As far as I'm concerned, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's primary identity and role in the human drama was and is as our era's greatest apostle of nonviolence. That he was African-American, and therefore a member of a group sorely in need of the kind of justice that can only be won by steadfast and militant nonviolent action, was important but ultimately secondary.

There is a trend these days to forget Dr. King's principles and to celebrate his birthday as a "blacks-only" event. This is tragic and absolutely contrary to the man's message. It's wrong for white folks to dismiss MLK Day and Black History Month as something that concerns "those other people," and it is just as wrong for black folks to use Dr. King's memory to celebrate all things African-American, including the worst and most destructive aspects of thug culture, and to exclude people of any other race from inclusion.

Azizi, I usually agree with you and generally sympathize, but to the extent that you're telling us that white folks have no business singing spirituals or otherwise honoring and enjoying African-American culture, you're not only wrong, you're in direct conflict with the principles and the dreams of the man we honor today.