Our Forgotten Kings

Our Forgotten Kings

The text below is an editorial from the Nubian Message, North Carolina State University's African-American student newspaper, which was first published on November 30, 1992. Pettigrew's article complements Myshalae Jamerson's critique of media remembrances of MLK. In this editorial, Pettigrew also tries to counter the "American universalism" that boils African-American history down to one man, Martin Luther Kind, Jr. This editorial mentions the "foundation" laid by other important figures such as A. Phillip Randolph and Ida B. Wells for the Civil Rights Movement.

In this editorial, Pettigrew claims that he does not intend to diminish King's legacy, but instead to correct the widely-held view that the Civil Rights Movement began with MLK Jr.'s leadership in Montgomery during the 1955 bus boycott and ended with his death in 1968. As a result, this editorial serves as both a historical interpretation and a call to activism.

Harold Pettigrew, Opinions Editor

Harold Pettigrew, "Our Forgotten Kings," The Nubian Message 6, no. 15 (January 21, 1999), 7. Digitized by the Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

1999-01-21

Madison W. Cates

English

document

This past week marked the 13th celebration of the national holiday created to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In cities across the nation, activities such as festivals, oratorical contests, plays, marches, and discussion panels have taken place to remember the “dream” that personified the struggle for civil rights. Without a doubt, Dr. King’s life should be honored, as he was one of many Afrikan American leaders in the forefront of the battle for the civil rights of our people.
Now let’s take a look at the flip side. Dr. King, whose contributions to the struggle has [sic.] been duly noted, has been made the symbol of the civil rights movement. But what about all the others that died for the same movement, paving the way for many of our contemporary leaders? There has been so much emphasis that has been placed on the life of Dr. King that we seem to have forgotten the countless number of individuals, many of whom stood beside Dr. King, who made it possible for Afrikans Americans today to make the strides we have.
In elementary schools, we are taught about the slain civil rights leader and the ‘dream’ he had in 1963. Yet, 36 years later, it can be asked exactly how close are we to making that dream a reality?
Right now, our social and political state is no better than it was during slavery, as many of us still subscribe to self-hatred, embracing ignorance and indulging in the violence that saturates our communities.
So why is it that we still acknowledge a dream that is celebrated in a land of nightmares? It was once stated that Dr. King symbolizes the struggle we went through. To say how naïve this statement is would be a disservice to the misinformed individual who actually believes there is no longer anything to struggle for. Granted, Dr. King is a majestic figure in our history, deserving the respect of any person. However, we must accept the full contributions of our people collectively, not just one moment or figure in time.
We haven’t been taught about the Charles Hamilton Houston’s, the man who killed Jim Crow (laws); no one has mentioned the Asa Philip Randolph’s, the first organizer of a March on Washington (1941); who can discount the influence of the Ida B. Wells’, Countee Cullen’s, Paul Robeson’s, or the Zora Neale Hurston’s? What happened to these monumental figures in the struggle for our civil rights? We are taught that Dr. King is the great messiah of our civil rights. But what about the figures that gave their lives so that Martin could dream?
In no way do I believe that the importance of Dr. King’s life should be stripped away, but what about the others who laid the foundation? Even during “Black History” month, we are not taught about the Afrikan Americans who impacted the well being of this nation.
Hence, Afrikan American’s [sic.] must realize the importance of our collective history and not only the contributions of one historic figure in “American” history. Our history is far too rich, and too important to the world for anyone to only know about the dream that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once had. Such a suggestion otherwise, is a blatant denial of our heritage and a tragic injustice to those who fought to keep it?

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