MLK greatest legacy and gift to America was that he changed the hearts and minds of white Americans. By following the examples of Christ and Gandhi in orchestrating a peaceful movement, he disarmed white resistance. By refusing to take the road of violence, he forced whites to take pause and take the measure of this brave man. To consider what this movement meant for all Americans.
Had he chosen to attempt his goals with violence, he would have sparked a race war that could have killed untold numbers on both sides and left a wound that may never have healed.
MLK's greatest gift to America was that he took the first bold steps in freeing white Americans from blind hate. As the wall he helped crack slowly fell down, relations improved. I've had the honor and a privilege to be born at the exact time to have watched this unfold. MLK earned a hallowed place among the greatest of Americans in history.
And now we have Obama.
It's pretty sad to see that the only way the majority of white America would come to love, or at least partially like a black man is when he totally prostrates himself and subjects himself to the beatings, blows and whims of them.
The ones that stand up for themselves, like what the modern day Tea Party is doing, they see as hateful (read Malcolm X), the ones that sit and take blows and beg for you to understand their position...that's who you like. And not even fully, because many whites still find reason and cause to besmirch MLK.
Sad, very sad.
[MENTION=31703]williepete[/MENTION]