Friendly Reminder: Martin Luther King, Jr. Was a Radical

Since his death, Martin Luther King's public persona has been coopted and transformed by mainstream American culture into one of a benign, avuncular, pacifier of racial and economic frustration and discontent. For example, holiday festivities around Martin Luther King's legacy don't often include a celebration of his radical commitment to breaking down social and political barriers to economic justice, and

Here are a few quotations in which King points to the inextricable links between racism and economic exploitation.

 "Many white Americans of good will have never connected bigotry with economic exploitation. They have deplored prejudice but tolerated or ignored economic injustice." [1]

 “God never intended for one group of people to live in superfluous inordinate wealth, while others live in abject deadening poverty.” Dr. King, “Strength to Love”, 1963 [1]

"We have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifices. Capitalism was built on the exploitation of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor, both black and white, both here and abroad." [1]

 "The problem of racism, the problem of economic exploitation, and the problem of war are all tied together. These are the triple evils that are interrelated." [1]

Martin Luther King was dedicated to disrupting the socioeconomic status quo in the United States, to which he professed no moral or ideological allegiance. His commitment to non-violent methods was as pragmatic as it was cosmological. [2] His "Six Principles of Nonviolence" evince an abundance of energy, passion, and oppositionality against America's unjust and hypocritical treatment of its citizens.

"SIX PRINCIPLES OF NONVIOLENCE

 PRINCIPLE ONE: Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people. It is active nonviolent resistance to evil. It is aggressive spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
 PRINCIPLE TWO: Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding. The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation. The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community.
 PRINCIPLE THREE: Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people. Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people. The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil not people.
 PRINCIPLE FOUR: Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform. Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation. Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.
 PRINCIPLE FIVE: Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate. Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unmotivated, unselfish and creative.
 PRINCIPLE SIX: Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice. The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win. Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice. [3]

Further reading:

 "We Need and Economic Bill of Rights"--Martin Luther King Jr.

"Letter From Birmingham Jail"--Martin Luther King Jr. 

"Martin Luther King Jr. was a radical. We must not sterilize his legacy." --Cornel West



Notes
[1] Futurity
[2] The Daily Beast
[3] The King Center