ilk seek to undo much of what Dr. King brought to America, but the idiots who work for their masters there don’t have the guts to come out and say it, so they reverse their course when Mrs. King passes away.
“Bought and paid for. Like slaves?”
Now that’s funny. (And KMA.)
The comedy never stops.
Leroy- you are obviously much smarter than Oliver. That was my point- it is not hypocracy to push aside political differences and acknoledge the contributions someone made.
Michael King, the author of the article references, is critical about the way he sees the Kings choose to profit off the name of and legacy of MLK. Does that mean that he doesn’t have respect for MLK’s legacy? I don’t think so.
On top of that, are you saying, Oliver, that because Michael King is critical of one aspect of what he says exploits the legacy of MLK (his opinion) that he cannot also have respect for what Coretta Scott King has meant to this country?
Are you saying, Oliver, that because one member of Project 21 writes an editorial critical of the King family’s dealings in 2001, that rest of the organization cannot praise the legacy of Mrs. King in her death in 2006 without being “ridiculous?”
Oliver- you are the one who is being ridiculous here. But you get a lot of practice every day when your employer gives you time off to work on your blog.
Marty wrote:
Were you out of the country?
Conservatives were practically climbing over each other to lambaste those of us who weren’t quite loud enough in our praise for the Gipper or who didn’t perform enough wailing and rending of garments.
I always thought people that accused OW of being racist were a bit over the top, now I see that they were right.
Excluding an entire race of people from a political opinion because of the color of their skin?
Sounds like something that Grand Kleagle Byrd would have done in the “good” old days….
Why is the only paid member of Project 21 a white man with extensive ties to the GOP?
Blackwashing
JadeGold: We heard this story before.
I’ll bet the NAACP was started by a group of blacks and whites, and on Lincoln’s 100th birthday.
http://www.naacp.org/about/about_history.html
Interesting.
Exactly what course has been reversed by showing deference to Mrs. King in her death Oliver?
And Shuck and Jivers? Pushing conservative policies that are targeted at black Americans? Hmm. A group of conservative black Americans pushing conservative policies that are targeted at black Americans. The OUTRAGE!!
I suppose the CBC, a liberal group of black Americans pushing liberal policies that are targeted at black Americans should piss us off too? You know- all of those white liberal policies that you cling to like a pig to it’s momma teat. (Oh I forgot- you are “Center left.” nix that.)
Who are the real slaves Oliver? Those who depend on the government for their every need or those who believe we are all capable of getting off our asses and getting something out of life DESPITE the fact that there are still an extremely miniscule select few who might have a problem with how we look.
OH WAIT- you seem to think that only Democrats have any answers that are worthwhile. Fine.
But back to my original point. Be specific Oliver- Exactly WHAT of “what Dr. King brought to America” does Project 21 seek to undo? Be VERY specific.
A group of conservative black Americans pushing conservative policies that are targeted at black Americans.
By targeted, I mean, targeted at making their lives harder. Or is it more Katrinas you want?
Whoa. Scathing. Nice job, OW.
For those of you panty-wearing Republicans, who continually whine about OW’s inflammatory tone, I say this:
1.) Grow a pair
and/or
2.) offer an oppositing viewpoint.
Shut your whiny GOP “bitter beer faces.” If you haven’t realized what Oliver’s style is by now, and accepted that it’s not your “Grandmother’s Blog, “then you truly are as stupid as the guy who you idolize at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
He’s provocative.
Get a pair. I am sick of the whining from you losers.
JK
There are simply no words adequate to express the elegance, tenacity, grace, and wisdom that passed from the world when Coretta Scott King took her last breath and slipped away into the master’s eternal embrace.
The words of praise and genuflection to the memory and legacy of Dr. and Mrs. King were uttered by a number of distinguished Americans. Some of these tributes were heartfelt and magnanimous; others were hypocritical, self-serving, and disingenuous. For while the Kings labored to uplift and unite humanity, others dedicated themselves to keeping the nation balkanized along the fault lines of race and class.
This is the legacy of the current President. He used Mrs. King as a physical prop to give the appearance of her imprimatur to his Administration. While Bush unveiled a portrait of Dr. King to be hung in the White House, his malevolent minions in the Solicitor General’s office sought to challenge the University of Michigan’s affirmative action program and end affirmative action on the college level. This coming from a legacy admit to Yale is simply astounding and hypocritical.
It is interesting that as her era comes to a close, the Alito era begins. We have much to learn as a nation about the fragility of equal rights and equal opportunity. When the fabric of equal justice is rent forever and our nation veers off down the road of racial indifference, perhaps we will see the betrayal of Senate Democrats to filibuster Alito when they had the votes for what it was: A craven act of cowardice to preserve their own power and position.
May she rest in peace.
Marty belches the same old tripe …”Those who depend on the government for their every need.”
Yes, liberal blacks do that. All of them. They even need government to tell them when to hit the head.
And you criticize OW for rhetorical excess?
This is infuriating. Why? Because Marty’s comment, is really indicative of the way most conservatives think if you put them under truth serum.
They claim their policies will improve the lives of blacks? Well, they’ve been on that soapbox for years, yet every four years, 90% of the African American population voting populace stays away from them like the plague.
Tax cuts for the richest Americans, and tax giveaways to corporate America don’t appeal to blacks.
Corporate scandals don’t appeal to blacks.
Values that threaten an individual’s right to privacy, and a women’s right to choose, don’t appeal to blacks.
Failed presrciption drug plans don’t appeal to blacks.
Pro-business environmental policies don’t appeal to blacks.
Privatization of the social security net doesn’t appeal to blacks.
There are some aspects of conservatism that I identify with, and appreciate. However, I have never been able to stomach their obsessive need for self-preservation.
JK
The colored lawn jockeys of the right wing, or “black conservatives, which ever term you prefer are the lobotomized servants of a white power structure that uses them and their color to project moderation to white voters sensitive to issues surrounding inclusion and pluralism.
These particular colored people who have never sacrificed anything except their self-respect, dignity, or the future viability of the black community are the antithesis of people like Dr. and Mrs. King who dedicated their lives to pursuing equal justice, equal opportunity, and democratic constitutional government.
The adherents of the black conservative credo of delusional groveling at the feet of a racist power structure in exchange for the proverbial thirty pieces of silver are growing in prominence and power. Some have even managed to get themselves elected to congress or appointed to the President’s cabinet. Their prestige does not change the essential malevolence of their ideology.
It does not matter what quotations of King they twist out of context.
Theirs is a regime that supports torture, racial and ethnic profiling, and discrimination.
Theirs is a regime that supports unbridled executive power to imprison without charge.
Theirs is a regime that supports robbing women of the right of self-determination over their wombs.
Their regime is illegitimate and criminal and so is their President.
Their regime will ultimately will fall, and when it does, perhaps Dr. and Mrs. King can finally rest in peace.
I can’t remember which particular logical fallacy this is, but it’s the one where Oliver is talking specifically about black conservatives that are part of GOP front organizations like Project 21 and you expand it to imply that he’s talking about all black people.
Be specific Oliver. Give me a specific policy or proposal that Project 21 supports that is targeted at blacks with the purpose at making our lives harder.
One.
And Trevor- what exactly is your solution. It sounds as though you are stuck in the rhetoric of the white liberal power structure. Do you really think that name calling is really going to bother me? Talk about lawn jockeys- when you bow to the party that calls on us every four years for votes and then forgets about us when it comes to including us in the power structure. Do you think John Kerry ever saw the inside of a Black Church before the 2004 elections. But he did make a good speech once he got inside, and said all the right things. And yes, Hillary really knows when to use the word Plantation. And you KNOW what I’M talking about. How much time do you think she spends with the brothers outside of Martin Luther King Day speeches. Think she’ll schedule a few dates in our churchs and do a little shuckin and jivin for votes in 2008? Then IF she or any other Democrat gets in the White House with a few church visits, they can forget about us again.
At least when the President goes to a black churches he actually knows the language and worships with us instead of thinking about his speech. He doesn’t have to make a bunch of pandering promises. He just has to try and do what’s right for the country. Sometimes he gets it right and sometimes he get it wrong but at least it’s not pandering for votes and then disappearing. Funny how he can make black appointments to the courts, to his cabinet, and other positions of power even though doesn’t owe us much in the form of votes. But of course, his appointments are based not on the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
The agenda of Project 21 does not matter. Just because they object to the King family use of the name does not automatically mean that they object to the man himself and what he stands for.
Perhaps they have the right to object to the King family use of the name for monetary gain on moral grounds. But really, how is this different from the families of other famous people? It’s the American way is it not?
However, the idea that a black American whose family has roots in slavery would be a political conservative seems a little bizarre to me. Not that I think all black folk ought to think alike.
But today’s republican party is riding the coat tails of southern Baptist hysteria. There may be many thoughtful citizens who belong to the republican party. That they are willing to ride the current agenda for the sake of votes and power is frightening.
Whatever the party line, I believe that their current power base has its roots in racism. Black Americans to them are nothing more than so many votes.
The King family is setting a precedent by which future generations will come to view our historical leaders and our heritage…greedy and self-serving. The fact that the other “white” honorees would not dare try to make a profit out of something that should be shared and open for all Americans tarnishes Martin Luther King, Jr.’s name, reputation and what he stood for. Even with all of the great things that he did and others like him, this will be on his permanent record as the darker side of his legacy. And I’m quite certain that the power that be in Washington will think twice before bestowing that honor upon another Black American.
I completely disagree with Nawood’s initial impression upon reading the very same article and using the quote he had chosen in his opinion:
The descendants of those other honorees have not done what the King family has had the audacity to do - demand payment for the right to use King s image, likeness and name.
What I still do not understand from Oliver is whether he supports the King family’s position of making a dime off of a piece of our heritage, or Project 21’s of informing America of this blemish on his name by a family that lacks the integrity that MLK strove for in life. Or do you despise both???
Hmm…
That paper by Michael King has an interesting header on it:
National Center for Public Policy Research? Why does that sound so familiar?
Oh, yeah. Now I remember.
“In my opinion, their admiration for King s accomplishments are not in question. Quite the opposite. Project 21 was not attempting to tarnish that legacy in any way. Quite the contrary, they were arguing that the King family s attempts to profit from the name were doing just that.”
Nawoods, from a brief look at their website it seems clear that their entire mission is to beat back programs which MLK supported. This article in their magazine, http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/mlk3.html, clearly states that MLK would have been pro-affirmative action. But on their website they have links dozens of articles on how evil affirmative action is. Why would they do that other than to distance themselves from MLK? They seem to want their cake and to eat it, too, by not explicitly calling MLK bad for black people, just calling affirmative action, which MLK would have supported, bad for black people.
Now we all know what Martin Luther King, Jr would have supported if he were alive today? Maybe we also know that he would have liked tiramisu over creme brulee also? Or a Corvette over a Porsche? I wouldn’t assume what anyone “would have” supported if they were alive today to try to justify my views, regardless of whether I agree with you or not. It’s like saying George Washington would vote for or against anti-trust laws or unionization. The world has changed so much since MLK’s influence on US policies that it would be impossible to predict what he would have supported today? I actually don’t know whether Martin Luther King, Jr would be for affirmative action the way it is presented today…and I wouldn’t presume to do so. Maybe he would have done something about the Justice system in this country, and how by design, it unfairly targets the poor and minority groups. When was the last time you saw someone rich or a celebrity actually get convicted for a DUI, and even if by some fluke they did, be given a 1 year sentence in prison instead of having the inconvenience of having to speak to children at a public school about the dangers of premarital sex? In the eyes of the law and justice, there are the people they are trying to serve and protect and then there’s “them”…the rest of us. Maybe MLK would have something more to say or do about that, because that was actually an issue he would have been acutely aware of. But Oliver’s a Conservative when it comes to the Justice system…he would have us all put away for 6 months for forgetting to bring an insurance card and driving your “not so pretty car” in the wrong side of town, while your boss in his Jaguar gets to chit chat with police after running over a stop sign coming from the local bar and complain about the damage to his Jag the next day.
The point is, most conservatives quote mine for anything which they can point to to claim MLK would have been against affirmative action. Project 21 at least admits most evidence points to the opposite, but they only seem to be doing so to undermine MLK’s legacy. The comment I quoted claimed that Project 21’s “admiration for King s accomplishments are not in question”. I disagree.
Marty,
Whatever answers there are to the problems that systemically plague the African American community will never come from Black conservatives. There is no consciousness there, no feeling, no empathy, and most certainly no commonsense.
Black conservatives push economic and social polices that hamstring and divide the black community. The social security debate is one example that is particularly revealing. We are supposed to go along with a program that will substantially destroy our retirement security in exchange for a ponzi scheme that could possibly lead to wealth if managed properly by the same people who made Enron and WorldCom possible. Please.
Stop drinking the Kool-Aid and come back to reality.
Uh- Trevor- Do you even know the definition of a ponzi scheme?
The current social security system is EXACTLY like a ponzi scheme. It transfers money from new “members” and gives it to seasoned “members” who gave their money in the past and are waiting for their payout. As long as there are continually new members brought into the game putting in more and more money, the seasoned members will continue to get their payout.
The problem is that the money being paid out is never saved, because the original members that put their money in had it paid out from the beginning to people who never had to contribute to the game. Plus, the “person” running the game spent all of the extra money on whatever the hell “he” wanted. However, the game has survived because there were alway more and more people being added to the game who could keep the money flowing out regardlesss of the lavish spending habits of the “person” running the game.
However, we are now running out of people to add to the game, AND there are going to be a hell of a lot more people expecting their payouts than there are new people playing the game. THAT is when people start complaining and someone figures out that this PONZI scheme is really just a scam of robbing a few Peters to pay a hell of a lot of Pauls.
If you are truly depending on Social Security for your retirement security then you best be very prepared to live on hope and prayers, cause the money won’t be there.
I prefer to live like an ant. Not a grasshopper. (If you don’t know what that means, look it up.)