Cynthia Tucker: They have a dream of profits

Atlanta Journal- Constitution ^ | 8.27.03 | Cynthia Tucker

[mhking]

In the late 1980s, Coretta Scott King sued Boston University over possession of some of the papers that had belonged to her late husband. Back then, the widow still wore a mantle of moral authority. She still commanded the respect of millions of Americans who remembered the dignity and quiet courage with which she had reared her children alone.

Back then, she was still revered as a keeper of the flame. She had not yet relinquished that role to become a mere merchant of the dream.

So, when she took the university to court (her challenge was ultimately unsuccessful), many civil rights leaders supported her. Not that it mattered much, but so did I. While the university had legal title to the papers, which her husband had donated to the school in 1964, Mrs. King had the greater moral claim. She said her husband had always wanted his papers housed at an African-American institution in the South.

But that was then.

These days, it's increasingly difficult to remember that the King family was once held in such high esteem. They are mostly known now for their relentless profiteering. They have sued writers and film producers who dared quote King without paying; they picked a fight with the National Park Service in a quixotic quest to build a for-profit King museum; they have blocked public efforts to commemorate King if they don't add cash to the family's pockets.

A few years ago, the family made multimillion-dollar deals with Alcatel, a French telecommunications company, and Cingular, an American telecom group, selling them permission to use portions of the "I Have a Dream" speech in commercials.

They turned Dr. King into a cellphone flack.

The heirs have converted King's legacy into a profit center -- I Have a Dream Inc.

So it comes as no surprise that -- even as the nation observes the 40th anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech -- King's heirs are attempting to sell a collection of his papers to the highest bidder. For the second time since 1999, the King family is trying to get at least $20 million for precious documents left by their father -- among them a typewritten early draft of the "I Have a Dream" speech, notepaper on which he wrote his Nobel Prize acceptance speech and a diary he kept while in jail in 1962.

The family came close to a deal to sell the same collection (a separate cache of documents than those at Boston University) to the Library of Congress four years ago. While the $20 million cost was controversial, Congress was on the verge of appropriating the money, according to U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.). But the deal fell apart because the family insisted on retaining copyrights, he said.

Lewis, who believes the papers beÂlong in the public domain, said he will again try to persuade his colleagues to buy the papers for the Library of Congress. That will be difficult, however, in an era of multibillion-dollar deficits.

In years past, the King heirs have tried to justify their greed by claiming that money they received from their father's legacy would be used to further his work. Would that it were so.

While Mrs. King spent years raising funds to build the private, nonprofit King Center for Non-Violent Social Change near downtown Atlanta, the complex has fallen into disrepair. Run by her second son, Dexter, the center keeps a skeletal staff; it offers few ongoing programs; it houses only a handful of artifacts. By contrast, the King National Historic Site, run by the National Park Service across the street from the King Center, offers frequent exhibits and programs.

In selling the papers, "I'm trying to live up to my father's wishes," Dexter King said Tuesday.

But it is difficult to see how commercializing his memory figures into his father's dream.

[mhking]

Our Lady of Schizophrenia strikes again....

Black conservative ping

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[okie01]

Our Lady of Schizophrenia strikes again....

Alternately clear-thinking and muddle-headed.

But, as I recall, she showed no signs of being schizoid until about three years ago -- being consistently muddle-headed until then.

Could this be some kind of progressive schizophrenia, a la alzheimer's, that will eventually strike her lucid?

[WayneM]

Time for a sanity check.

When I find myself agreeing with one sentence, much less the entire content, of a Cynthia Tucker editorial, I really start to worry about my mental state.

[nathanbedford]

The King family should be congratulated as an example to be emulated by the Afro-American "community."

Brothers Jack and Bobby evesdropped on King's illicit liasons and the family has long recognized reality: King was not a God, but a very flawed man who was available to the media to move an agenda. That the family does not play along to the extent of forfeiting wealth, makes them not greedy but realistic. That the family has cooperated with the media in growing the image, has only made them capitalists - a virtue to be encouraged in the Afro- American "community."

The family knows that the media warped and manipulated King's image to its ends. They are not cynical for exploiting the fantasy for their personal gain, but realistic. When the agenda is served, the media will move on.

[stylin19a]

Not too shabby...for Cynthia Tucker. Cynthia Tucker appears to be going through an epiphany. Just as it looks like she might be coming into the light from the dark side, she goes nutso again. Give her some time, she's trying and she will get there....even Mary Mitchell (Chicago Sun-Times) is starting to show signs of enlightenment.

[Bogey78O]

Her last few articles have been pretty thoughtful and well-rounded.

[thegreatbeast]

It was damn sad seeing what went on last weekend on the Washington Mall. What a disservice it was to King's memory.

[.45MAN]

Hmmmm... Who's her ghost writer....

[dwd1]

Well, let us see. John's Waynes son Michael was responsible for commercializing his legacy and maintaining his image...

I don't know what to say about Max Factor's great grandson, Andrew Luster....

I have heard very unpleasant things about the rebellion and conflicts between the Rockefeller Heirs...

Sounds like a typical next generation problem...

Do you think it is possible that more is expected of Dr. King's family because of his life (though he was obviously a flawed man)?...

I do not think we are judging the offspring of Thomas Jefferson (issues with acknowledging Sally Hemings and their offspring) so harshly... This is the question I keep asking that you don't seem to want to discuss... Are you giving (unintentionally, I believe) conservatives ammunition for looking down on blacks? You see the level of discourse on this forum...

I have seen so many posts that let me know that we may be welcomed in the conservative movement if we are successful and believe in and support conservative ideals... However, should that mean that we also have to separate ourselves from other black people by giving up dirt on other black people...

Think of all of the successful persons that are not black who have the very same issues with their offspring being more interested in money than in legacy... I don't think you are going to have to look very hard... It is sad but true because it is not about black or white... It is about green...

[mhking]

Are you giving (unintentionally, I believe) conservatives ammunition for looking down on blacks?

I'll admit that I've dodged that question, as it's not an easy one to answer effectively, but here goes...

From what I can see, that goes back to the basic "why are you airing our dirty laundry in public?" (and believe it or not, I've actually been taken to task by more than one person with just that question in mind)

And no, to specifically answer the question, I don't think I'm providing "ammunition" for conservatives to "look down" on blacks. I am, however, pointing out that the "leadership" and those that we as blacks tend to hold on a pedestal are not simply fallible, but cognizant of their failure (to lead and present a positive guidepost for others), and content to wallow in their percieved "vicitimhood."

Should we as black conservatives ignore the corruption of those like MLK's widow (whom I refer to as a "professional black widow") and children, and the racketeering of poverty pimps like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton?

I say no. If we aren't willing to shine the light on those and provide an alternative that is positive, there are others whose light would be far more harsh than ours.

King's family should live up to an ideal, not because of their father, specifically, but because they have the unique position of being able to reach many more people than someone like myself can. They command a much larger audience with the wave of a hand than I do with the beep of a horn.

God has put Jackson, Sharpton and many others in a position to do something more than wallow in their collective sorrow and to do more than to brow-beat those who would have an alternative means to uplift blacks (and by extension, all people). They have chosen, however, to leech money from wherever they can, and to deride other blacks as racial traitors. They sow the seeds of division simply for their own self-aggrandizement, and the rest of society be damned.

Joining the conservative movement has nothing to do with "separating" ourselves from blacks. It has everything to do with separating ourselves from the activities that those so-called leaders encourage among blacks in America.

In terms of the offspring of greatness, you're right. There are those from that you mention down to Ted Williams' son and the mess surrounding his cryogenic suspension. But none have assumed that they have a "right" to continue their father's work and assume a place in a position of "leadership" of an entire substrata of American society.

[dwd1]

All right.. Then agreeing that they should be held to a higher standard if they want to put on the mantle "Keeper of the flame" etc. I have no problem with that... On Jesse Jackson and several other poverty pimps, you have probably read my posts and I agree that they are doing more harm than good... I do think that we have to do a better job of emphasizing the positive and we can not always point to Jesse and Al for what is wrong and Colin and Clarence for what is right... All are in a position to do a lot of good and a lot of harm but so are you and I...

I truly respect your position and I think it helps to have your position and explanation here on the record... Too many times, I have faced those same questions you have and I think it helps those that are black and conservative to have defendable answers when asked "Are you a sellout?" and "Did you forget where you come from?"

I do not know if you have but I think about the young people that face the peer pressure of having to explain why they would rather read the newspaper or watch the news as opposed to go the watch "Lil Bow Wow" and I think we need to state that we are proud of being who we are but we do not have to apologize for the color of our skin or what we believe...

And as you know, they are the ones that are going to have to live with the actions and movements you and I and many other conservatives support... They need to understand the difference between selling out and pursuing success and security... the difference between "airing our dirty laundry" and "a willingness to demand a higher standard" and a "willingness to be vigilant against perceived impropriety and unfairness"

I have been on the receiving end of those difficult questions for a long time (as have you)... I have the feeling I am not the lone ranger...

I guess what works for me is knowing that we are not willing to see any community that we are a part of (black, human, military, professional, conservative, etc) think that we are sellouts just because we are willing to do some serious self examination and reflection...

Thanks for the reply...

Keep on keepin' on...

[dwd1]

Perhaps the saddest part of what you are saying is the part about the opportunity... I do not know if the black community gets many chances at having someone on the national stage... And to then think that they sell us out so that they can line their own pockets (beyond reason) and decrease the credibility of other blacks that try to follow... As you said, God gave them the opportunity and one could very effectively argue that they watched several pitches go by and prefer to try to draw a walk rather than taking a real swing at doing the right thing and getting around the bases on their own... (Yes, I love baseball)

Sad, but unfortunately, true...

[mhking]

one could very effectively argue that they watched several pitches go by and prefer to try to draw a walk rather than taking a real swing at doing the right thing and getting around the bases on their own...

Excellent analogy!

[dwd1]

Well, my team is not doing well... I am trying to accentuate the positive... :-)

[dwd1]

And this is the type of info we have to pass on those who are drawn to the conservative movement... Defendable and justifiable positions...

It is kind of like teaching my kids how to defend themselves against bullies at school... Necessary unpleasantry to deal with the reality...

[mhking]

Necessary unpleasantry to deal with the reality...

Yes. We have to showcase the positive, and at times, we have to search fervently to find it. But we also have to shine the light in the dark places that those who are still lost might find the light.

It's a lonely and thankless road, this one that we travel, but as trail-blazers, we have to survey the uncharted reaches, as unpleasant as that task might be at times.

[dwd1]

It is easier for me to be your ally in such pursuits if I understand where you are coming from and where you are going... I will support you in any way that I can...

[mhking]

I will support you in any way that I can...

I appreciate it, and glad to have you as an ally...

[speekinout]

From what I can see, that goes back to the basic "why are you airing our dirty laundry in public?" (and believe it or not, I've actually been taken to task by more than one person with just that question in mind)

I'm white and Conservative. My Black friends, mostly Liberals, tell me that Blacks can't criticize each other in public. It's the "brotherhood" or some such nonsense.
But that makes me less trustful of them. Skin color matters more than character to them.
I never hesitate to criticize a white person who is the scum of the earth, even if they have the same ethnic or religious background that I do.

I think Blacks like you, who talk about character instead of automatically defending anyone of color, do more to gain respect for Blacks than the so-called "Black leaders" ever could. But then, they aren't interested in making us all feel like equals, are they?