MB:
Rosa Parks was indeed courageous, but MLK brought the issue to everyone's attention and showed the intellectual dishonesty of racism. To me, that was the important thing. I'm of the opinion that the root of racism is within each of us, and not just man (birds of a feather...)...it's a genetic thing. It was probably necessary for our survival: different = danger.
By bringing the injustice of racism to everybody's attention, MLK made it a little more difficult for the politicians, religious "leaders," and others, to capitalize on our latent fears.
But I'm afraid it's something that will always be with us...Zimbabwe is discriminating against whites, Hutsi's still want to kill Tutsi's, and vice-versa...and I read where leKlerc (sp) is saying that the present administration in S.Africa is trying to stamp out the Afrikaans language, as well as the languages of other ethnic groups.
Nationalism, racism, or "exclusive" clubs, schools, etc. - we're all more comfortable with "our own kind," however we may classify it. |
