Cover Your Ground

If you think something is worthy of bragging rights, shouldn't you maintain its upkeep? The "Martin Luther King Center for social change" is in financial trouble again. The center is in need of $11,000,000 in general repairs. The four King children are split on whether the goverment should take control or not. Two are for it, two are against the National Forrest service taking over. This issue has come up before, and wasn't resolved then. I think the failing health of Corretta Scott King, the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, and the mother of his children. May very well be, the inspiration behind this latest trouble.The center was started in 1968, by Mrs. King herself. The center has provided her with support and income since the projects inception. I think 30 years is a pretty good run myself, mans attention span is usually quite short. Last months breaking news, is now a distant memory. The wife and all the children, have made a living off their fathers name. When Dr. King was alive he wasn't a wealthy man then. Upon his death he only left $10,000 in life insurance. Which is remarkable in itself. Considering all his children were provided for, and went on to college. Dexter King is the executive director, of the center as we speak. Martin Luther King III, was the director before then. The center has reached it's present situation, under their poor management. In spite of over 650,000 visitors annually, not to mention concession and souvenir sales. Anybody else who had done such a botched job, we would have asked for their heads on a platter.I agree with Dexter and Yolonda, they're reading the writing on the wall. It's just a matter of time, before the gig is over. In the beginning everyone was enthusiastic and willing to give whatever monies they could. Blacks considered it a necessary and worthwhile cause then. That genorosity since then, has come to an end. The people that feel they are directly affected by the civil rights movement, and feel compelled to keep the fire burning. They are quickly becoming a thing of the past. We are getting older, and the young people don't share our sentiments. Their messenger is Tupac Shakur and Kanye West, according to them they represent the struggles of todays Black youth. They aren't doing much for their fallen heroes, so I don't think we can depend on them to carry the torch for Dr. King.If someone is willing to step in and do this thing first rate, we should say more power to them. Someone said the family didn't ask for help. To a degree they are right. Two of the children don't want any help, they want to get rid of it anyway. I can understand why they didn't. They would then have to explain, what was happening to all the money collected. Their plan may be to get, while the gettings good. Drain the center for all you can, then let it go. The big money isn't in the museum, it's in the private papers. They can't sell them, and keep the center. It would eventually exhaust the proceeds from the papers. At least two of the children, know where they stand. Past experiences have taught us, we don't treat our icons well. We want others to finance our dreams, put their money where our passions are. Look what happened to Rosa Parks, she died broke. Due to the health of Mrs. King, they can no longer ignore this. Does it matter to the point, you're willing to reach into your pocket? To continue the the upkeep of the legacy, in the manner we have in the past.