“‘The Bombs in Vietnam Explode at Home’: How MLK Linked Racism, Poverty, and Militarism” (Talk)

Today is a good day to share a talk I gave this past summer called: “‘The Bombs in Vietnam Explode at Home’: How MLK Linked Racism, Poverty, and Militarism.” I point to King’s overall approach and go specifically into his speech “Beyond Vietnam.”

The talk was part of the “Burn a Bridge, Build a Bridge” Teach In organized by activists in Tucson, Arizona. Thanks to all the wonderful comrades there for inviting, for recording, and for making the whole event accessible.

We need to #ReclaimMLK.

Not just from the conservatives who claim to side with him — like Trump did in his speech for a “patriotic curriculum” this past fall.

But also from liberal politicians and leaders who will look away when the real defenders of King’s legacy take action against the systematic racism and violence of the current system — like when protestors were arrested at the 2020 MLK Day event in Columbus.

And there’s no better way to reclaim MLK than to actually read what he wrote and see what he did.

Reclaim doesn’t mean follow uncritically. Reclaim means to engage, to learn, to wrestle with, to absorb, to accept as part of OUR legacy, not THEIRS.