Anonymous
Post 01/17/2021 07:09     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just a minor vent:

I am listening to my 3rd grader’s class and the teacher is discussing Martin Luther King Jr. A lot of what she is saying is great, but she said that Martin Luther King was loved by the country and the world because he used peaceful means to protest.

This just isn’t true and it’s a myth I wish would go away. He was probably the least popular person in the country at the time. I am going to discuss this briefly with my child because I want him to know that doing the right thing is often unpopular.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/04/04/martin-luther-king-jr-50-years-assassination-donald-trump-disapproval-column/482242002/

That’s all, have a lovely long weekend.


"Popular"? To me, this seems like an odd word to use about someone like MLK -- as opposed to, say, a pop star. You also seem very certain that "this just isn't true and it's a myth". Perhaps a better, more nuanced, perspective would ask something more like: "Who respected and loved Dr. King -- and who did not? And what might account for these widely differing points of view? " No one is universally "popular" and advocating for the powerless is not likely to be "popular" among many of the powerful, but, I can assure you that many, many people loved, respected, and valued Dr. King during his life time. Many people read his books, listened to his sermons and speeches, risked their lives as they shared his faith in the justness of his cause, and some even had framed pictures of him alongside their family portraits.

Having said that, I do think your goal of having a discussion with your son is a good one.

I've been holding this back, but I have to say it: OP, do you actually know any actual Black people? How about any actual Black American people over 60 or so? While not everyone revered Dr. King during his lifetime, the idea that "he was probably the least popular person in the country at that time" is flat out wrong. I'm sure you know where I could go with this.....

Wishing you a lovely long weekend too.




I suppose it depends on your definition of popular. From the way I have heard it used in discussions about politicians and social justice groups and figures, it just means how favorable or unfavorable they are rated in the polls. At the time of his death, MLK had a very high unfavorable rating, whereas now his unfavorable rating is very low.

I have black friends, but no, none are over 60. I don’t know if this matters, but I do listen to Black Americans who are over 60, like MLK’s daughter, who said “ on’t act like everyone loved my father. He was assassinated. A 1967 poll reflected that he was one of the most hated men in America. Most hated. Many who quote him now and evoke him to deter justice today would likely hate, and may already hate, the authentic King.” I don’t know many white people over 60 (mostly just my parents and in-laws who were in their teens at the time of his death), and they all think Dr. King was great, but I don’t know what they thought of him at the time.

The talking points you bring up are good ones. I will share those with my son. Thank you.

Anonymous
Post 01/17/2021 06:06     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Move to politics?
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2021 06:05     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
I think you are confusing controversy with lack of popularity.

He was a polarizing figure, a controversial figure. That doesn't mean he wasn't a very popular figure and extremely well-respected. You have a very skewed way of looking at famous people. Since his death, he has achieved the status of an icon. For you to go to the time and trouble of degrading that status is frankly a little weird. What is your agenda?
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2021 03:35     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:Just a minor vent:

I am listening to my 3rd grader’s class and the teacher is discussing Martin Luther King Jr. A lot of what she is saying is great, but she said that Martin Luther King was loved by the country and the world because he used peaceful means to protest.

This just isn’t true and it’s a myth I wish would go away. He was probably the least popular person in the country at the time. I am going to discuss this briefly with my child because I want him to know that doing the right thing is often unpopular.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/04/04/martin-luther-king-jr-50-years-assassination-donald-trump-disapproval-column/482242002/

That’s all, have a lovely long weekend.


"Popular"? To me, this seems like an odd word to use about someone like MLK -- as opposed to, say, a pop star. You also seem very certain that "this just isn't true and it's a myth". Perhaps a better, more nuanced, perspective would ask something more like: "Who respected and loved Dr. King -- and who did not? And what might account for these widely differing points of view? " No one is universally "popular" and advocating for the powerless is not likely to be "popular" among many of the powerful, but, I can assure you that many, many people loved, respected, and valued Dr. King during his life time. Many people read his books, listened to his sermons and speeches, risked their lives as they shared his faith in the justness of his cause, and some even had framed pictures of him alongside their family portraits.

Having said that, I do think your goal of having a discussion with your son is a good one.

I've been holding this back, but I have to say it: OP, do you actually know any actual Black people? How about any actual Black American people over 60 or so? While not everyone revered Dr. King during his lifetime, the idea that "he was probably the least popular person in the country at that time" is flat out wrong. I'm sure you know where I could go with this.....

Wishing you a lovely long weekend too.


Anonymous
Post 01/17/2021 02:29     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would definitely put this into context. We celebrate MLK Jr and John Lewis but at the time authorities, law enforcement, politicians and a large segment of the white population hated them. They persevered despite the attacks and hatred. I think this is what we should be teaching our kids. Standing up for what they believe in the face of adversity and doing the right thing isn’t always easy or popular.




This and being willing to risk your life for others to have equality.


+1. He is loved today but was despised and hated in his day. That is what made his peaceful protest march even more impactful because in the face of hate she still marched and ultimately he paid for it with his life.


You all have a VERY VERY white point of view. MLK was very popular among black people and all others who were active in the Civil rights movement. He only was able to get 250,000 people to show up at the Lincoln Memorial.🤷🏾‍♀️
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2021 17:37     Subject: Re:MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Welp, he was assassinated. Anyone who thinks critically can put 2 and 2 together and understand he was not well liked. One thing MLK,Jr had going for him was that he promoted peaceful protest, unlike Malcolm X his contemporary, who scared the hell out of white folks, lol. Both were assassinated, as were many black people who dared push for equality.



Okay, but by your logic JFK wasn't popular either.

I agree with you, OP. I wish children would learn the truth of history in school. The good, bad and ugly.


He had his detractors, too. Many people did not want a Catholic president.



A lot of people also loved JFK and RFK was on the road to victory when he was assassinated. I'm pretty sure you can't determine whether "a lot" of people "liked" someone based on the fact that they were assassinated.
And a lot of people thought he stole the election with voter fraud in Illinois. And that he was a pretty boy emoty suit with a rich dad. Even LBJ didn’t really like him much.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2021 17:34     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:This is too much nuance for young kids. They’ll end up thinking the MAGA protestors are doing the right thing because they are unpopular.


No its not, and I don’t know why folks keep perpetuating this false ideal. Kids are more than capable of understanding nuance and complex ideals when they are broken down. You just need to discuss the multiple sides. That’s the entire point of teaching history, to teach the multiple viewpoints, analysis it affects on civilization of the time and how its shaped where we are now.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 21:57     Subject: Re:MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Welp, he was assassinated. Anyone who thinks critically can put 2 and 2 together and understand he was not well liked. One thing MLK,Jr had going for him was that he promoted peaceful protest, unlike Malcolm X his contemporary, who scared the hell out of white folks, lol. Both were assassinated, as were many black people who dared push for equality.



Okay, but by your logic JFK wasn't popular either.

I agree with you, OP. I wish children would learn the truth of history in school. The good, bad and ugly.


He had his detractors, too. Many people did not want a Catholic president.


And a lot of people thought he stole the election with voter fraud in Illinois. And that he was a pretty boy emoty suit with a rich dad. Even LBJ didn’t really like him much.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 21:55     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:This is too much nuance for young kids. They’ll end up thinking the MAGA protestors are doing the right thing because they are unpopular.


No, not at all. Kids are very capable o understanding the distinction between being disliked because you do the wrong thing (such as their classmates who always interrupt the teacher, hit other kids etc.) and being disliked because you did the right thing (standing up for someone who is being bullied, telling the teacher when someone is doing something unsafe, etc.)
I lead a Girl Scout troop and this is a concept we talked about as early as kindergarten when discussing the GS law to be courageous and strong and what does that mean for a K-Er.

But, on the other hand, I do think there is a role for deification of certain historical individuals for kids of a young age in order to simplify and elevate the principles they stand for. For instance, Lincoln was a complicated guy but when we tell kids a simple story about his honesty and bravery, we are distilling a community value—that he is loved (by history) and remembered because he was resolute in finally ending a terrible practice that was anathema to America ideals and therefore tearing America apart.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 20:11     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
This is too much nuance for young kids. They’ll end up thinking the MAGA protestors are doing the right thing because they are unpopular.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 10:32     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:Using this post as an opportunity to plug Kate Messner's History Smashers series.

She hasn't done one on the civil rights era yet, but they're fantastic books for exposing history's myths for that age group.


Not OP, but thanks! I was just talking about American history w/my 4th grader this morning, who said history is "boring." I reminded her that she loves Hamilton, and that there's some interesting stuff that isn't necessarily covered in history books/texts. I'll check out this series.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 10:29     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Using this post as an opportunity to plug Kate Messner's History Smashers series.

She hasn't done one on the civil rights era yet, but they're fantastic books for exposing history's myths for that age group.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 10:20     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:I would definitely put this into context. We celebrate MLK Jr and John Lewis but at the time authorities, law enforcement, politicians and a large segment of the white population hated them. They persevered despite the attacks and hatred. I think this is what we should be teaching our kids. Standing up for what they believe in the face of adversity and doing the right thing isn’t always easy or popular.


I think we also need to talk about how "some people used to hate them and stand against racial equality" is NOT a historic concept. It continues, these people are a disease and should be treated as such.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 09:59     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
Anonymous wrote:OP here. I can’t keep up with comments but I really appreciate them! I was just going to have a brief convo with my son but you guys are right, it should be much more in-depth and include the evolution of MLK’s activism . Thank you.




Good for you, op. You are teaching your son to think critically and to dig deeper. Schools can only do so much and parents should encourage kids to learn outside of school.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2021 09:53     Subject: MLK wasn’t popular
OP here. I can’t keep up with comments but I really appreciate them! I was just going to have a brief convo with my son but you guys are right, it should be much more in-depth and include the evolution of MLK’s activism . Thank you.