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Home • Money & Career

13 Times Dr. Bernice King Gracefully Thwarted The Co-Opting of Martin Luther King’s Legacy

The words and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are frequently misused and decontextualized to fit varying agendas—many in direct opposition to his life's mission.
13 Times Dr. Bernice King Gracefully Thwarted The Co-Opting of Martin Luther King’s Legacy
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 10: Dr. Bernice King speaks onstage during the 38th Annual King Holiday Observance kick-off reception and “It Starts With ME!” book signing at The King Center on January 10, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
By Ebony Flake · Updated January 16, 2023
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Imagine it’s a workday. Exhausted from your previous 12-hour shift, you awake later than planned. No time for breakfast, you rush to the corner just in time to catch the bus. There are open seats up front, but you head to the back and squeeze between two older women who slide to their own discomfort to make room for you. 

Packed in tight, the 22-minute ride in the dead of summer leaves you drenched. You’re frustrated. The anguish of showing up to work disheveled demands you rush to the “Colored Only” restroom to pull yourself together. Refreshed, you check your watch. There’s still time to kill before scrubbing floors in the white neighborhood. With about a half hour to spare, you head to the local diner. You would like to use the front door and sit in the cooled dining room. But, instead, you bear the stench of the back alley, knowing the rear entrance is where you will be served. 

Experiences like this, rife with indignities, were everyday life before the Civil Rights Act was signed less than 60 years ago. Then, Black Americans were both vilified and vital—vilified for having the audacity to believe themselves equal. And, vital as a societal scapegoat, the lone contrasting figure against which whiteness could maintain identity and social superiority. Over the span of generations, it’s easy to take for granted the suffering endured by our foreparents and advancements hard-won.

While there’s still ground to be gained in the march toward equality, today, we celebrate how far we’ve come. MLK Day is a celebration of legacy. And today, we commemorate the life and achievements of one of history’s most influential men, the architect of our American dream, The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Drawing from a rich ancestral heritage,  Dr. Martin Luther King instilled a dream in the hearts of his contemporaries. He erected the scaffolding for future generations to build a better future. However, today—intentionally or unintentionally—many misconstrue his legacy, misrepresent his dream, and try to tear down the foundation Dr. King poured his life into building. Fortunately, Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King, the youngest child of Coretta Scott and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is diligent about her father’s business. 

A lawyer, minister, and CEO of The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Dr. Bernice King is herself a driving force in racial and social justice. Still, she makes time to check and correct false narratives and bubbling misinformation that aims to assail her father’s legacy. 

Here are 13 times Reverend Bernice Albertine King gracefully intervened against attempts to co-opt her father’s legacy:

A double-minded man.

On January 15, 2022, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive action banning the teaching of what he labeled “inherently divisive concepts”—including the history of Black people, racism, and oppression in the United States. In the same period, the Virginia Governor invoked Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech to call for Virginians to “cast aside prejudice.” Really? 

Dr. Bernice King addressed the Governor with firmness but kindness.

Governor Youngkin, our nation has yet to comprehensively, strategically, legislatively & systemically cast aside prejudice, racism & bigotry.

I call you beyond acknowledging my father to embracing the work of ensuring policies, including in education, that reflect his teachings. https://t.co/duhwANRCf6

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) August 28, 2022

Study to show approved.

Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert has an established national reputation for embracing election denialism, QAnon conspiracy theories, and backing former President Donald Trump’s MAGA agenda. The far-right leaning, gun rights activist made Islamophobiac comments about Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American in Congress, suggesting she was a terrorist. She also made anti-Muslim statements about Muslim Congresswoman Michigan Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib. “Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. These are just black-hearted evil women,” Boebert said.

When the Congresswoman summoned the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a tweet, Reverend Bernice King’s response was characteristically wise.

I encourage you to study my father more comprehensively and to attend @TheKingCenter’s virtual sessions on his nonviolent philosophy and his work to eradicate racism, war and poverty. A powerful book to start with is his last one, ‘Where Do We Go From Here…’ #MLK #MLKDay https://t.co/KVAJBg3SQ0

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 18, 2021

Not with words, but through actions is love shown. 

Dr. Bernice King offers proactive guidance for politicians and influencers.

Dear politicians/political influencers:

When you tweet about my father’s birthday, remember that he was resolute about eradicating racism, poverty & militarism.

Encourage & enact policies that reflect your birthday sentiments.

Here’s the authentic #MLK:https://t.co/eCJWCVnD1k

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 15, 2021

A gentle correction. 

At the turn of the new year, 2018, Newsweek tweeted a photograph of Dr. King in his casket. The intention, a representative said, was to highlight the upcoming fiftieth anniversary of his murder. Reverend Bernice King didn’t need to say much, but her reaction was sufficient for the platform to remove the tweet and apologize for the unintended disrespect.

Why, @Newsweek? Wow. https://t.co/VOSnmZonGc

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 1, 2018

Knowledge is power.

Required reading.

Please read these books and listen to his speeches at https://t.co/glckqRvYgT before asserting what my father would support: pic.twitter.com/lPRiJJzMov

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) October 19, 2022

No weapon formed.

Dr. Bernice King stood firm against pundits’ attempts to weaponize MLK to diminish BLM.

Instead of using my father to criticize the #BlackLivesMatter movement, use his words and teachings to enact legislation, establish policies, and engage in practices that reflect Black lives mattering.

Because, as #MLK said:

“True peace…is the presence of justice.”#MLKDay pic.twitter.com/D7Gwt5d2PJ

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 17, 2021

Tell the truth, shame the devil. 

Now widely regarded as an agent for global and societal good, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not so beloved in his lifetime. 

Dr. Bernice King corrects the convenient rewriting of history.

Please don’t act like everyone loved my father. He was assassinated. A 1967 poll reflected that he was one of the most hated men in America. Most hated. Many who quote him now and evoke him to deter justice today would likely hate, and may already hate, the authentic King. #MLK pic.twitter.com/yGdQXL5MJ3

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 18, 2021

Speak up and judge fairly.

Dr. Bernice King tweeted a timely message from MLK on the cost of silence in the face of injustice.

“It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for the vitriolic words of the bad people and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, "Wait on time.”” #MLK pic.twitter.com/hvNXW6UIFd

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 12, 2023

But doers of evil eventually destroy themselves.

On January 6, 2021, a mob of white nationalists attacked the US Capitol Building in an outraged response to the 2020 defeat of former President Donald Trump. 

Dr. Bernice King’s reaction.

This is not abnormal. As my father said, this nation was “born in genocide.” We have yet to earnestly address America’s violent roots, its white supremacy or its racism. With urgency, we must. If we do not, violence, in many forms, will persist, no matter who is in office.

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 6, 2021

Let justice roll down like water. 

“Now, when we come to Washington in this campaign, we’re coming to get our check.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It seems like a good time to share this message from my father. #Debt #Reparations #Disparity pic.twitter.com/JSD6UNPm1l

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) August 24, 2022

In righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

Dr. Bernice King offers thoughts on the politics of respectability.

Please don’t use my father to suggest or assert that #respectability cures #racism.

The white supremacy affirming racist discriminates against Black bodies whether the bodies are in sharp suits or sagging pants.

Lastly…my father was assassinated while dressed “respectably.” pic.twitter.com/llHDGCCgv4

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) September 29, 2022

Do good; seek justice, correct oppression.

A reminder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s political views.

“The problem is that we all too often have socialism for the rich and rugged free enterprise capitalism for the poor. That’s the problem.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 5, 2023

Those who listen to instruction will prosper.

Please, I pray, don’t let me have to use this on my father’s birthday weekend. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/H0y5Znc7Tl

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 14, 2023