5.3 Stop Using MLK to Justify Racism

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is less than a week away, and I couldn’t let this important day pass without another episode. It’s actually my THIRD episode about Martin Luther King Jr., and I feel like this episode shows our journey as a community and my journey as an anti-racist (both personally and as an educator). With each episode, the content has gotten more and more radical — just like the journey that Dr. Cornel West takes us on in the incredible book “The Radical King.” The first episode — Season 3, Episode 10: “The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” — was about nonviolence and loving accountability. The second episode —  Season 3, Episode 11: “The One Thing I Wish You Knew About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” — was about the fact that racism and Dr. King’s assassination have more to do with money and power than skin color. And in this third episode — “Stop Using MLK to Justify Racism” — we are going to dispel 3 myths that people have perpetuated about Dr. King to justify their racism. Those 3 myths are: Dr. King would have been against riots Dr. King would have been anti-Critical Race Theory Dr. King’s dream has already been achieved I hope by the end of this episode you feel like you have a better understanding of what this incredible man really felt about each of these issues, and I hope you feel inspired to learn more about his teachings yourself.    Bite-sized Black History  Bite-sized Black History is a program that empowers you to teach the little ones you love about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. We featured 12 different people in Season 1 of the program and will feature 12 all new Black Americans in Season 2. And, if you missed Season 1, both seasons will be available for purchase. Click here to be the first to get the coupon code when Bite-sized Black History is released on Feb 1st!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast Season 3, Episode 10: “The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” First Name Basis Podcast Season 3, Episode 11: “The One Thing I Wish You Knew About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. First Name Basis Podcast Season 3, Episode 29: “Critical Race Theory in Schools” “The Radical King,” by Martin Luther King Jr., edited and introduced by Cornel West “​​93% of Black Lives Matter Protests Have Been Peaceful, New Report Finds,” by Sanya Mansoor, TIME “Nonviolence and Social Change,” by Martin Luther King Jr. “Ron DeSantis Introduced the ‘Stop W.O.K.E. Act’—and Name-Dropped MLK,” by Paul Blest, Vice Bernice King’s response to Ron DeSantis on Twitter Sylvia Duckworth’s CRT definition, which she worked with Dr. Angel Jones and Dr. Kate Slater to create “After Desegregation — What” by Martin Luther King Jr. “Where Do We Go From Here?” by Martin Luther King Jr. Francheska’s Instagram account @cheskatanglao Bernice King’s response on Twitter to people claiming her father “didn’t offend people”   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN