Words cannot express the profound sense of outrage I feel about the recent betrayal of Harry Belafonte after the family of Martin Luther King Jr. stopped him from auctioning off valuable personal papers of the late Dr. King.
Dr. King's Documents Withdrawn From Auction (The New York Times) is a straightforward account of the events as they played out. What most people won't remember is the extent to which Mr. Belafonte supported emotionally, financially and spiritually, not only Dr. King but also his wife, Coretta, and their children during the tumultuos early days of the Civil Rights movement.
Fortunately, an editorial appeared to give context to this dispute. I've republished it here almost in it's entirety.
"If someone was unaware that toilet paper was stuck on their shoe aren't you obligated to let them know?
"Some of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s children who control his estate have been a phenomenal embarrassment to their great father's legacy. It's time to let them know; they must lose the toilet paper. Their love for money; nay, their greed, knows no decorum or bounds at all.
"The instant embarassment is a threatening letter sent Tuesday (12/09/2008) by the King family to Sotheby's ... [who] claims the documents were 'wrongfully acquired,' ... implying that Belafonte, a renowned civil rights activist, humanitarian, scholar, human rights activist and artist, may have pilfered the items.
...
"After Dr. King was stabbed in Harlem and thought he was going to die, he confided to Belafonte that his biggest fear was wondering about who would take care of his children in his absence. Belafonte assured Dr. King that he would never have to worry about finances and his children's care. Belafonte reportedly paid school tuition for the King children.
"And how are these good deeds of a great compassionate man with a peerless heart repaid by some of Dr. King's children? They showed the whole world that they stood on the wrong side of the tracks of the liberation railroad when they disinvited Belafonte, who was supposed to deliver the eulogy, at the funeral of Coretta Scott King in 2006 ... when George Bush decided to attend. Belafonte during a visit to Venezuela had famously denounced Bush for his war mongering in Iraq.
"So the King family decided to ditch the warrior for global peace and justice, who had risked his life and lucrative entertainment career to support their father because Dr. King was a big man with a big vision...." BlackStarNews.
And how, specifically, was Mr. Belafonte to benefit from the sale of these historical documents? He wished to distribute the proceeds to causes he believes in who have no resources.
If their mother, Coretta Scott King, were alive I know just what she'd say. "Shame on you.!"
