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New York Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
The Many Political Interpretations of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy
The enduring legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has long existed as a powerful, yet pliant, force in American public life. Even during his early rise, political figures understood the potency of aligning with, or opposing, King's moral authority. John F. Kennedy, for instance, gained political advantage during a tight 1960 presidential race by intervening on King's behalf after an Atlanta arrest, forging crucial links with Black voters. Years later, Richard Nixon considered reaching out to King, but instead found political mileage in casting the civil rights leader as a rabble-rousing lawbreaker, solidifying Nixon's 'law and order' image. The dynamic of selective engagement and strategic distortion cropped up once again this week with the Trump administration's disclosure of documents from the National Archives related to King. The surprise release, at a time when the White House has been seeking to redirect attention from the Jeffrey Epstein controversy, reignited the longstanding debate over King's contested narrative. This disclosure, which brought few new revelations, was particularly anticipated by people who look for signs that King's assassination was orchestrated, or that King himself was not the flawless moral figure he is often portrayed to be. King's daughter, Bernice King, observed in a statement after the files' release that 'a 1967 poll reflected that he was one of the most hated men in America.' She added that 'many who quote him now and evoke him to deter justice today would likely hate, and may already hate, the authentic King.' Those words point to a persistent truth, said Dr. John Kirk, a civil rights historian at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. King's monumental impact was never static, he said. Instead, it became a malleable narrative, continually reshaped by political forces across the ideological spectrum to serve their divergent aims. Speaking of the tranche of files released by President Donald J. Trump, Dr. Kirk added: 'This is part of a long history of King and his legacy being used and abused. He hasn't been here to shape his own memory. It's been far easier for other people to appropriate and reappropriate his ideas and claim to speak on his behalf.' On the right, the appropriation of King's legacy often began with a subtle process of depoliticization, presenting him as universally revered, shearing him of his more revolutionary tenets. This sanitized appropriation stands in contrast to the extensive surveillance he endured from the F.B.I. under J. Edgar Hoover, who once branded King as 'enemy No. 1.' The reframing commonly has hinged on selective interpretations of iconic King phrases from seminal moments in his public life. For example, in his 'Letter From Birmingham Jail,' he defended civil disobedience against racist laws and rebutted moderate white members of the clergy who wanted him to be patient and stop protesting. But portions of the letter are used by some conservatives to defend strengthening law-and-order policies or to support people who resist government rules like vaccine mandates. Selective quoting has also served a strategic aim: to dismantle the very progressive measures King ardently pursued. Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, and the activist Christopher Rufo have invoked King's 'I Have a Dream' speech — quoting his hope that children 'will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character' — to argue against race-conscious policies. Such interpretations, Dr. Kirk noted, 'distort the way King thought about race.' He said King believed that race should 'be confronted in American life as a way of moving beyond it,' not 'just simply forgetting about race.' The pattern of adapting King's public image gained a considerable foothold with President Ronald Reagan's establishment of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Despite his long-held skepticism of King, Reagan signed the holiday law under public pressure at a time when his approval rating among moderate voters was declining. The move made direct opposition to King increasingly difficult for conservatives, leading to an effort to 'take their King and change him into something that he really wasn't, to try and make him more palatable to the right,' said Jeanne Theoharis, a professor at Brooklyn College and author of the biography, 'King of the North.' For some Democrats, the legacy of King has become 'ossified in history,' transforming him into a 'saintly figure who has now been deified,' Dr. Kirk observed, adding that this idealization could potentially diminish King's relevance. The progressive left's engagement with King's legacy may also brush over the nuances of King's life and message. Some people on the left may view King as too moderate for today's challenges, reflecting a desire for a more confrontational approach to systemic issues. Others may diminish his moderation and put to the fore his later, more radical positions, like his criticism of the Vietnam War and his demand for a 'revolution of values' to overcome what he termed the 'giant triplets' of 'racism, extreme materialism and militarism.' The selective interpretation of King's message is hardly a new phenomenon; it occurred even into his own lifetime. But the easy-to-digest version of King lacks the urgency and fight he demanded. King believed that 'injustice is comfortable,' Dr. Theoharis explained, adding that 'therefore, real change often required making people deeply uncomfortable, challenging their norms, their pocketbooks, and their complacency.' 'There is this sense of wanting to put ourselves next to King, without having to do the work that he and many of the people he organized would require of us,' Dr. Theoharis said. 'So, we drape ourselves in the dead King.' She described how powerful figures, even those who welcomed and glad-handed King publicly to further their political aims, would distance themselves when he pushed for actual structural change. The release of documents from the National Archives is unlikely to exert a profound impact on how the public perceives him, Dr. Kirk said, adding that it was just another example of using King's legacy as a political piñata. King was not merely an idealist with a dream or the flag-bearer of nonviolent resistance. He was a champion of economic justice, an ardent anti-militarist and a tireless advocate for systemic transformation that confronted racism, poverty and war. He was willing to challenge comfortable orthodoxies and endure personal hardship. The question, perhaps, is what would happen to the country's politics if partisans on all sides grappled with the complexities of King's entire person, rather than just the convenient fragments of his legacy.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
More than 100 million Americans to swelter in triple digit heat as new ‘heat dome' arrives
More than 100 million Americans are set to swelter in triple-digit heat in the coming days after an area of high pressure moves across the Midwest and South, resulting in the arrival of a new 'heat dome.' Temperatures are expected to hit over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day in multiple areas including parts of Nebraska, Missouri, Texas and Louisiana. Overnight some areas may not dip below 80 degrees. It comes almost exactly a month after similar severe heatwaves scorched parts of the East Coast, with several major cities including New York and Boston climbing to triple-digit temperatures. John F Kennedy International Airport recorded 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38C) at midday – the first time since 2013 – according to the National Weather Service, which described the conditions caused by the heat dome as 'extremely dangerous.' A heat dome is created when a high pressure area stays over the same area for days or potentially weeks, trapping very warm air underneath it. Because hot air expands, it creates a 'dome' that bulges out. According to the National Weather Service, such conditions are set to hit the South in the coming week. 'Dangerous, prolonged heat is expected across portions of the Central and Southeast U.S. through the end of July,' the NWS said. 'Widespread Major to locally Extreme HeatRisk is expected, especially over the Mid-Mississippi, Lower Ohio Valleys, and the Mid South.' Forecaster AccuWeather noted that Dallas, Texas, is at risk of hitting triple figure temperatures on any given day during the next two or three weeks. Over 100 million Americans will feel heat over 100 degrees, the forecaster said. "Kansas City, Missouri, has not hit 100 degrees since August 25 2023, but is positioned to do so on multiple days during the upcoming heat dome," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said. "The zone from central Texas into the Ozarks in Arkansas and Missouri still has wet soil from recent rain," Merrill said, adding such conditions would contribute to the 'extreme' humidity. Such sweltering temperatures will hinder manual labor jobs including construction and agriculture. The high temperatures are also expected to impact the start of athletic training camps for the upcoming start of the school year. While this occurs, those in the Northeast will enjoy a brief respite from the extreme heat, thanks to 'a large southward dip in the jet stream,' AccuWeather reports. This pattern will result in frequent fronts that bring extended bouts of cool and less humid air, and although there will be brief surges of hot and humid weather, previously unbearable conditions are due to dissipate. During June's Northeast heat dome nearly 40 U.S. cities broke record high temperatures, including Philadelphia, Baltimore and Raleigh, North Carolina, which hit temperatures of 99 degrees (37C), 104 degrees (40C) and 100 degrees, respectively.
The Independent
a day ago
- Climate
- The Independent
More than 100 million Americans to swelter in triple digit heat as new ‘heat dome' arrives
More than 100 million Americans are set to swelter in triple-digit heat in the coming days after an area of high pressure moves across the Midwest and South, resulting in the arrival of a new 'heat dome.' Temperatures are expected to hit over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day in multiple areas including parts of Nebraska, Missouri, Texas and Louisiana. Overnight some areas may not dip below 80 degrees. John F Kennedy International Airport recorded 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38C) at midday – the first time since 2013 – according to the National Weather Service, which described the conditions caused by the heat dome as 'extremely dangerous.' A heat dome is created when a high pressure area stays over the same area for days or potentially weeks, trapping very warm air underneath it. Because hot air expands, it creates a 'dome' that bulges out. According to the National Weather Service, such conditions are set to hit the South in the coming week. 'Dangerous, prolonged heat is expected across portions of the Central and Southeast U.S. through the end of July,' the NWS said. 'Widespread Major to locally Extreme HeatRisk is expected, especially over the Mid-Mississippi, Lower Ohio Valleys, and the Mid South.' Forecaster AccuWeather noted that Dallas, Texas, is at risk of hitting triple figure temperatures on any given day during the next two or three weeks. Over 100 million Americans will feel heat over 100 degrees, the forecaster said. " Kansas City, Missouri, has not hit 100 degrees since August 25 2023, but is positioned to do so on multiple days during the upcoming heat dome," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said. "The zone from central Texas into the Ozarks in Arkansas and Missouri still has wet soil from recent rain," Merrill said, adding such conditions would contribute to the 'extreme' humidity. Such sweltering temperatures will hinder manual labor jobs including construction and agriculture. The high temperatures are also expected to impact the start of athletic training camps for the upcoming start of the school year. While this occurs, those in the Northeast will enjoy a brief respite from the extreme heat, thanks to 'a large southward dip in the jet stream,' AccuWeather reports. This pattern will result in frequent fronts that bring extended bouts of cool and less humid air, and although there will be brief surges of hot and humid weather, previously unbearable conditions are due to dissipate. During June's Northeast heat dome nearly 40 U.S. cities broke record high temperatures, including Philadelphia, Baltimore and Raleigh, North Carolina, which hit temperatures of 99 degrees (37C), 104 degrees (40C) and 100 degrees, respectively.
Forbes
a day ago
- Politics
- Forbes
How President Kennedy's Vision Drove Apollo 11's Triumph
Nations, and organizations, can accomplish great things when guided by clarity of purpose. On July 24, the country celebrates the successful conclusion of the Apollo 11 lunar mission; perhaps the most significant technological triumph in American history. You don't need to be a senior citizen to recognize its relevance. The Apollo 11 triumph reflects the exceptional contributions of a disparate group of scientists, engineers, technicians, astronauts and test pilots. But it was very much born of the bold, clear vision of a young president, and of the extraordinary national commitment that vision generated. And there's a lesson in that for today's organizational leaders. Early in the John F. Kennedy presidency, the country's global prestige had been buffeted by the unanticipated achievements of the Soviet space program, which far outpaced similar efforts of the United States. Soviet spacecrafts were orbiting the earth while American rockets were exploding on the launch pad. The 'space gap' became an unexpected yet powerful weapon in the Cold War. In turn, President Kennedy viewed national leadership in space as critical to preserving the country's world leadership position. This, he felt, could be achieved by pursuing aggressive goals for space exploration. To that end, in a bold address to a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961, he called for a national commitment 'to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.' (Note Kennedy's reference to both 'landing' and 'returning'). In this call before Congress, he pulled no punches, articulating both the promise and the 'heavy burden' associated with his challenge. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. Nations, and organizations, can accomplish great things when guided by clarity of purpose. Kennedy further galvanized public support for this vision with his famous September 12, 1962 speech at Rice University in Houston: We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too. Of course, Kennedy did not live to see the success of Apollo 11. Yet his simple, clear and stirring vision for the nation was strong enough to sustain the public commitment and support the scientific effort through the challenges and tragedies of the intervening years. To address the continuing technical barriers of space flight. To confront the loss of confidence from a great tragedy ‒ the Apollo 1 fire. To overcome the significant distractions of an unpopular foreign war and growing national racial strife. Indeed, Apollo 11 returned safely to earth on July 24, 1969; 'in this decade', just as Kennedy had called for. Simply amazing. All of this is a reminder that words do indeed matter. That a thoughtful purpose can breed meaningful commitment. And that a clearly articulated vision can motivate an organization, just as a nation, to pursue and achieve noble goals. With that, the elements of vision-making become more apparent: it's the ability of leadership to succinctly express where the organization needs to go in the future, the reasons why it needs to go in that direction, how it expects to reach the specific destination, the plan for the organization when it gets there, and why the effort will ultimately be worth it. Easier said than done, of course. But President Kennedy's skill in formulating, presenting and advocating for his space exploration goals made it easier for the public to understand and support them. More broadly, it helped them become more acquainted with the young president, and the principles for which he stood. That's the force of an effective vision; a force should be attractive to all leaders ‒ no matter the industry sector.
Fox News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
House Republicans approve renaming the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump
House Republicans are proposing to rename the Kennedy Center's Opera House after first lady Melania Trump. On Tuesday, House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee approved an amendment in a 33-25 vote on an annual spending bill that would rename the opera house at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts the "First Lady Melania Trump Opera House." Trump serves as the honorary chairman of the board of trustees at the Kennedy Center. "This is an excellent way to recognize her support and commitment to promoting the arts," said Rep. Michael Simpson-R-Id. Fox News Digital has reached out to The Kennedy Center and the White House. The move came months after President Trump appointed himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center and fired multiple board members. At the time, he said that he and then-chair David Rubenstein "do not share [the same] Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture," according to the announcement on Truth Social. "Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP," Trump wrote in the post. The opera house in the Kennedy Center is the second-largest theater in the center, with 2,347 seats. "Over the years, the Opera House has welcomed dozens of the world's great dance and opera companies and has hosted some of the most important artistic events of the last quarter-century," the center's website states. The opera house also serves as the site for the annual Kennedy Center Honors, the nation's highest award for lifetime achievement in the arts.
