quote:
Originally posted by Dell Gines:
... the same reason Martin King is looked upon as the quintessential black man by many whites.
1. Non-threatening
2. Seen as transcending the racial past of America with a lets all get along approach
3. Doesn't make whites feel guilty
4. Makes whites feel that there are somethings wrong with race in America but by and large things are 'ok'.
5. Integrationist and accomodationist
I would take issue with your characterization of MLK as a man who didn't make whites feel guilty...
that's precisely what his nonviolent resistance approach was about. In nonviolent resistance, King took the high ground and by contrast turned those who would deny nonviolent people rights and protections were made to look like guilty, immoral, racist, bigoted scoundrels...
that, from my perspective, is the whole point of nonviolent protest...to inspire guilt, or at least self reflection.
One cannot feel all plucky about themselves if they support the beating, lynching, and disenfranchisement of a nonviolent people.
King did not make whites feel "by and large everything is ok". He continued to agitate and even expanded into anti-war sentiment and labor issues in chicago. He was most definitely seen as threatening to the status quo.