Dr. Boyce: Martin Luther King Was No Super Hero

by Dr. Boyce Watkins – Syracuse University, Your Black World

As I leave the Martin Luther King Unity breakfast being hosted by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in Huntsville, AL, I am reflecting on the legacy of Dr. King himself. In the midst of my airport inner-ranting, I realized something that I should have understood more thoroughly in the past: Martin Luther King was nobody’s hero.

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Mark

Dr King was more of a “Super Hero” than any comic book or fictional character. He was real and lived and died for a just cause. I read your collums and keep up. I think you should judge Doctor King by placing his accomplishments along side any other person living or dead as well as yourself. Please do not take offense where I say compare him even to your self. You collum reaches many, but is your life on the line? Can you assymble hundreds of thousands to anything you are personaly championing and can you attract not only an audiance from a room of hundreds, but the President of the United States and most of the industrialized world leaders? Now that…for a “Black man” of his time….thats a bonifide “Super Hero” Doctor Boyce!

Kzubaidah

I love you Dr Boyce. I for one understand what you were saying. Dr. Martin Luther King was an extremely talent man. What he tried to accomplish as a civil rights leader still has not manifested into todays society. We are still in as worst shape now as we were then. Dr. Martin Luther King had a great dream and articulated it well, but the bottom line is that the dream he had has not come true. It’s like a person makes an attempt to jump from one tall building to another but don’t quit make it. We still applaud his GREAT attempt even if he falls short of the jump. I have GREAT love an admiration for you my Brother for bring this topic up for discussion. You are super for doing so. Peace, Love, & Understanding is a MUST!!! King Ayettey Zubaidah

Rjames9

DR BOYCE WHATEVER YOU WERE TRYING TO DO YOU BLEW IT ON THIS ONE. YOU NEED TO GO TO A RETREAT AND GET YOUR SOUL CLEANED. BE MAN ENOUGH TO APOLOGIZE TO YOUR ENTIRE READERSHIP. YOUR REAL COLOR IS SHOWING AND IT IS UGLY.

JEWELLINGS

WONDERFULLY STATED. HE REALLY HAS A PROBLEM.

Anonymous

Dr Boyce, you lost me on this one.”Super Hero” these are your words. Where is this coming from? Who would you rather “Snoop Dogg” You have taken this to a whole different level. You could have just left this one alone..
http://www.facebook.com/people/Spencer-Leon-Miller/100000043702090 Spencer Leon Miller

Dr. Watkins, I think I understand what you’re trying to do. It appears that you are reading out of the Republican party’s playbook, which instructs you to say some controversial that you know will stir people (blacks in this case) up. Most likely you believe that the more people will read your comment and respond and the more exposure you will receive, in your mind it will somehow increase the membership of “Your Black world” blog, alright let me respond to your assessment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and your “super-hero” analysis. I don’t think that the majority of us evision Dr. King as some sort of comical super hero as you infer. You say that he is no hero, although I don’t know you personally I doubt very seriously that you would be willing to walk in his footsteps. Why don’t you say that he is not a hero to you. For sure he is not a hero to the racist element of America, why don’t you be honest about it and say that you are in agreement with all the racist bigots of America and not try to include everyone else in your beliefs concerning Dr. King. He is an American hero, and your envy of him is duly noted. It’s easy to sit in front of a computer, and start a blog but I dare you to get up from in front of that computer and go stand toe to toe with a devil like Ol’ Bull Connor. Dr. Watkins I know your comfortable with being ask to speak in front of a prestigious fraternity about King but I’d be more impressed if you were willing to go to jail for the freedom of others. Dr. Watkins I believe you are envious of the acheivements of Dr. King and you should not ever be asked to speak to anyone on the day designated to honor him. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a charismatic and passionate leader of the American civil rights movement during the ’50′s and ’60′s of the Jim Crow era, a time when people of color did not enjoy the same freedoms of their Caucasian brethren. Dr. King had gleaned a “color blind” world and then he challenged us to judge ourselves not upon one’s appearance, but the “strength of their character.” Dr. Watkins, although you indeed have a wonderful resume, you are no Dr. King and I think this is the real reason for your thoughts today.

JEWELLINGS

Great comment!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Spencer-Leon-Miller/100000043702090 Spencer Leon Miller

Dr. Watkins, I think I understand what you’re trying to do. It appears that you are reading out of the Republican party’s playbook, which instructs you to say something controversial that you know will stir people (blacks in this case) up. Most likely you believe that the more people will read your comment and respond and the more exposure you will receive, in your mind it will somehow increase the membership of “Your Black world” blog, alright let me respond to your assessment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and your “super-hero” analysis. I don’t think that the majority of us evision Dr. King as some sort of comical super hero as you infer. You say that he is no hero, although I don’t know you personally I doubt very seriously that you would be willing to walk in his footsteps today.. Dr. Watkins, although you indeed have a wonderful resume, you are no Dr. King and I think this is the real reason for your thoughts today.
Thazwhazup

Dr.Boyce hit the nail on the head. Totally agree with you on this subject. Dr. King was no one hero.

Phlyphokus

a white man posted this.

http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Lee/100001074192379 James Lee

Dr. Boyce, I am totally disappointed, in your lack of erudition, on this particular matter. I usually, read your articles, with great interest, but with this one it is lacking, the intellectual purity/honesty and wreaks of indolence. Here again, once more ” The Crisis Of The Negro Intellectual ” , raises its’ ugly head Again. Moreover; our primary focus should be about character-building. and edifying the race, not taking ” Pot Shots ” at another brother, who has given his life ” fighting, ” the good fight of faith ”
,,

JEWELLINGS

You definitely told this immature jealous man the truth. He also threw pot shots at the President. His insecurity is definitely evident since he has not accomplished anything to make any kind of history. He will never be able to even walk in their shoes. He is so envious of anyone of color. He even made a comment about his buddy Tavis and now he stands beside him. Who will it be next week?

Larome

Dr.Boyce does your P.H.D.stand for player hating degree,I dare you insult Dr.King ,negro he was a SUPER HERO except he was a real one.you give lil wayne props and then dis Dr.King man you really need to chill ,this man put his life on the line day in and day out.I know there were others like FANNIE LOU HAMER,MEDAR EVERS,etc etc,but brother don’t put Dr.King down I am more into Malcolm x myself ,however talked that shit from up north not down south where you had hard core southern fried red neck cracker’s…KING WAS VERY BRAVE…
roosevelt

UR pitiful