Leftists dislike MLK due to prioritizing skin color over character
The Paradox of MLK Day: Celebrating Values Opposed by the Left
The Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) holiday ironically honors values despised by many on the left. King’s intellectual and moral challenge to judge people by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin, is in direct opposition to leftists’ narrative that judging people’s value begins with their skin color.
Keep in mind that many on the left never agreed with MLK’s nonviolent movement of protest in the 1960s. Stokely Carmichael, the originator of the black nationalist movement (Black Power) and the Black Panthers, once stated, “When you talk of Black power, you talk of building a movement that will smash everything Western civilization has created.” Many followers of this movement enrolled in colleges in the 1970s, earned doctoral degrees in African studies (or grievance studies), and now lead or have major influence in local, state, and federal agencies, academia, the arts, and media.
While the radicals were developing leadership roles, the majority of Americans accepted MLK’s vision of judging people by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. Hence, many people would use the phrase, “I don’t see color” to confirm their buy-in of that vision. In fact, based on a Gallup poll, nearly 70 percent of Americans, black and white, rated race relations either good or very good back in 2002.
Ironically, it was in the first black president’s second term when race relations worsened. Now, less that 44 percent of Americans rate race rations as good or very good, according to Gallup’s 2021 poll. I contend that a major reason for that is the mass marketing of critical race theory (CRT), systemic racism, and DEI by Democrats.
I belong to a significant percentage of the black population that agrees with MLK’s vision and disagrees with the radical agenda that uses racial disparities to reshape the country.
When DEI Can Kill
If leftists have their way, they might decide to change the name of Dr. King’s holiday to Oppressed People’s Day. Some will think I’m guilty of hyperbole. Many will not.
For instance, for equity’s sake, both the American Bar Association and the American Medical Association have released statements that support DEI or adjusting standards to pass their exams.
Proponents of these lower standards will try to convince us it will not adversely affect the quality of these professionals. The rest of us know better.
Proud black Americans have been passing and exceeding the bar exam and medical school standards since the 1800s, even in the face of egregious, overt, and legal forms of racism. They would be rightly appalled at the notion currently peddled by leftists that standards need to be lowered in the name of “equity.”
Although blacks have been passing these exams for two centuries, leftists believe adjustments in bar exam standards and medical school scoring methods are necessary to combat disparities between the races in the criminal justice system, health care, and academic testing methodologies.
California and Delaware have lowered the points required to pass their bar exams. In the name of equity, other states are considering following suit. In addition, The Federation of State Medical Boards decided to make step one of medical school students’ first major exams a pass/fail score instead of the legacy raw test results. Without claiming the changes were for diversity reasons, some black physicians noted, “it was a step in the right direction.”
Sadly, these disparities do not start in law school and medical school.
Fatherlessness Is Behind Racial Disparities
These disparities have been a thorn in the side of the nation for decades because leftists refuse to acknowledge the dancing elephant in the room. The real driver of racial disparities is the fatherless homes crisis among black Americans.
In our lifetime, we have witnessed the transformation of the black culture from 80 percent two-parent families to 80 percent fatherless homes. Even some on the left recognize this damaging trend. Melissa Kearney, senior fellow of the left-leaning Brookings Institute and an economics professor, made the point in her book The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind that the link between single parenting, inequality, and mobility in America is too strong to deny.
TakeCharge, of which I’m founder, is a grassroots organization of predominately black Americans from broken families and/or difficult upbringings who embrace King’s vision. Despite our troubled backgrounds, we have achieved a level of success in America and reject the victimhood mindset of DEI and CRT. We represent a sizable percentage of black Americans who are censored by the corporate media and marginalized because of our views and faith. We are insulted by the notion that standards need to be lowered because of “disparities.”
The racial disparities among black Americans are real, but the real drivers of those disparities have been ignored by black leaders for decades because of their lust for political power, desire for personal wealth, and fear of being held accountable. It is time black Americans realize they have been deceived by people entrusted to lead and improve their lives.
A transformation can take place for black Americans, but it must be a grassroots effort void of government incentives. The return of the cultural roots of faith, family, and education is imperative. That was the character of our culture before it accepted “help from the government.”
It is critical we begin teaching a new generation of young people the importance of marriage before children and the value of faith, and that we restore high standards of education and the desire to be educated.
These cultural changes are empowering because they require personal decision-making, individual responsibility, and commitment. They require no government aid or government approval. What they do require are black leaders who exude strong content of character — the essence of King’s vision and the reason we celebrate this day.
How has the adoption of critical race theory, systemic racism ideology, and DEI initiatives by the Democratic Party contributed to a decline in race relations, as observed in Gallup’s poll
The celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an ironic paradox, as it honors values that are despised by many on the left. MLK’s message of judging individuals based on their character rather than their skin color directly contradicts the leftists’ narrative that values people based on their race.
It is important to note that many on the left did not agree with MLK’s nonviolent movement of protest in the 1960s. Figures like Stokely Carmichael, the originator of the black nationalist movement and the Black Panthers, openly denounced MLK’s vision and called for the destruction of Western civilization. However, many followers of this radical movement went on to join institutions of higher education, earn advanced degrees in African studies or grievance studies, and now hold positions of power and influence in various sectors of society.
While these radicals were rising to leadership positions, the majority of Americans embraced MLK’s vision of judging individuals by their character, not their skin color. The phrase “I don’t see color” became a common expression of support for this vision. In fact, a Gallup poll conducted in 2002 revealed that nearly 70 percent of Americans, both black and white, rated race relations as either good or very good.
Ironically, it was during the second term of the first black president that race relations started to deteriorate. According to Gallup’s 2021 poll, less than 44 percent of Americans now rate race relations as good or very good. One major reason for this decline can be attributed to the mass adoption of critical race theory (CRT), systemic racism ideology, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives by the Democratic Party.
As a member of the black population, I align with MLK’s vision and reject the radical agenda that uses racial disparities as a means to reshape the country.
One concerning aspect of the left’s agenda is the push for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures that could have unintended consequences. Some proponents of DEI suggest that the name of MLK’s holiday should be changed to “Oppressed People’s Day” for the sake of equity. This proposal may seem exaggerated, but it highlights the potential dangers of DEI initiatives when taken to the extreme.
For instance, both the American Bar Association and the American Medical Association have released statements supporting DEI or adjusting standards to ensure diversity. They argue that lowering standards will not negatively impact the quality of professionals. However, proud black Americans have been passing and exceeding these standards since the 1800s, even in the face of overt racism. The idea that standards need to be lowered in the name of equity is offensive to those who have worked hard to achieve their goals.
California and Delaware have already lowered the passing scores for their bar exams in the name of equity, and other states are considering following suit. The Federation of State Medical Boards has also made changes to medical school scoring methods in an effort to address disparities between races. While not explicitly stated, these changes are seen by some as a step towards increased diversity.
However, the root cause of racial disparities is often overlooked - the crisis of fatherlessness in black American households. Over the years, the black community has seen a significant increase in fatherless homes, with 80 percent of families being led by single mothers. This trend has had detrimental effects on the black community, and even left-leaning scholars have recognized the link between single parenting, inequality, and social mobility.
It is essential to acknowledge the impact of fatherlessness and address the root causes of racial disparities rather than relying solely on DEI measures that may not effectively address these issues.
In conclusion, the celebration of MLK Day serves as a reminder of the paradox within the left. While MLK’s values of judging individuals by their character are honored, many on the left continue to promote ideologies that focus on racial divisions. It is crucial for society to recognize and address the root causes of racial disparities, such as fatherlessness, rather than relying on diversity and equity measures that may not effectively address these issues.
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