Letter to the Editor, “Rev. M. L. King Clarifies Stand”
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr.
Date: December 19, 1961
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Genre: Published Article
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Political and Social Views
Details
In this letter published in the Nashville Tennessean, King writes Edward Ball, the newspaper’s editor, to refute a recent editorial claiming that King suggested that black Americans should turn to communism or black nationalism if more progress is not made in civil rights.1 King disputes the statement, insisting he said: “There can be no doubt that if the problem of racial discrimination is not solved in the not too distant future, some Negroes, out of frustration, discontent, and despair will turn to some other ideology.” King continues: “How anyone can take this analysis of an actual situation on my part and interpret it as advocacy of turning to a new ideology is a mystery to me.” He concludes that “I only advocate adhering to an ideology as old as the insights of Jesus of Nazareth and as meaningful as the techniques of Mohandas K. Gandhi.”
To the Editor:
It is very seldom that I attempt to answer the numerous criticisms and misinterpretations of my work and ideas. However, a misinterpretation which appeared in your paper a few days ago is so glaring that I feel compelled to answer it.
In an editorial entitled “Dr. King Does His Cause a Dis-Service” you gave the impression that I had advocated that the Negro turn to a new ideology in his struggle for freedom and human dignity—the ideology being either communism or the Muslim movement.
Such an idea is so far out of harmony with my general thinking that I am sure many people will wonder why I even take the time to answer it. Maybe I should give you just a little background of the situation that led to the false impressions given by several news channels.
I was appearing on a television program called “Open Circuit” in Cleveland, Ohio in which I was called upon to answer questions which came from the general public.2 One of the questions that came in was: “If the Negro does not receive freedom within a certain period of time, will he turn to communism or some other movement such as the Muslim movement?”
My answer was simply this:
“There can be no doubt that if the problem of racial discrimination is not solved in the not too distant future, some Negroes, out of frustration, discontent, and despair will turn to some other ideology. However, it is amazing and commendable that so few have turned to the Communist movement in spite of extreme proselytizing on the part of the Communists. I think this can be attributed to the fact that the vast majority of Negroes have found a ray of hope in the framework of American democracy.”3
How anyone can take this analysis of an actual situation on my part and interpret it as advocacy of turning to a new ideology is a mystery to me. Certainly I would not be true to the facts if I gave the impression that some Negroes would not turn to new ideologies such as the Muslim movement and even communism if the problem of racial discrimination is not solved.
The week before I appeared on the television program in Cleveland it was reported in the press that one of the most brilliant Negro scholars in America had joined the Communist party, and many authorities estimate that the Muslim movement has a following of more than 75,000.4 In a real sense, the growth of this movement is symptomatic of the deeper unrest, discontent and frustration of many Negroes because of the continued existence of racial discrimination.
To acknowledge this basic fact is not to advocate turning to the movement or justify its validity. Suffice it to say that I can see no greater tragedy befalling the Negro than a turn to either communism or Black Nationalism as a way of out of the present dilemma. It is my firm conviction that communism is based on an ethical relativism, a metaphysical materialism, a crippling totalitarianism, and a denial of freedom which I could never accept.
Moreover, the Black Nationalism is based on an unrealistic and sectional perspective that I have condemned both publicly and privately. It ends up substituting the tyranny of black supremacy for the tyranny of white supremacy.
I have always contended that we as a race must not seek to rise from a position of disadvantage to one of advantage, thus subverting justice. Our aim must always be to create a moral balance in society where democracy and brotherhood will be a reality for all men.
May I say in conclusion that the Negro is American in culture, language, and loyalty and I am convinced that the vast majority of us will continue to struggle with the weapons of love and non-violence to establish a better social order. Fortunately, we are making significant strides, and with such progress being made I am confident that the number of Negroes turning to other ideologies will continue to remain relatively small.
I hope this clears up my thinking, and I am sorry that the public has been given the impression that I have advocated that the Negro turn to a new ideology. I only advocate adhering to an ideology as old as the insights of Jesus of Nazareth and as meaningful as the techniques of Mohandas K. Gandhi.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.,
41 Exchange Place, S.E.
Atlanta, Ga.
1. On 29 November the Nashville Tennessean published the editorial “Mr. King Does His Cause a Disservice.” Per King’s request, Ball published King’s entire letter in the newspaper (King to Ball, 14 December 1961). King wrote a similar letter to Joseph B. Cumming, Newsweek’s Atlanta bureau chief, after an article with the same claims was published in the magazine (“The Inside Story,” Newsweek, 11 December 1961; King to Cumming, 22 December 1961). Newsweek did not publish King’s letter.
2. The show aired on 26 November 1961.
3. An article in the Cleveland Call and Post reported that King said that if segregation is not eradicated, the Black Muslims may “pull the rug from under responsible Negro leadership” (Charles Price, “Dr. King Attacks Muslims,” 2 December 1961).
4. The Communist Party announced on 22 November that black activist and scholar W. E. B. Du Bois had become a member of the group (Peter Kihss, “Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois Joins Communist Party at 93,” New York Times, 23 November 1961).
Source: Nashville Tennessean, 19 December 1961, p. 14.