2016, MLK Day—I’m reading the classic book, Jesus
and the Disinherited by the brilliant black theologian Howard Thurman whose
work influenced King. It reminded me of
my blog of 11/27/14, ‘Ferguson’s Accomplishment’. In it I stated the Ferguson event “desecrated
the memory of MLK, a true black hero honored by all people regardless of
race. He emerged from a society much
more deeply steeped in prejudice, yet he brought non-violent pressure to right
the injustice of segregation.”
I stand by my statement that the Ferguson’s riots dishonor
his memory. It was clear that MLK stood
on the side of a just cause; blacks were innocent victims of institutional
prejudice, yet he led peaceful protests and the million-man-march never
resorting to violence and brought about the desired change. With Ferguson 'the right’ is less clear;
there is blame on both sides . . . are the police ‘trigger happy’ when it comes
to black youth? I think it is clear that
is true—yet that is not the only consideration . . . the function of a police
force is to maintain order in society; their effectiveness requires that
society respect and support their authority.
Over the past few decades a ferment of anger, disrespect and hatred grew
among black youths against police. That hatred
was echoed in the rap-music of insults and calls to oppose police . . . ‘kill
the pigs’. The police, when their
authority is not respected or supported, tighten their reactions against
perceived violations.
I thought I understood the duel nature and shared blame for
the violence in Ferguson but Thurman helped give me deeper understand of the
disinherited people’s anger, he explained the why and how of it—I quote his
book:
Pg.
69: “Hatred in the mind and spirit of
the disinherited, is born out of great bitterness—a bitterness that is made
possible by sustained resentment.”
Pg.
70: “your hatred gives you a sense of
significance which you fling defiantly in the teeth of their estimate of you.”
Pg. 72:
“thus hatred becomes a device of which an individual seeks to protect himself
against moral disintegration.” (the devaluation he sees in the eyes of the
strong).
Pg.
74: “Every expression of intolerance,
every attitude of meanness, every statute that limits and degrades, give
further justification for life-negation on the part of the weak toward the
strong.”
Thurman gives insight to the genesis of the anger and hatred
that is found among the disinherited—but sees its true nature beyond the
violence it births—
Pg.
76: “hatred destroys finally the core of
the life of the hater.”
Martin Luther King heard Thurman’s message and understood
its truth. He refused to accept
disinheritance and used the strength of truth and justice to wage his fight,
winning the ear and respect of all who value justice.
We are still seeking the way to co-exist. There are two roads to the future;
--will we choose the way of
Ferguson through hatred and violence?
--Or Thurman’s and King’s way
through peaceful insistence upon what is right and just?
