RENWL

Dr. King’s niece, Alveda King, is scheduled to speak at Glenn Beck’s Washington DC rally this weekend as part of her crusade against pro-abortion rights in the African American community.

Says AOL’s Dr. Boyce, “King, is not making many friends this week. Her decision to join forces with Fox News host Glenn Beck during his bogus March on Washington is likely one of the most shocking and extraordinary political events in recent months. Alveda is being called a traitor for her actions and probably has old uncle Martin turning over in his grave.”

A group of black abortion advocates are also attacking Alveda King for saying her uncle is pro-life. The younger King has been a pro-life advocate for some time since coming to regret her multiple abortions but some abortion activists don’t like what she has to say.

Responding to King’s appearance at the Glenn Beck event and a anti-abortion billboard campaign aimed at African American women, members of the “Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice” issued a press release blasting Alveda King:

African American leaders in religion, civil rights, the law, medicine, and women’s health, organized by RCRC, address baseless and inflammatory assertions about reproductive health services in the Black community that are  being made in connection with the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin  Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

The “Religious Right” billboard campaign claiming African American children are an “endangered species” and Alveda King’s comparison of anti-abortion activists to “Freedom Riders” have sparked outrage in the African  American community. Disparaging clinics that provide abortion, birth control and reproductive health services is harmful to communities struggling with high rates of unintended pregnancy, teen births and HIV/AIDS, insulting to the intelligence and values of African Americans, and offensive to women who make conscientious moral decisions about pregnancy.

“Right to Life” and other right-wing organizations started this irresponsible and offensive campaign to make inroads into African American communities to promote their own agenda ? to ultimately overturn Roe v. Wade. The Black community has repeatedly rejected the “Religious Right” anti-abortion movement, realizing that  if it were concerned about the health and welfare of Black children, it would support education, health care, economic security, affordable housing, and the  other resources that families need.

In response this is what King had to say:

“It is absolutely ludicrous that abortion supporters would accuse a blood relative of Dr. King of hijacking the King legacy. Uncle Martin and my father, Rev. A. D. King were blood brothers. How can I hijack something that belongs to me? I am an heir to the King Family legacy,” she said.  “I have a right to stand at the Lincoln Memorial on the 47th Anniversary of my Uncle’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. The Dream has yet to be realized. That Dream is in my genes and I carry forward in the fight for equality and justice for all blacks, including those in the womb.  My dad and my uncle gave their lives to ensure that the day would come when blacks would be judged not by the color of their skin, but the content of their character. If they were here, I know they would stand with me in this fight for the lives of those most vulnerable among us.”

Probably the thing that disgusts us above all in terms of the outcry against Alveda King’s actions is the silence of those black LGBT organizations and groups on the matter. While they’re quick to hop onboard any co-signing that’s requested of them by a white LGBT organization for any complaint, not a word when it comes to something as critical as the abortion rights issue in the black community. Nope.  Local orgs such as Jordan Rustin Coalition, the National Black Justice Coalition—-NOT A WORD.

These black LGBT organizations have repeatedly failed to speak out on issues critical to everyone in the black community, choosing instead to take instruction on what to speak out about from non-black LGBT institutions. The behavior is cowardly, anti-black and an embarrassment for the entire black LGBT community across the nation.  In a recent sorry-ass excuse for an article arguing the reasons they should be able to continue to collect grants and public funding for their uselessness, Sharon Lettman,  executive director of NBJC lays out how the org is making life better for LGBT blacks and their families.

Smoke and mirrors as usual. Here’s what NBJC is not doing: They’re not speaking out or risking their comfort zones for the sake of the LGBT community in the black community. Wait, this feels like a deja vu.  Where have we experienced this same behavior before with other folks supposedly clamouring for justice? Whateva, this same bullshit —not speaking out—-is being perpetrated here in Los Angeles. Oh, they’re so busy working “behind the scenes” on all sorts of projects to better the lives of black LGBTs and the rest of the African American community.  We get choked up when we think about it.

No, what they’re doing is taking the cowardly route and in their silence inadvertently lending support to those who are hellbent in oppressing us in our community. In these times, visibility and voice is EVERYTHING. More than ever the black community needs progressive brothers and sisters straight and gay to stand up and speak out.  From abortion rights to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, our lives are depending it. Yet, these organizations that claim to represent our best interests are hopelessly lacking in courage to do just that. What a wonderful opportunity it could’ve been if black LGBT orgs had of reached out to coalesce on the issue reproduction rights in the black community.

Damn shame. Buffoonery continues to be the rule of thumb for these orgs.

Earth Times: African American Leaders Outraged By Religious Right Moves To Challenge Roe vs. Wade

AltNet: Alveda King, A Total Embarrassment To MLK’s Legacy

Blackspin: Alveda King, MLK’s Niece Is Not As Crazy As You Think