I am really happy that Harry Belafonte became the one individual who refused to back down from the avarice of MLK’s children. The MLK family has been assiduously seeking to cash in on their father’s legacy for years. Shame. MLK Jr. is not Elvis. MLK belongs to the American public.
If MLK belongs to the American public (as you contend), shouldn’t the letter be confiscated and given to the National Archives rather than auctioned so that a private figure can buy it? You criticize the MLK family for their avarice, but not Harry Belafonte for wanted to sell the letter. Your stance is inconsistent.
I meant to say that MLK belongs to history. Yes, I would prefer that the letter be donated to a museum or somesuch. But my point is that the MLK children have a dubious record in such affairs. They do not come to this matter with clean hands. Money for personal enrichment seems to be all that is important to them, despite the shabby condition of the King Center and all of their fund raising with few concrete achievements to show for it.
Also, sounds like you misread the story. The letter was a gift from Coretta Scott King to Harry. The MLK children later SUED Harry in an attempt to get back the letter. Harry was so annoyed (he was a great friend of MLK) that he vigorously fought to keep the letter. He won the case and eventually gifted the letter to his sister (an activist in her own right), whom is now presenting it for auction. Harry doesn’t need the money.
The King kids probably needed the $ to pay their legal bills. They have been fighting each other in court for decades. IIRC they just settled this stuff with each other within the past week or two.
I can’t even begin to describe how tawdry, petty, and avaricious an image it is that MLK’s children project, and I’m thoroughly disgusted that they seem to totally lack the ability to comprehend their father’s importance in American history and culture. Their behavior is tantamount to hawking and spitting on their own father’s legacy, and the sad thing is, they don’t even seem to know enough to be ashamed of themselves. If MLK is watching from the afterlife, I can only imagine how he must feel.
But, I’m also disappointed in Harry Belafonte. He gave the letter to his sister, and she is now looking to profiteer off of that same legacy? Why wouldn’t Harry have donated the letter to the National Archives, The Smithsonian, or the Library of Congress instead? It seems that they too, have little idea of the importance of this man’s place in American history. Shame all around, and a pox on all their houses!
I"m guessing that Harry B. had no idea that his sister would choose to sell in sometime in the future. I don’t see where he should have any blame in all this. It is completely out of his hands.
You said it, Poetsheart. Dr. King must be sadden and rolling over in his tomb about his kids’ antics. As for Shirley Belafonte Cooks, I hope she and her husband either reconsider and donate the letter, or sell it a great discount to some public institution or university.
Finally, there are a few conflicting details in this story. CBS News reported that Harry did try to place the letter in an auction a few years ago, but the objections of the King Children threw a wrench into that plan. Apparently that’s when the lawsuit began.
The lawsuit went on for years and HB had financially supported the King family after MLK was assassinated! He sounds heartbroken by the whole ordeal.
Also, his sister and her husband wanted to bring attention to how the movie “Selma” misportrayed LBJ. How better than to offer this up for auction? If they had donated it no one would have noticed much after a small news blurb, but this move causes controversy because of the King children.
^^^ That’s just an additional reason to shame Bernice, Dexter and Marty. Coretta never held a job (how could she?) Where did those kids think the money for their private college educations was coming from?