Why was Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated?

[neverbend]

I don't agree with any assassinations but when it is a political figure I "get it". Almost every decision they make or don't make will piss someone off....sometimes the wrong person or wrong group with the right amount of crazy.

But wasn't this guy a pastor and someone trying to bring peace and equality to the world?

Someone enlighten me. I don't read history books or 10 page wiki entries....but I'll read a 40 page thread on this forum....maybe you guys can teach me something on this day.

I graduated from a Virginia school in 66 and it was a different world back then. You could here the band practicing while in the school library and when they played "Dixie" more than half of the students like a reflex would immediately stand up while the song was playing.
I was from Jersey & that kind of amazed me as a freshman. I played football my first two years there and the football fraternities were
Kappa Sig, Kappa Alpha & Sigma Nu which I joined. KA big social event of the year was the 'Light Cavalry Ball" when all the brothers dressed in Confederate Grey & the theme song was 'John Wilkes Booth was a Kappa Alpha Pledge the South will rise again.' KA
was exclusive I had some friends there but if you were from the North you could not join Kappa Alpa. I graduated college without ever
going to school with a black. 65% of the students were from Virginia.

That gives you an idea of southern culture in the 60's. I don't recall ever having a conversation concerning King at college but I do recall blacks not being held in high regard.

 

[RenoChazz]

I find it interesting that MLK's family believe that James Earl Ray was NOT the man that shot MLK.

Most don't know this because it wasn't widely reported, but not only did the the family not believe, they filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the US gov and won.

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/09/u...nspiracy-in-martin-luther-king-s-killing.html

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

This statement is ridiculous and ignorant.

Tell me some more.....

 

[RenoChazz]

I agree with Veijo, racism is alive and well. Sure on the cover, things do look much better, but much like the mafia, racism has gone underground.

 

[ML Dog]

wasn't this guy trying to bring peace and equality to the world?

Yes, definitely but don't you see how that would really piss some people off?

For companies that make bullets and the bombs Peace is a -EV proposition and Equality is threatening to the wealthy.

I'm real surprised by the posts revealing involvement of Federal Gov and anyone else beyond Local Memphis/Tennessee people.

I thought he was killed because of the Memphis Sanitation Workers deal, rallying them to protest against terrible wages and bad working conditions.

I expected Larger Concerns would kill him later cuz it seemed like he just wasn't gonna stop, rallying people against Oppression and trying to lessen suffering but I didn't think The Feds had been involved there, just thought it was a Local deal.

Theres a decent ESPN 30 for 30 special focused largely on Ole Miss football team 1962 and how the first Black Student to show up to go to school there effected the University. Its on Netflix.

That would provide good insight into how it "was", especially the clips in it that are footage of the Dean of Ole Miss talking and especially when he talk at that one Football game.

Plus its totally "on-topic" here since its got a football team in it and a powerhouse OLE MISS football team in it.

I refuse to believe that even Viejo Dinosaur isn't optimistic about Martin's Dream being accomplished. While like MLK we will not get there with them surely our grandkid's kids will see what he spoke of. Due in large part to all this new communication, technology making the world "smaller", young people even now seem to be so much less hung up about Race than even just 20 years ago let alone what it was like in the 60's.

 

[shdw01]

I saw somewhere today that the fbi urged him to commit suicide

fwiw, I dont think racism is non-existent, but there is no way in hell it is like the 60s. Progress is being made....different culture for lots of black families, same with other races...i don't mind it one bit....just dislike when the differences turn to hate

 

[ML Dog]

I saw somewhere today that the fbi urged him to commit suicide

fwiw, I dont think racism is non-existent, but there is no way in hell it is like the 60s. Progress is being made....different culture for lots of black families, same with other races...i don't mind it one bit....just dislike when the differences turn to hate

I seem to recall something like that. FBI was threatening to expose him as a Womanizer and disgrace him but they generously lmao offered him the option to kill himself and they'd agree to not spill.

I don't see how any rational person can say amazing progress is NOT being made. Viejo Dino is right that Racism exists but just accomplished more subtly than in the past and Racism will always exist but younger people def are a lot less racist than people of the past. How is it possible to not imagine Racism as we know it being largely a thing of the past mostly cuz these younger people now see how completely fukk'd the World is with Conflict and surely if not they themselves then their kid's and grandkid's are gonna just be plain TIRED of the shyt and seek to be as UNLIKE those that came before them as possible. Perhaps I am overconfident, maybe MLK was too but I hope not cuz it seems as though it doesn't have to be this way.

 

[VIEJODINOSAUR]

Yes, definitely but don't you see how that would really piss some people off?

For companies that make bullets and the bombs Peace is a -EV proposition and Equality is threatening to the wealthy.

I'm real surprised by the posts revealing involvement of Federal Gov and anyone else beyond Local Memphis/Tennessee people.

I thought he was killed because of the Memphis Sanitation Workers deal, rallying them to protest against terrible wages and bad working conditions.

I expected Larger Concerns would kill him later cuz it seemed like he just wasn't gonna stop, rallying people against Oppression and trying to lessen suffering but I didn't think The Feds had been involved there, just thought it was a Local deal.

Theres a decent ESPN 30 for 30 special focused largely on Ole Miss football team 1962 and how the first Black Student to show up to go to school there effected the University. Its on Netflix.

That would provide good insight into how it "was", especially the clips in it that are footage of the Dean of Ole Miss talking and especially when he talk at that one Football game.

Plus its totally "on-topic" here since its got a football team in it and a powerhouse OLE MISS football team in it.

I refuse to believe that even Viejo Dinosaur isn't optimistic about Martin's Dream being accomplished. While like MLK we will not get there with them surely our grandkid's kids will see what he spoke of. Due in large part to all this new communication, technology making the world "smaller", young people even now seem to be so much less hung up about Race than even just 20 years ago let alone what it was like in the 60's.

I agree with the statement that young people are less hung up about race, especially the young and educated.......it is the middle aged and older generation that still hang on to the old, southern ways.....we need more younger and bright government workers and politicians who are not on the take with their ideas and solutions....

I saw that Ole Miss special...very informative.....

I grew up in South Jersey....I can still see the image of bathrooms on the boardwalk saying "no coloreds allowed." This was back around 60-61......made me stop and think the first time I saw it.....I am PuertoRican/Irish so I had some questions even my parents wouldn't answer....

 

[NES]

This statement is ridiculous and ignorant.

 

[FairWarning]

I think we have come a long way in the last 30 years. There are high-profile cases sure. these cable news stations like making news also. Fear, hate, and ignorance sell.

 

[bigbet1234]

Those that play the race card eat at me. I treat everyone as equal. There are those that think they are entitled, that could be white, black, yellow, etc....but mostly blacks and whites. Mexicans are always very friendly, asians for the most part are too. But some Indians, well

 

[ML Dog]

These cable news stations like making news also. Fear, hate, and ignorance sell.

The most sheerly excellent and sharp observation that could have been made.

Racism will disappear less rapidly than it could have because CNN will continue to showcase it.

This will actually be among the most interesting questions we face within our lifetimes. If Media will find the Grace to help pull us (and themselves) up out of this cesspool by halting their sensationalism of "Racial Matters" (which most times are not in fact racial matters thats just how they frame it to attract viewers).

We're talking MONEY THOUGH.

They feel they have to hype shyt to get that largest % of marketshare...

They'll have to be convinced to accept a potential decrease in profit for the sake of Peace and Equality.


I hope my suggesting this doesn't get me shot on a hotel balcony lol.

 

[ML Dog]

PuertoRican/Irish so I had some questions even my parents wouldn't answer....

Irish were, some have described it, per their History treated and had to deal with similar stuff to what African Americans have been through here..."Slaves" even, I've heard the Irish referred to. I don't know their History.

If Puerto Rico had been on the way to Portsmouth Virginia from Ethiopia your own Puerto Rican People might have wound up on a slave ship, if they felt stopping by PR would be wise.

"But for the grace of God go we". By simple chance of birth anyone of us could be any one else and their burdens ours.

Rican and Irish, you must be crazy as hell and drink like a fish.

Listen to that Rican rapper...I forget his name....CD Rican-Struction though...

oh yeah CHINO XL....

dude is THE most brilliant artist to walk the planet. ever. even if you don't like rap. he's luminous that cat, word power like few others ever.

 

[silver7]

Irish were, some have described it, per their History treated and had to deal with similar stuff to what African Americans have been through here..."Slaves" even, I've heard the Irish referred to. I don't know their History.

If Puerto Rico had been on the way to Portsmouth Virginia from Ethiopia your own Puerto Rican People might have wound up on a slave ship, if they felt stopping by PR would be wise.

"But for the grace of God go we". By simple chance of birth anyone of us could be any one else and their burdens ours.

Rican and Irish, you must be crazy as hell and drink like a fish.

Listen to that Rican rapper...I forget his name....CD Rican-Struction though...

oh yeah CHINO XL....

dude is THE most brilliant artist to walk the planet. ever. even if you don't like rap. he's luminous that cat, word power like few others ever.

Your statement re. PR & Irish is in itself racist.

 

[ML Dog]

Your statement re. PR & Irish is in itself racist.

True, yes, but Zero Tolerance policy and/or succeeding in total avoidance of racism is both impossible and unwise to attempt as an ability to laugh at ourselves, to avoid taking ourselves too seriously is good. Races have specific qualities just as people from specific regions do. "Crazy as Hell" and Drunk were not meant as negative things in this instance.