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Remember, it wasn’t to denigrate real Black Republicans. MLK, Jr. was a complex person with some good points, but many flaws and hypocrisies. I don’t think it’s right we singularly focus on him to the exclusion of so many others that gave their lives in the struggle for equality. I find other authentic Black Republicans, such as those pioneers in the Reconstruction era, Frederick Douglass, up through Booker T. Washington (perhaps one of the most brilliant individuals of any race in US history) are far more heroic individuals. Others such as Rev. Vernon Johns, almost completely forgotten today (despite the fact he is credited with being the real father of the (modern) civil rights movement), are worth learning about. In my honest opinion, I’d rather this date celebrate all those who contributed to the cause, and not a single man.

Here’s more on Rev. Johns in case you’d like to read up on him:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Johns

http://www.vernonjohns.org/tcal001/vjtofc.html

James Earl Jones also starred in a movie about him in the early ‘90s. Powerful stuff if you ever see it:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111611/