Newsweek Discovers MLK, Forgets His Anti-War Stance
Newsweek's recent opinion piece, “What Would Dr. King Say Now?” , attempts to channel the civil rights leader for contemporary issues. Yet, the article, typical of mainstream co-optation, sidesteps King's fervent anti-war position and his excoriation of the 'giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism.' One might recall King's powerful 'Beyond Vietnam' speech in 1967, where he
condemned the U.S. as 'the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today'—a statement conspicuously absent from most polite corporate media discussions of his legacy. Instead of genuinely grappling with King's radical critiques, corporate media often uses his image as a convenient symbol of palatable peace, ignoring the parts that challenge the status quo, especially when it comes to
military-industrial complexes or foreign policy. It leaves one wondering if they genuinely seek King's wisdom, or merely his brand recognition to lend gravitas to positions he'd likely condemn.