CHASING AMERICAN LEGENDS

Ep3 Teaser

Episode 3 – Communist King or Peaceful Protestor?

Ep3 Behind the Scenes Bonus Specials

Extended Scene with Dr. Alveda King

Extended Scene of Birmingham Civil Rights Museum

Extended Scene of Family Discussion about MLK

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Communist King or Peaceful Crusader?

During a performance in Georgia, Dad gave several powerful quotes from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. which led to a question from someone claiming that MLK was a communist. Dad wanted to get some first hand facts before launching a defense of one of his heroes, so we began a journey that allowed us to spend time with Rev. King’s niece, Dr. Alveda King, in the very church where he preached his first sermon. We also visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum and left with a much deeper appreciation for our liberty and the Declaration of Independence principles. Here are a few of the highlights, as well as how it affected our conclusion on Rev. King.

—Kamryn Green

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The Facts:
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr taught that we are all mankind, and that no one should judge each other based on anything other than their actions. Mutual respect, love for one another, and justice are imperative to human existence.

The Myth:
Did Martin Luther King Jr adapt his principles and philosophy from communist and socialist ideology?

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Ebenezer Baptist Church
Ebenezer Baptist Church is the home of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr’s early years of both growing up in the Christian faith and teaching as a pastor. He was baptized here, as well as giving his first sermon at the age of 18! In 1960, he become a co-pastor along with his father, Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr, who was affectionately called “Daddy King”. After his assassination in 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr’s funeral was
held here as a tribute to his spiritual home.

It was in this special place that Rev. King’s niece, Dr. Alveda King, shared first hand accounts of some of
the family’s trials and tribulations. But what left the most lasting impression on all of us was how the family responded peacefully against overwhelming odds, ultimately changing attitudes around the world.

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Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Dr. King recommended that we drive over to visit The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, a cultural and education research center that is dedicated to show casing the history of the civil rights movement here in America. They have adopted the adage “those who fail to study from history are doomed to repeat it,” by showcasing the evil that can occur when misguided ideology is reinforced and backed up by the actions of the government. The institute also works diligently to visually explain the dire situations of our past through re-creations

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and a vivid museum. The Green family is very grateful for the work of the institute, and the teaching of Ahmad Ward, for bringing this history into further perspective.

For more detailed and powerful information, be sure to watch the Extended Learning Scenes with Dr. King and from the museum.

From Rick’s Journal:

This is the first time I’ve ever felt even remotely close to walking in the shoes of someone else & understanding even a very, very small fraction of the abuse they received. It really hit home when I had to explain these things to my children as we walked through the museum. I’ll never be the same. This drastically changed my perspective on race relations. More than ever, I want to be part of the solution.

—Rick Green

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Letter from the Birmingham Jail
In April of 1963, MLK was arrested in Birmingham for demonstrating without a permit. Even though he and others were peacefully protesting over the treatment of the black community, he was jailed for almost a week.

There are few documents which have had as much of an impact on the development of mankind as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr’s letter written from the Birmingham Jail. King was able to achieve what most scholars and academics only dream of, penning a document with unquantifiable positive effects on mankind. Rev. King did it all from a jail cell! In addition, every quote that King gave, every philosopher or scripture he cited or referenced, all came from his memory. Unlike most writers, he did not have a vast library to pull information from – he only had his mind. All those years of study and research paid

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off in a culturally transforming way. We’re hoping this made our kids see the greater purpose in all their own studies!

I would encourage everyone to read Dr. King’s letter from the Birmingham jail. As Dad was explaining the purpose of the letter and the conditions under which Dr. King wrote it, it left such an impression on me of just how powerful written words for a worthy cause can be. As a song-writer and musician, it made me realize what a positive impact I can have by bringing history alive through music. Dr. King’s story truly inspired me!

—Reagan Green

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The Obvious Difference Between King and Marx
When we got back home from the trip, we gathered in the living room and reviewed what we had learned. In the Extended Learning Scenes on the DVD’s, you can join us in the living room and see how we arrived at our conclusions.

Although he was not the only leader in communist thought, Karl Marx was the foremost formulator of this dangerous and freedom killing ideology. His work, “The Communist Manifesto,” written along with Frederick Engels, details the tenants and principles of communism. These communist principles could not be more contradictory to what Rev. King preached, taught, and lived. In fact, King’s good friend and biographer, Lawrence Reddick, when asked this question specifically, said, “There is not a Marxist bone in his body.” (referring to King) Even in just the quick research of one episode of our show, we found several key differences between these two men.

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The first and chief difference between these two individuals is found in religious foundation. Rev. King was a dedicated Christian and his faith informed and influenced everything he did. He was far from perfect and a sinner in need of a Savior just like the rest of us. However, his Christian convictions were not just words, and as such, his social reformations were heavily influenced by the teachings of the Gospel. Marx, on the other hand, viewed Christianity and religion as a whole as not containing any systemic truth, rather, as an institution created by man, for the purpose of man, and relying fully on man. Marx sought to abolition religion, while King sought to spread and live out his faith. These very different foundations caused each man to believe and act in very different ways, even down to their strategies and tactics.

Another difference is their approach to current institutions. Marx was a political radical, desiring to rid the world of many ideals and principles which are imperative to human success. He desired for education to be taken completely away from the parents and given to the state, and for the state

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to completely indoctrinate the child in what the government believed was right and wrong. Marx also was a supporter of eliminating private property, even going so far as to say that “the theory of the Communists may be summed up in a single sentence: The Abolition of Private Property.” King, on the other hand, was known for working with current institutions, not abolishing them; seeking to reform, not radicalize. He stood upon and often quoted the Declaration of Independence. While Marx would have sought to replace this founding document full of timeless principles of liberty, King sought its fulfillment. Biographer Reddick said, “Neither by experience nor reading is King a political radical.”

The third, and perhaps most glaring difference between King and Marx was that one believed and acted in peace at all costs, while the other used and encouraged violence. While Marx specifically advocated using violence, King expected his fellow protesters to:

“Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.” “Walk and talk in the manner
of love, for God is love.” “Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart.”

Last, the evidence speaks for itself. Communism is responsible for more than 100 million deaths, while King’s peaceful protests led to the liberation and equal treatment under the law for an entire nation.

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When you compare the two side by side, it is clear that there are no similarities. Our family recommends that everyone read King’s Letter from the Birmingham jail, as well as The Communist Manifesto in order to better understand truth, while also being able to identify dangerous ideology.

Kamryn’s Final Thoughts:

In the museum we visited, there was a statue of a young girl about my age. Peeking around the edge of a diner, tear running down her cheek, you could see the longing in her eyes to just be accepted, despite the difference in skin color. Her gaze was glued to two other kids who were not just oblivious to her pain, but were the cause of it, laughing with milkshakes in hand. This made a hole in my heart, and also taught me the cruelty of being shunned because of something as simple as the color of one’s skin. We don’t have to make the same mistakes as previous generations, we can learn from them and do better. Remembering and learning from the past helps us to each be a part of the positive change going forward.

—Kamryn Green

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Discussion Questions

Essay Questions

In your own words and opinion, how are the principles which Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught consistent with the teachings of Christ and the model of American freedom? How do they contrast with communism?

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Guest Profile: Dr. Alveda King
Dr. Alveda King is a niece of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and daughter of civil rights activist Rev. A. D. King. Her father and uncle were known as the “sons of thunder” for their powerful preaching. She is an activist, minister, political commentator, author, and former Georgia Legislator. She is a prominent leader within both the religious community and the pro-life movement. We highly recommend her book, King Rules, for both history and great life lessons.

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Special Mention: Comedy and Constitution Tour
Laugh & Learn with Brad Stine and Rick Green as they use hilarious history to bring America’s founding documents to life. During the Comedy and Constitution Tour, Brad and Rick take you through the constitution and the principles of our nation, but in a fun and entertaining way! This tour is perfect for your kids or someone who isn’t normally interested in history. They will investigate serious topics during the
program, such as the freedoms listed within the 1st Amendment, the importance of Timeless Truth within our founding principles, and you will learn all this while having a side-splitting great time! To book this event or read more, please visit PatriotAcademy.com/comedy-and-the-constitution-tour.