Kings Legacy for Sale $$$$$
A couple of weeks ago while listening to Npr I heard a story of how Dr. Kings children were planning on auctioning his papers. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5511144, These papers included handwritten drafts of his I have a Dream Speech, A letter from the Birmingham jail and his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, along with hundreds of other documents detailing. Dr. Kings thoughts and actions during the civil rights movement.
These documents date from 1946-1968. The documents were to be auctioned by the world famous auction house Sotheby's http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5498444,.
These documents date from 1946-1968. The documents were to be auctioned by the world famous auction house Sotheby's http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5498444,.
The collection was expected to be sold for between 15 million and 30 million dollars. The King children insisted that the collection be sold in one lot and preferably to a university or museum that would allow the documents to be viewed by the public and for study by scholars, students ect. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and former Mayor Andrew Young put together a group of civic and business leaders who were able to come up with the enough money to but the whole archive.
Although the amount agreed upon by the Kings and the purchasing group is unknow, it is known that Southeby's were going to auction them for the amount of $15 to $30 million dollars. This is a blessing for Kings home town of Atlanta, Georgia because the Smithsonian Institute and Duke University were interested in purchasing Kings papers. fortunately the papers will go to Kings Alma mater More house. For this I am truly relieved. But my question is am I the only one who believes that it was wrong of Kings Children to sell the papers and that they should have been donated? I find this whole escapade to be a little disgusting. I wonder anyone else feels the way I do. other . Mark Bey
11 comments:
Wow, I hadn't heard about this. I think it's okay for them to sale his works provided that proceeds will be used to continue his work. Additionally, it would've been great if they would allow digital copies from schools and libaries too. One can't always afford to travel somewhere to see an actual document...
To Mark
I feel that if king's children wanted to make a profit then they are welcomed. What I am glad is that now the papers are in safe hands because king's kids did not have the capability to manage those papers or his legacy. They are not cut out for the political type of work their father did. They are basically average everyday people and have not reached the level of political fame or fame in any area other field in their lives. So now more- house has the papers and that is good because they can help preserve King's legacy his sons especially were just laking a living off of their father's name and his organization.
BY CHANCE
Yo Chance from what I hear you are correct about the kings having regular intelligence. It wouldnt supprise me if you and me were a lot brighter than Kings although I havent heard much from them what I have heard I was not impressed with. Anyway your right Kings kids probably would have fucked up the papers, sold them to individual collectors, or not taking care of them properly, ect. So I guesse in a way you are correct if it took paying off kings kids to preserve part of kings legacy then so be it. I still find it disgusting that they would make it so obvious that they were all about the money and not about King. Mark
Mark,
Hi. I found your blog via Peace Out. I heard the same report on NPR. I don't know the financial situation of the King family. I also don't know if this decision to sell MLK's papers was made before or after Loretta King's death. Somehow, I want to and actually do beleive that she would have wanted to donate them to Morehouse College or wherever she thought best, and not to seek profit from them. Perhaps the King children needed the money. If they didn't, then a donation of his papers would have been a more noble thing to do. That is certain.
Sherril
PS I welcome you to visit my blog.
Hello Sherril this is mark I dont know thier finacial status but that legacy just is not thier, it belongs to all black americans and americans in general as well. I could be wrong but I got the impression it was about money somewhat with them. I did check out your blog also. I respect your spiritual beliefs they are much stronger and richer than those who claim orginized religion. My beleifs are I guest agnostic as well, thier is a god but Im not exactly sure of how he created the world. I dont think he is actively involved (or maybe he is), I think it is our job to make the world and humanity stronger. So I dont take away from the validity and relevance of religion, but the funny thing is they take it away from each other all of the time. One who is looking for truth would have a hard time deciding which religion to choose. Mark
TO Mark
YEAH BRO LIKE VYOU SAID THE KING'S children would have screwed up the their father's legacy.
By Chance
If it was me and I genuinely wanted the public to have access to the documents, the money would have been an afterthought. If you had these docs, and knew you could get 15-30 million for them, you would have to be a person of very strong principles NOT to take the loot. That money is the kind that takes care of you, your children, your children's children, etc.
Yo Bull you are correct but how much money is it neccessary for Kings 4 kids to have before they are satisfied. Dr. King is a product of the entire black, and american community and the # one priority should have been preserving the documents. Mark
It was definitely impure motive, greed, that lead them to sell the documents. Especially assuming they are probably taken care of by other means that are connected to Rev. King's legacy.
I dont know how much thier taking care of. I dont get the impression that they are that smart or good at making money. To be honest Bull Frog when your on that level you have oppurtunities a lot of other folk dont. Even though they may not have had a lot of money, I can tell you this they were well taken care of. Also they had a level of access to education, and goverment, business, political, and social contacts to have gone in business if any of them ever were willing to die to make it happen. Also doctor king that backbone was not around. Im sure they had uncles, grandparents, ect as supplemants but they cant replace a father. Also once again they may have not been that smart.Mark Bey
Yo Bull Frog. And you deffinately cant replace a father like DR.King.
Post a Comment