News and Editorials

LBJ vs. MLK? Puh-leeeeze! That’s Just Regrettable Politics…

February 2008

These two leaders played complimentary roles in US Civil Rights history. Neither stood on alone, nor was either the first or last word on Civil Rights. Both were real human beings with flaws as well as talents. We shouldn't deify or demonize either of them.

Dr. King's great genius was his ability to reach across racial lines with a message that promised to uplift everyone. He stood up and stood out among many serious African-American spokespersons as one who saw beyond the pure rage of his time. He connected Americans of all races with the sense of outrage at another century of broken promises and outright oppression, yet he did so by showing them a brighter vision, not just anger and disappointment.

Johnson was a different story. He struggled his way out of generations of bigotry to try to understand not just what African-Americans really wanted, but what the country as a whole needed. His great genius, starting long before he was Veep and continuing through his presidency, was in successfully passing difficult legislation against the tide. His role in advancing American Civil Rights was simply that: one of pushing for the right laws and going the further step of ensuring that they were enforced.

Johnson took many cues from the message and the success of King. While not exactly partners, they did quite actively end by supporting one another's Civil Rights efforts where it mattered.

History has already lionized Dr. King. His charisma is as strong today as ever and he will be remembered for generations to come. Not so the less lovable LBJ.

So recognizing the role Johnson played in no way diminishes the role and admiration we accord to Martin Luther King Jr. We should be recognizing and celebrating all the people whose risks resulted in moving us forward, most of whose names we'll never know.

I'll bet that's the way Dr. King would have liked it.

Both of these men were politicians, one elected and one not. Neither was naïve. They would have understood exactly what we're seeing in this brouhaha: abusing their names and heritages for political gain in a presidential primary contest. Unless I'm very wrong about both of them, this business of elevating a minor statement to a major racial controversy would have made neither happy.

Is race a factor in this election? Yeah, sadly. On the other hand, we've advanced far enough that we could conceivably elect either our first female or first African-American president, despite the undercurrents of bias.

But we need to elect a president, not just a category! A leader, not just a figurehead.

So let's get on with a real contest about the critical issues: the economy; the direction America is taking; the realities of a difficult world; environmental, technical and social challenges – all the important stuff.

Bart A. Charlow, President
Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice