I will acknowledge that King had a persona, separate and distinct from many of those closest to him. While he may have flirted with Communism in his student days, I am willing to accept the idea that he was not himself a Communist. However, you dismiss the fact that he was used by the Communists and other Socialists of his era, as no other before or since, a bit to cavalierly. It is not some "subterranean leaning," that I am talking about.
If you look at some of the personalities who helped organize King's march on Washington; some of those whom he associated with in his early days of organization; at some of the stands he took on issues wholly outside the racial question; you will have to accept that he was basically a spokesman for the Left. He also led people away from the "Christian" approach, not towards it. You apparently are not aware of the ruckus stirred up at the National Baptist Convention--America's largest Negro Christian denomination--by King supporters, seeking to undermine the traditional Conservative leadership.
If you want to praise a Christian leader in the fight for Negro advancement, look at Booker T. Washington, who treated his people not as victims, but as needing to improve themselves; needing to take personal responsibility for their lives; while at the same time, pointing out their historic conservatism and forgiving attitudes--their loyalty and devotion. Surely, that was a more "Christian" approach than organizing a huge march to demand a Socialistic political agenda from politicians!
But enough! The men are both dead, and I realize that I cannot stop those who choose to honor the memory of King, from doing so. He did at least stir a great debate, and that was a benefit. It was not his fault that the White Left managed to intimidate the entire political establishment into not daring to question his sanctity. And it is the White Left, not King, who is responsible for this holiday.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site