The Fate of Martin Luther King Jr.
What It Means To Make The Right Choice
What It Means To Make The Right Choice
It was October in 1960 when Martin Luther King Jr. tried eating at a restaurant and got arrested. King was being held on other charges and denied bail. All of this was to make him an example, to teach him a lesson. The treatment of King went as far as being sent to state prison and sentenced to four months. Anything could have happened. He could have been killed harshly.
Coretta Scott King, pregnant at the time with their third child, made some phone calls. She called the offices of Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Both of whom were running for president and she wanted her husband home. The history books (not the ones we see in school) show us how close this election was, one of the closest in history as one historian highlights it. Both sides needed the black vote in order to win.
It may come to a surprise for many today, however, Richard Nixon and Martin Luther King Jr. were really good friends. Both of them often look to the other for advice. The campaign of Nixon recommended that he act, and quickly. But Nixon hesitated, thinking about all the variables of helping King get out. Nixon being friends with King, abandoned King, in a time of need. Nixon didn’t want to get caught up in the issues. Betraying his friend, Nixon gave John F. Kennedy what he needed to do the right thing. Make the right choice. JFK called Coretta Scott King to comfort her and the Governor of Georgia to influence the release of King. JFK’s brother Robert Kennedy called a judge in Alabama and applied pressure to get King out.
It worked.
MLK knew at that time who was with him and who was against him when it mattered. King, friends with Nixon, was going to vote for Nixon. King said about Nixon, “when the moment came it was like he had never heard of me. So this is why I really considered him a moral coward and one who was really unwilling to take a courageous step and take a risk.” This changed the trajectory of the election and John F. Kennedy won by 35,000 votes from two states. Kennedy took the black vote. MLK influenced the choice of black voters by expressing what had happened to him and how Nixon betrayed him.
This was the defining moment that made the democratic party the party of choice for many black voters, even though those same black voters were republicans.
Two men with a choice. Nixon hid, scared. Kennedy stepped up. Neither of them knew what the outcome would have been by making their choice.
In this new year, you may face a decision like Nixon and Kennedy. You can choose hesitation or action. Each choice has an outcome. For 2023 what decisions are you hesitant to make? Where can you be more brave? Courageous? Where can you step up?
You can decide to pay off debt. The choice may be to create a lifestyle change around your health. It could be starting a business or staying at your job.
Be Kennedy. Step up. Be brave. Make the right choice. For you, your family, your life and the future you want.
Dan Roman is a Husband, Father, and writer that releases a daily blog. A quick read on money, marriage, parenting, self-improvement, development and his thoughts. Dan is also Founder/Creator of Roman Solutions, a Personal Finance Firm that currently provides coaching and education.
To connect with Dan visit: https://linktr.ee/bydanroman
Or by email : financialdifference@danromansolutions.com