DR. KING ON THE BOOTSTRAP MYTH

Today, 20 January, is when the US government observes Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, which falls on 15 January.

Every third Monday in January since 1986, the US government has called on citizens to participate in a day of service dedicated to the memory of King (1929-68), a minister, activist and philosopher.

Some people argue the US federal government has attempted to appropriate King's legacy by observing his birthday. King's wife, Coretta Scott King, said there was 'abundant evidence of a major high level [government] conspiracy' in her husband's killing. The FBI, however, denies involvement.

Mainstream media and pundits commonly reduce King's legacy to fight for racial equality within the US by celebrating his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech. Yet, it is essential to remember that King's vision extended far beyond civil rights. 

As he grew in political awareness, King began to address economic issues, championing a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources. He recognised that poverty and unemployment were not personal failures but systemic injustices that demanded comprehensive solutions. One of his last public acts was standing in solidarity with striking Black sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. King's decision to go to Memphis reflected his evolving consciousness regarding the true nature of the United States.

In his later years, he began standing against imperialism and capitalism, a perspective that many believe contributed to his tragic assassination on 4 April 1968.

In a poignant address titled 'Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,' delivered at Riverside Church in New York City just a year before his death, King took the bold step of criticising what he termed the 'giant triplets' of American society: Militarism, materialism, and racism. He called for a 'radical revolution of values' prioritising human dignity over profit.

Throughout his speeches, King challenged the 'bootstrap mentality', suggesting that anyone can succeed in the United States through hard work and determination. He argued that the ruling class that profited from US capitalism and imperialism profited from the hard work of others, whether it be Vietnamese in the Global South or Black people in America.

Reflecting on today's economic dynamics between Western powers and African states, one can only wonder what insights Dr. King would offer, given his unwavering commitment to justice and equality.

Sources:

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/15-year-battle-martin-luther-king-jr-day

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2018/01/15/remembering-martin-luther-kings-radical-class-politics/

https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/martin-luther-king-jr-took-capitalism-and-was-killed

https://wagingnonviolence.org/2018/04/martin-luther-king-capitalism/