King, Kennedy and The Race Macrocosm in America
In 1968, I was a mere 5 years old when Martin Luther King Jr and Robert F Kennedy fell prey to assassin bullets.
Arguably, no two public figures have been more pivotal to race relations in America.
The civil rights movement was at its zenith in the ’60s, a vulnerable time for those at the epicenter of the cause. In addition to King and Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers, were all murdered along with three civil rights workers in Mississippi.
Curious to learn more about these two seminal figures, I downloaded the digital book “The Promise and the Dream: The Untold Story of Martin Luther King Jr and Robert F. Kennedy” by David Margolick. It certainly didn’t disappoint, holding my rapt attention for several months.
Margolick, a life-long journalist, explores the story of the little-known relationship between King and Kennedy through a repository of interviews, oral histories, FBI files, as well as talks with those who regularly spent time in their presence. Before being assassinated only two days apart, the two radically altered the racial tenor and landscape of the country.
For King, Kennedy was both an ally and barrier to change. Amid the heated racial times in the 60s, the two, according to Margolick, had a dicey relationship, replete with terse telephone conversations and the occasional compliment.
A judicious risk-taker, Kennedy displayed a deep level of comfort around Black Americans. The book notes that he often invited Blacks to his home, arguably more than any political leader of his era. But King was oddly not among them.
At the same time, Kennedy was awkward and naive at times with what emanated out of his month. An example of this was his confusion around the phrase “Gimme Five” a soulful form of bantering I recall from my days growing up in Columbus, Ohio.
According to Margolick, civil rights activist James Farmer, who was riding with Kennedy one day in Harlem, encountered some kids playing baseball. Recognizing Kennedy, one of them yelled, ‘Hey, Bobby! Gimme five!’” Kennedy, confused, turned to Farmer and said ‘What does “Gimme Five” mean, Jim?’ Thinking for a minute that the kid wanted five dollars, Farmer filled him in on the colloquialism, saying, “It means give me five fingers. Shake hands.”’ “Oh, I see,” responded Kennedy
On the other hand King’s world, because of the seriousness of his intent, rarely had these sorts of lighter moments. Margolick paints him as a bit of a tortured soul whose everyday activities were constantly scrutinized. In particular, FBI head Edgar Hoover, was a constant nemesis, even ordering that King be constantly monitored. Moreover, misdemeanor offenses dotted King’s record as local authorities throughout the nation sought to mitigate and throw shade on his efforts as an activist. He was jailed twenty-three times over a twelve-year period beginning in 1955.
Given the constant threat he faced as the most prominent civil rights leader of the day, King often talked about his own mortality and death, a sentiment that Kennedy shared.
As recounted by Margolick in the book:
“There was no long run for Martin Luther King; it was all just a matter of time. He discussed the kind of funeral he wanted and the number of eulogies there should be. He seemed to savor and almost embrace the topic, to anticipate and welcome martyrdom.”
Given the racial tenor ignited by George Floyd’s murder in 2020, this book took me to a deeply reflective place about King and Kennedy and their efforts to alter the racial narrative of America. Their paths while distinct still converged — King championing equality for Black Americans while Kennedy pursued a broader objective around helping those who were less fortunate.
In the end, this book delivers a profoundly historical context that informs the times that we’re in and the racial challenges we continue to face. For this reason, Margolick’s book is one that every American should consider reading.