"It seemed as if there was a real promise of hope for the poor -- both black and white -- through the poverty program. There were experiments, hopes, new beginnings. Then came the buildup in Vietnam, and I watched the program broken and eviscerated as if it were some idle political plaything of a society gone mad on war, and I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued to draw men and skills and money like some demonic destructive suction tube."--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. would be 89 years old today, had he not been assassinated 50 years ago at the age of 39. MLK Jr.'s legacy extends SO MUCH further than we learned in elementary school. Yes, he wanted more equality and less hate. But these same politicians who sing praises about him today are the ones who would have demonized him 50 years ago.
MLK Jr.'s wife, Coretta Scott King, fought for years to get this day to become a national holiday. Without her, MLK might just be a distant memory in some of our grandparent's minds. Coretta was also an early advocate of LGBT equality and pushed for civil rights for lesbian and gay individuals as well as the right for gay marriage.
These two were strong, passionate advocates. They spoke out for those who couldn't speak for themselves. If you think MLK day is just about race--you are wrong. It symbolizes not just the racial inequality that still exists in our country but also the misguided priorities of our government.
Check out History.com for more information, pictures and speeches.
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