On this day, April 4th in 1968, Dr. MLK Jr was assassinated. His chilling death sent tremors. It sparked riots across the United States and contributed to the passage of the 1968 Civil Rights Act.
Legacy of Non-Violent Civil Rights Advocacy
A civil rights leader who now resides in prolific fashion in our education and culture. An irreplicable organizer, activist, writer, scholar, religious leader, and orator.
During the 50s and 60s, segregation, voting restrictions, and housing accessibility were rampant forms of racial discrimination. He was critical in civil rights campaigns which delivered significant legal remedies to such racist issues with the codification of the United States 1964 Civil Rights Act, 1965 Voting Right Act, the 1968 Fair Housing Act, and more.
He staunchly believed in the ideological approach of civil obedience and participated in a long stream of advocacy actions including boycotts, strike support, sit-ins, and numerous marches. Many would result in mass arrests. He himself was arrested 29 times in his life.
Ideological Lanes: MLK and the Black Panthers
The Black Panthers and MLK are typically depicted as having opposing ideological approaches to the civil rights movement. MLK representing civil disobedience and non-violent ideology. While the Panthers embodied a more radical edge espousing the unfortunate necessity of violent resistance.
However, these two ideological lanes did have parrels. What is often muted in MLK's legacy is his affinity for socialism and anti-capitalist sentiments that he held particularly in the later portion of his life.
In a letter to his wife Coretta Scott on July 18th, 1952 he wrote:
"I imagine you know already that I am much more socialistic in my economic theory than capitalistic... [Capitalism] started out with a noble and high motive... But like most human systems it fell victim to the very thing it was revolting against. So today capitalism has outlived its usefulness."
Speculation Around Nature of Death
In accordance to his increased attention on economic issues, MLK was tragically assassinated while in Memphis supporting sanitation workers on strike. After his assassination, conspiracy theories formed around the nature of his death and possible federal involvement. His family has since maintained the stance that the persecuted assassin James Earl Ray was not solely responsible, or at all.
Consideration of federal involvement is influenced by clear evidence that civil rights advocacy groups were illegally interfered with and surveilled by COINTELPRO operations by the FBI. Intervention went as far as assassination. An example being the State's assassination of Illinois Black Panther Chapter founder Fred Hampton.
Formation of Rainbow Coalition
To commemorate the anniversary of Dr. MLK Jr's death, the Black Panthers announced at a Chicago conference the creation of the anti-capitalist Rainbow Coalition. This coalition stitched together a diverse set of organizations. This included The Black Panthers, The Young Patriots (composed mostly of radical white southerners), and The Young Lords (Puerto Rican youth).
This coalition was a strong showcase of class solidarity. Especially interesting is the inclusion of the The Young Patriots who utilized the confederate flag as a symbol of pride. Seemingly antithetical to the other groups of marginalized people. However, all of the groups found interracial solidarity through shared socialist aspirations - working towards ideas of economic liberation Dr. MLK Jr similarly espoused.
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