I hear what you are saying, Azizi. But I don't see MLK Day as a 'feel good' event. I see it as an opportunity to reflect and recognize the work is not done. None of his work. I also consider him to have been much more than a leader of civil rights. He was a moral voice for freedom and equality of all people, and he was moving more and more in that direction when he was cut down.

I think to many, many people, especially White people, MLK day is nothing but a 3 day weekend. I usually participate in the MLK day march in my little village - one of the very few white faces. It is very clear from public discussion about affirmative action that many Whites are very ready to deny what a strong force racism continues to be in our country.

It may be that Dr. King would ultimately have been squeezed out of the civil rights leadership by extending his focus beyond civil rights for African Americans. There is really no way to know. I do know he was a powerful and effective voice and leader of this country, and not just of Black people in this country. His was a voice for social justice for all.

Taylor Branch comments some on this. Taylor Branch Interview

I am usually one of only a handful of white faces in the MLK day march in my little town. Part of that is an indication of white attitudes. Interestingly though, part of it is because the Black community also tends to want to exclude and limit participation by whites, and the white churches in the MLK day events in our part of the county.   I have experienced this first hand in trying to get information about the full range of events planned - many of which occur in the Black churches, as the local NAACP is mostly organized around the Black churches - phone calls never returned - etc.

The last time I attended anything other than the March was when my son was 10. After we left the church where the main program was held, he turned to me and said, "Mom, why do we keep coming to this. They obviously don't want us here." He was right. I always understood that our presence was tolerated and nothing more, but that year I had a clear sense that we really were not wanted.   

Now we go to Durham and participate there.