2008 Woodie Awards
Clinton's MLK Jr. remarks offend civil rights activists
Evan Duffy
Issue date: 1/17/08 Section: World Views
Last week, Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton made some remarks that could hurt her in the South Carolina primary election. When asked about the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. memorial holiday, Clinton responded, "Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It took a President to get it done."
Race has been such a hot topic in Presidential debates over the past year, and many believe that Clinton's remarks diminish the role of activists like Dr. King in the Civil Rights movement.
Cleveland Sellers, who is now the Head of the African-American Studies department at the University of South Carolina, was interviewed in Newsweek as a leading Civil Rights activist during the 1960s. Sellers believes that Clinton's remarks were "insensitive," and he argues that most civil rights veterans will agree.
On the other hand, Black Entertainment Television (BET) founder Bob Johnson defends Clinton. "What has happened, in my opinion, is that what we have created is the quote-unquote 'perfect candidate' that's like in the movies, that has absolutely no blemishes, a vision that is unrealistic."
Historically speaking, civil rights never would have been legitimized without the movements led by Dr. King and his followers; their undying persistence in relaying a message that all men and women are created equal fueled marches and protests across the country. Dr. King fought for blacks' right to vote, desegregation, labor rights and other basic civil rights. He advocated non-violence in attempt to unite all US citizens - no matter race, gender, age, etc. - under what it is that unites us as human beings and American citizens, as opposed to those characteristics that divide us.
Still, however, Clinton - and I can't believe I'm saying this - is somewhat correct. It did take President Johnson's Civil Rights Act to legitimize Dr. King's dream. After the passing of this act, African-American citizens were guaranteed civil and equal rights under Federal law, something the government must not only recognize, but must enforce as well.
It will be interesting to see how Clinton's remarks affect voter turn out in the January 26 South Carolina primary election, which is the first real test of the African-American vote. According to Newsweek, roughly 50% of the South Carolina Democratic electorate is black.
While activists are so quick to judge Clinton's remarks as insensitive and demeaning, perhaps they should instead remember that it took Dr. King and his fellow activists' work to mobilize Washington. While President Johnson facilitated equal rights under Federal law, Dr. King and the civil rights activists brought this issue to national politics. It is clear that they are the real heroes, and no one, not even Hillary Clinton, can deny this.
Race has been such a hot topic in Presidential debates over the past year, and many believe that Clinton's remarks diminish the role of activists like Dr. King in the Civil Rights movement.
Cleveland Sellers, who is now the Head of the African-American Studies department at the University of South Carolina, was interviewed in Newsweek as a leading Civil Rights activist during the 1960s. Sellers believes that Clinton's remarks were "insensitive," and he argues that most civil rights veterans will agree.
On the other hand, Black Entertainment Television (BET) founder Bob Johnson defends Clinton. "What has happened, in my opinion, is that what we have created is the quote-unquote 'perfect candidate' that's like in the movies, that has absolutely no blemishes, a vision that is unrealistic."
Historically speaking, civil rights never would have been legitimized without the movements led by Dr. King and his followers; their undying persistence in relaying a message that all men and women are created equal fueled marches and protests across the country. Dr. King fought for blacks' right to vote, desegregation, labor rights and other basic civil rights. He advocated non-violence in attempt to unite all US citizens - no matter race, gender, age, etc. - under what it is that unites us as human beings and American citizens, as opposed to those characteristics that divide us.
Still, however, Clinton - and I can't believe I'm saying this - is somewhat correct. It did take President Johnson's Civil Rights Act to legitimize Dr. King's dream. After the passing of this act, African-American citizens were guaranteed civil and equal rights under Federal law, something the government must not only recognize, but must enforce as well.
It will be interesting to see how Clinton's remarks affect voter turn out in the January 26 South Carolina primary election, which is the first real test of the African-American vote. According to Newsweek, roughly 50% of the South Carolina Democratic electorate is black.
While activists are so quick to judge Clinton's remarks as insensitive and demeaning, perhaps they should instead remember that it took Dr. King and his fellow activists' work to mobilize Washington. While President Johnson facilitated equal rights under Federal law, Dr. King and the civil rights activists brought this issue to national politics. It is clear that they are the real heroes, and no one, not even Hillary Clinton, can deny this.
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