MLK's Radical Ideas

What would Martin Luther King Jr. say about today’s problems and struggles for justice?

Today we often hear about Martin Luther King Jr.’s belief in peaceful change	and	racial equality. But what else	did	Dr. King	say about other issues that many people are concerned about today, such war, corporate	greed, workers’ rights, education, housing, and health care, police brutality, and poverty in the U.S. and	around the world? 

Next to each of the statements listed	below, check whether you think Martin Luther King had a	strong	belief about	the	subject.

1

We should work to achieve racial equality.

1

War hurts poor Americans, because the government cuts money from programs to help poor people in order to pay for the war.

1

Labor unions (workers’ organizations that fight for better pay and working conditions) are good for most people, including African Americans.

1

People should disrupt society and businesses until the government does more to support poor people of all colors (and stops keeping them down).

1

The government should make sure that every American receives a decent income each year.

1

You can’t get rid of racism without also getting rid of economic inequality and militarism (war), because all of these problems are connected.

1

Protests should be nonviolent

1

Our society cares more about letting businesses make money than taking care of people.

1

Our government should spend much more money on housing, education, and health care for poor people and much less money on war.

1

Our government should take money from the rich and give it to the poor.

1

U.S. businesses get rich off of the labor done by poor and hungry people around the world.

Read the quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr.	below.
As you read, check the list of beliefs. Under each	quote, write the number or  numbers (1-11) of the belief(s)	listes above that you think are expressed in that quote. 

1

On Nonviolent Direct Action, Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963:

The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation… We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

1

The War in Vietnam –

The Costs of the War Comes Home "Beyond Vietnam," Address,” Riverside Church, New York, April 4, 1967:
I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in [helping] its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued to draw men and skills and money like some demonic, destructive suction tube. So I was increasingly compelled to see the war as an enemy of the poor and to attack it as such.

1

Calling for a Revolution of Values "Beyond Vietnam," Address, Riverside Church, New York, April 4, 1967:

I am convinced that … we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.

1

The Need to Equalize Wealth and Power May 1967:

We must recognize that we can't solve our problem until there is a radical redistribution of economic and political power... This means a revolution of values and other things. We must see now that the evils of racism, economic exploitation [abuse], and militarism [building up military power] are all tied together. ... You can't really get rid of one without getting rid of the others... the whole structure of American life must be changed.

1

Questioning Capitalism- Where Do We Go From Here? 1967:

There are forty million poor people here, and one day we must ask the question, “Why are there forty million poor people in America?” And when you begin to ask that question, you are raising a question about the economic system, about a broader distribution of wealth. When you ask that question, you begin to question the capitalistic economy. …And I’m simply saying that more and more, we’ve got to begin to ask questions about the whole society. We are called upon to help the discouraged beggars in life’s marketplace. But one day we must come to see that an edifice [structure] which produces beggars needs restructuring. It means that questions must be raised. And …when you deal with this you begin to ask the question[s], “Who owns the oil?” …“Who owns the iron ore?”… “Why is it that people have to pay water bills in a world that’s two-thirds water?” These are words that must be said.

1

Abolishing Poverty Teamsters and Allied Trade Councils, New York City, May 1967:

The limited reforms we have won have been at bargain rates for the power structure. … To enable the Negro to catch up, to repair the damage of centuries of denial and oppression means [spending money] to create jobs and job training; it means the outlay of billions for decent housing and equal education… ...The real cost lies ahead.

1

Abolishing Poverty Directly Teamsters and Allied Trade Councils, New York City, May 1967:

The solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed annual income. We are likely to find that the problems of housing and education…will themselves be affected if poverty is first abolished.

1

The Right to Health Care From a speech to the Medical Committee or Human Rights Committee, 1966:

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and most inhumane.

1

Police Brutality– from “I have a dream” speech, August 28, 1963:

We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality

1

Planning Massive Disruption to Force the Government to Help the Poor From I May Not Get There With You, by Michael Eric Dyson:

Dyson describes King’s plan for a Poor People’s Campaign to go Washington D.C. to force the federal government to end poverty. King planned to "use aggressive nonviolence” and massive civil disobedience, tying up traffic, staging sit-ins in Congress and government buildings, and shutting down business in the capital.

MLK's Radical Ideas

What would Martin Luther King Jr. say about today’s problems and struggles for justice?

We should work to achieve racial equality.

War hurts poor Americans, because the government cuts money from programs to help poor people in order to pay for the war.

Labor unions (workers’ organizations that fight for better pay and working conditions) are good for most people, including African Americans.

People should disrupt society and businesses until the government does more to support poor people of all colors (and stops keeping them down).

The government should make sure that every American receives a decent income each year.

You can’t get rid of racism without also getting rid of economic inequality and militarism (war), because all of these problems are connected.

Protests should be nonviolent

Our society cares more about letting businesses make money than taking care of people.

Our government should spend much more money on housing, education, and health care for poor people and much less money on war.

Our government should take money from the rich and give it to the poor.

U.S. businesses get rich off of the labor done by poor and hungry people around the world.

Read the quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. below.

As you read, check the list of beliefs. Under each quote, write the number or numbers (1-11) of the belief(s) listes above that you think are expressed in that quote.

The Right to Health Care From a speech to the Medical Committee or Human Rights Committee, 1966: Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and most inhumane.

Police Brutality– from “I have a dream” speech, August 28, 1963:We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality

What would Martin Luther King Jr. say about today’s problems and struggles for justice?

We should work to achieve racial equality.

War hurts poor Americans, because the government cuts money from programs to help poor people in order to pay for the war.

Labor unions (workers’ organizations that fight for better pay and working conditions) are good for most people, including African Americans.

People should disrupt society and businesses until the government does more to support poor people of all colors (and stops keeping them down).

The government should make sure that every American receives a decent income each year.

You can’t get rid of racism without also getting rid of economic inequality and militarism (war), because all of these problems are connected.

Protests should be nonviolent

Our society cares more about letting businesses make money than taking care of people.

Our government should spend much more money on housing, education, and health care for poor people and much less money on war.

Our government should take money from the rich and give it to the poor.

U.S. businesses get rich off of the labor done by poor and hungry people around the world.

Read the quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. below.

As you read, check the list of beliefs. Under each quote, write the number or numbers (1-11) of the belief(s) listes above that you think are expressed in that quote.

The Right to Health Care From a speech to the Medical Committee or Human Rights Committee, 1966: Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and most inhumane.

Police Brutality– from “I have a dream” speech, August 28, 1963:We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality

The Right to Health Care From a speech to the Medical Committee or Human Rights Committee, 1966:

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and most inhumane.

Police Brutality– from “I have a dream” speech, August 28, 1963:

We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality

The Right to Health Care From a speech to the Medical Committee or Human Rights Committee, 1966:

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and most inhumane.

Police Brutality– from “I have a dream” speech, August 28, 1963:

We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality