What Would Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Say?

The “I Have a Dream Speech” written by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was so futuristic. We made national history on November 4, 2008, when we elected our first African-American President: Barack Hussein Obama. Dr. King would have been quite proud, despite the fact that race was the elephant in the room throughout the entire 2008 presidential campaign. Fast forward to January 2, 2010: the news breaks that Mayor L.E. Godwin III of Plains, Georgia has discovered an effigy of our elected President hanging by a noose from a building. A sign had been placed next to the doll that read, “Plains, Georgia. Home of Jimmy Carter, our 39th President.” Undoubtedly, the use of a noose for the effigy evokes a powerful racial symbol. Moreover, it pours salt into the still unhealed wounds of those who are painfully reminded of the history of racially-charged lynchings by White mobs that plagued the U.S. South years ago. This was certainly not the first time. We would be remiss to forget Mike Lumsford, the Ohio resident who intentionally hung an effigy of Barack Obama in his front yard in October of 2008 to express his opposition to the presidential candidate because of his race.

Yet as we approach the 2010 national celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on January 18th, followed by Black History Month in February -- another fast-moving news story regarding President Obama has erupted. Even as I write this article, all political pundits from the news media outlets are still buzzing. What’s the buzz all about? Journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilermann reported in their newly released book entitled, “Game Change” that Democratic Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, had privately voiced some inappropriate comments about the then presidential candidate. The authors quote Reid as saying that Obama, as a Black candidate, could be successful thanks, in part, to his “light-skinned” appearance and speaking patterns “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.” “He [Reid] was wowed by Obama’s oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a Black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama …” Halperin and Heilermann write, “Reid was convinced, in fact, that Obama’s race would help him more than hurt him in a bid for the Democratic nomination.” It goes without saying that all eyes were on President Obama for his reaction to the controversy.

Senator Reid immediately apologized for the highly publicized statement, stating that “I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words.” Okay, beam me up, Scottie. How quickly we forget the eloquently spoken words from Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.” Clearly, Reid’s statement suggests that because President Obama is “light-skinned,” highly educated and possesses “oratorical gifts” that somehow the country would more openly embrace him as a presidential candidate than if he had a darker complexion and had a “Negro dialect.” In other words, as long as he maintains the outward features that White America deems acceptable, he will succeed in his role as President. Is this really the message that we want to send to our young children -- who are today’s students and positioning themselves to be tomorrow’s employees and leaders? I would surely hope not.

President Obama later responded to Senator Reid’s apology, stating that, “I accepted Harry’s apology without question because I’ve known him for years. I’ve seen the passionate leadership he’s shown on issues of social justice and I know what’s in his heart. As far as I am concerned, the book is closed.” The book is “closed?” As a light-skinned, Ivy League educated African-American professional female and an expert in the field of Diversity for over 25 years, I myself was appalled to hear that President Obama has simply accepted Senator Reid’s apology and has no further comment on the matter. Further, it is disappointing that he has decidedly dismissed this travesty and has turned his focus to “more pressing issues” such as the economy, healthcare and the wars in Pakistan and Iraq. For the first time in my adult life, I agree with the Republican perspective. Don’t get me wrong, the real issue here is not whether Senator Reid keeps his seat in the Senate. The fact of the matter is that as President of the United States, Obama has missed the opportunity to use this unfortunate misstep on the part of Senator Reid as a “teachable moment” -- a platform in which all of America can participate and offer insight. We are not just talking about a late afternoon beer summit, either. Naturally, I expect that some may argue that the uproar is without merit and has taken on the appearance of a call for reparation, but I am encouraged that others would instead see its relevance in the context of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream.

That said, regardless of how supportive Senator Reid was during President Obama’s presidential campaign, and how deeply involved Senator Reid has been over the years in the advancement of issues within the African-American community, his words speak volumes as to how out of touch he and other Americans like him are when it comes to Black America. And it doesn’t just stop there. Allow me to share another unique example: On January 11, 2010, ousted Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, was quoted as saying that he was “blacker than Barack Obama.” Here is his statement: “I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up.” Keep in mind that Blagojevich was a twice-elected Democrat who was impeached and removed from office last year after federal prosecutors arrested him on corruption charges that included trying to sell Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat. He has pleaded not guilty. I shudder to think that the very same people who share this skewed perception of Black America hold prominent positions in our state and federal government systems.

Republican Party Chairman, Michael Steele, says that Senator Reid is “mortified” by the statement he’s made. And well he should be. In 2002, Senate Republican leader, Trent Lott, was forced to step down from his post during the aftermath that followed his speaking favorably of the 1948 segregationist presidential campaign of Strom Thurmond. And in spite of repeated apologies for those remarks at Thurmond’s 100th birthday, Lott was forced out as leader. A double standard, you say? Most certainly. But if President Obama would at least consider taking the time to hold a summit and have the conversation that we’ve been waiting to have for the last 400 years – America would be more inclined to move forward and fulfill Dr. King’s heartfelt dream. That national dialogue – in whatever skin tone that we are graced with – and whatever dialect we choose – will reveal that the problem of inequality and ethnocentrism is far more reaching than Senator Harry Reid. The celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is not simply about having a day off from work. It is about stepping up to the plate and grabbing the baton in the continuing push for racial equality, as Dr. King did in the 1950’s and 1960’s. In the words of Dr. King, “And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.” Mr. President: I have a dream today.


Written by: Jennifer Melton, EEO/Diversity Management Consultant & Certified Facilitator - Leadership Development, F&H Solutions Group