Commercialism mars King legacy

Buffalo News ^ | 2/4/06 | By LEONARD PITTS

[NYpeanut]

She tolerated the money-grubbing the same way she tolerated MLK's cheating, and for the same reasons, just like mrs. bill clinton. I am sure she was a nice lady, but I wish I could have more respect for her.

[darkwing104]

Just wait till after the funeral and watch King's children fight over the loot...It will be the ultimate insult to Reverend King's legacy.

[Mark was here]

Good thing plagiarism did not mar his legacy.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Philandering, too.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I refer you to the King family's 1993 lawsuit against USA Today for reprinting the "I Have A Dream" speech and their subsequent licensing of King's image and voice for use in television commercials, one of which placed him between Homer Simpson and Kermit the Frog.

OMG. This is not kidding?

[Ninian Dryhope]

King was a womanizer and plagiarizer, so mere commercialism is not much of a mar.

[lunarbicep]

BTTT

[Malesherbes]

I interviewed Coretta Scott King once - at no cost. Years ago I was taking a Delta flight from Atlanta to Washington. The coach section was only half full and in the seats in front of me were none other than Coretta King and another lady who, it turned out, worked at the King Center.

A stewardess approached Mrs. King and asked if she would like to move to first class where there were some empty seats. She graciously declined, said she was comfortable where she was, and continued her conversation with her friend which I could not help but overhear.

It was banal, gossipy, somewhat catty, something you might overhear in a beauty parlor. At the Washington airport she was met by some kind of delegation and whisked away. I went away, however,with the impression that she was a rather ordinary woman who simply had had the misfortune of having had her philandering husband murdered.

[G.Mason]

"Martin Luther King, it seems necessary to say, was not Elvis Presley. He was a man who stood for something and died for something."

Excuse me Pitts?

Hey, if the coffee doesn't work by drinking it, go to that joint in Mexico and get their coffee enema.

Oh ... that's right. They closed down after Coretta left.

[willyboyishere]

The title should have been "Commercialism DEFINES King Legacy"
all I can say is, "t'was ever thus...."
Maybe on second thought the subtitle should have been
"Tired journalistic cliches mar King Legacy"
'twas ever thus" also
"courageous .....quiet dignity......blah blah blah"
Let's hear from someone who doesn't have a political axe
to grind.

[dagnabbit]

I think the scholar whose work Rev. King stole for his dissertation was named Jack Boozer

[Wally_Kalbacken]

The way it has been covered here in Atlanta - you have to wonder what has been going on with her funeral plans. It was clear that she was in declining health for more than a few months - and at that age it would be normal for some planning to have been done. I find the idea of taking a terminally ill cancer patient on a transcontinental flight to a disreputable Mexican cancer clinic (since closed) to be further evidence of the feuding factions among her family. Who would do that rather than having her stay in Atlanta at Emory Hospital - where at least you could be assured she would be comfortable? Greedy children.

[willyboyishere]

I DIDN'T MEAN T0 IMPUGN PITTS-----THIS PIECE IS VERY GOOD, BUT CONTAINS THE OBLIGATORY QUOTES FROM JESSE, ET.AL.

[wheelright]

Why don't you keep that racist tripe to yourself.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

I found it on a Google search. Didn't read but the headline. I'll revisit it and if it's racist, I will ask the AM to remove that comment. Thanks for the heads-up, w.

[wheelright]

If you have any doubt, just click on "Who We Are"

[butternut_squash_bisque]

I've asked the AM to delete the link to those skunks. I did revisit the site and you're right: it is racist crap.

Thanks for the heads-up. I apologize to all on this thread for not checking carefully before posting that link.

[blam]

Having grown up in segregated Alabama in the 40'-50's, I'll tell you, I don't understand how the man could have been so peaceful. I've done shameful things in my life too.

MLK was a great man...just let all the 'other' stuff go, he was only human.

[Mad_as_heck]

Since the Democrat party and what now passes for the "civil rights movement" has utterly betrayed everything that King stood for why should a little crass comericalism shock anyone?