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Why Revolutionary Martin Luther King Jr. Never Believed in Capitalism
Countering the revisionist history and reclaiming his legacy
The colored American lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity (King, 1963).
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr addressed the nation, sharing his dream. He spoke eloquently about racial equality, believing in American potential rather than American exceptionalism. King drew a direct line between the chattel slavery system and the socioeconomic status of African Americans. While most characterized America as a prosperous nation, he highlighted its inability to distribute that wealth within Black communities. He rebuked the purely capitalistic system that placed profits over people.
King understood racial equality couldn’t be achieved within the constraints of capitalism (Thompson, 2019).
Martin Luther King Jr. organized marches to protest police brutality, protect voting rights, and oppose the Jim Crow system. Unfortunately, he could not continue his march towards equality. In his absence, many tried to dilute his legacy, particularly his outlook on the economy.
Many pundits, politicians, and some historians emphasized his peaceful rhetoric, omitting his emphasis on…
