“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today we are playing excerpts of Dr. King’s speech at UC Berkeley, “You have been the conscience of our nation” from May 17, 1967. It was later given the title “America’s Chief Moral Dilemma” by the Pacifica Radio Archives. The excerpts are accompanied by commentary by retired scholar-activist Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika.
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According to the King Center, “Dr. King is widely regarded as America’s preeminent advocate of nonviolence, and one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history. During less than 13 years of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘s leadership of the modern American Civil Rights Movement, from December 1955 until April 4, 1968, African Americans achieved more progress toward racial equality in America than the previous 350 years had produced.
Drawing inspiration from both his Christian faith and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King led a nonviolent movement in the late 1950s and ‘60s to achieve legal equality for African-Americans in the United States. He went on to lead similar campaigns against poverty and international conflict, always maintaining fidelity to his principles that men and women everywhere, regardless of color or creed, are “equal members of the human family.”
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In a speech delivered on the steps of Sproul Hall, at the University of California Berkeley with an audience of University students, faculty and the public, Dr. King addressed the immoral consequences of the United States’ involvement in Vietnam, the crippling effects of poverty in the nation, and the global impact of war. “America’s Chief Moral Dilemma” was recorded by the Pacifica Radio Archives, May 17, 1967.
Our guest host is retired scholar-activist and university professor, “Baba” Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika. He was an activist-organizer of the civil Rights, Peace, Ecology, and Black Power movements. He says Dr. King’s speech was delivered at a time in which the Freedom Movement had accomplished major success in desegregating America. The goal shifted to challenging white supremacy, institutional racism, inequality, poverty and powerlessness. And, non-violent direct action was being challenged by rebellions and rioting in northern and western cities. Dr. Sanyika shares his thoughts on Dr. King’s analysis regarding racism and poverty in the U.S. He states, King’s speech was delivered at a time in which the Freedom Movement had accomplished major success in desegregating America. The goal shifted to challenging white supremacy, institutional racism, inequality, poverty and powerlessness. And, non-violent direct action was being challenged by rebellions and rioting in northern and western cities.
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About our guest host: “Baba” Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika, was an activist-organizer of the civil Rights, Peace, Ecology, and Black Power movements. He has taught at 12 different universities on Africana studies Community Development and Public Policy. He knew and/or worked with many movement leaders including Dr. King, John Lewis, Shirley Chisolm, Howard Zinn, Stokeley Carmicheal aka Kwame Toure, and many others. Here he offers an analysis of the Civil Rights Movement and the issues impacting the US during the 60’s. Dr. Sanyika offers his final analysis of Dr. King’s speech on war and militarism, stating among the triple evils along with racism and poverty – maintaining these evils serve the interests of the American power elite, but not its people – adding, “If Martin were alive today, he would be with the justice movements of our time. And that is his enduring and eternal legacy.”
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The Prince of Peace, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929) – was killed by an assassin’s bullet at 39 years old on April 4, 1968), He was fatally shot while standing on the balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. King later died at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Memphis.
Dr. King was the second of three children born to Michael King Sr. and Alberta King;. He married Coretta Scott on June 18, 1953, on the lawn of her parents’ house, in Alabama. Mrs. Scott King transitioned at 78, on Jan. 30th, 2006. They had four children: Yolanda King (1955–2007), Martin Luther King III (b. 1957), Dexter Scott King (1961–2024), and Bernice King (b. 1963). Yolanda transitioned in May of 2007 at 51, and Dexter passed last year, Jan. 2024 at the age of 62.
Dr. Bernice King is the current CEO of The King Center, founded by her dear mother, the late Coretta Scott King. Visit the King Center to find out more about the Beloved Community Mindset @ thekingcenter.org
Credits:
Akua Holt, producer, editor, scholar-activist Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika, researcher and co-host. CRD senior editor, Polina Vasilliev.
Special thanks to the Pacifica Radio Archives.
“Speak Truth to Power” Israel McCloud, Artist IG @israelmccloudstudio
Follow CRD on X, formerly Twitter, @PacificaCRD.
Thanks for listening!
Playlist:
John Coltrane, “A Love Supreme”
Terri Lynn Carrington, “Money Jungle”
Freedom Singers, “Ain’t Gone Let Nobody Turn Me Around”
Sweet Honey in the Rock “Let There Be Peace”
Special thanks to Moss Henry, “Dr. King Tribute song” (KPFT listener – musician)
