How did you celebrate MLK Day? Here are a few King Day snippets in case you missed it…
The Denver Public Schools have issued an apology for, what they say was “poor judgement” and “highly insensitive in light of cultural stereotypes” when they announced plans to serve fried chicken and collards to students in homage to Dr. King’s southern roots. They didn’t hand out Nobel Prize cookies or march on an important issue to celebrate his activism and contribution to civil rights…collards and chicken?
Hmmmm. I wonder if they were also planning to run a young black man up the flagpole and hang him there as well? I don’t buy that this was a just a case of cultural misguidance. This was pointed and I’d rather they just own up to it, say it was a bad joke or that they could care less rather than pretend it was “insensitive”. Reducing Dr. King’s contribution to a meal was actually “disrespectful” not insensitive but whatever Denver Public Schools…fake apology not accepted.
In other MLK News…Director Lee Daniels, of Monsters Ball and most recently Precious, is getting the business from the King children about scenes in the biopic “Selma” that reveal the Civil Rghts Leader ummmm, love of the ladies? Apparently, there’s even a scene that shows Dr. King even sleeping with a hooker.
Is this such a big deal? In telling the story of his life why shouldn’t this be included, especially if they are central to the story? It’s not like his dalliances are/were a secret from anyone. According to King biographer David Garrow, King explained his numerous extramarital affairs as “a form of anxiety reduction.” In 1968, according to historian Taylor Branch, he admitted to Coretta that he’d carried on a five-year romance with a married woman. Dr. King was even allegedly blackmailed by the FBI with information about his…”activities”.
Are the King children just being difficult? Numerous bio’s from JFK to Hoover have revealed sides of their personal life that may be considered less than shining, but it was the truth. Should we not have this same look at Dr. King’s life?
I don’t know what next year’s King holiday will bring but if I have a vote…fried chicken is two thumbs down but honesty in story telling gets two thumbs up!
Dear Virginia Maison,
Thanks again for nothing! It seems to be a pattern with you, drama and some sort of negative view on life. Yesterday’s post on Monique for her perfomance in Precious, Mary J Blige smacking her husband, and now MLK, fried chicken and hookers! Really?
I did a little research and looked in the archives on Nia on your previous post and wow! You seem to be a troubled soul. We all have problems Sista! Lord knows, however I am not sure if we all want to get our days started with more drama! Can we get some motivation and some words of wisdom? Leave the Hookers and fried chicken alone.
Wanda
I hadn’t heard about Denver school’s, but I’m not surprised. As far as not wanting Dr. King’s biz all in the streets, I ahve to admit, that I would be abuzz too if I were his kids. Yes, a lot of us know that e wasn’t always faithful, but does everything need to be discussed? Why does Lee Daniels seem to bent on showing us in negative lights? I don’t know if that is really necessary.
Martin Luther King challenged our thinking.When our thinking is challeged we should be able to move to the next level.Unfortunately some people didn’t catch on to his concept therefore they continue to be ingorant.Ingorant people say ingorant things.