2:40 PM, January 16th, 2012
cheatsheet

But it’s also worth remembering that it was not always this way. King was widely reviled in his lifetime, attacked as a troublemaker, a liar, a con man and a communist.

These smears are part of his legacy as well. They remind us that even American icons were once demonized and derided. And when we whitewash history into simplicity, we lose a sense of the real struggle that can inspire endurance today.

John Avlon on how Dr. King’s been whitewashed. (Photo: William Lovelace / Getty Images)

  1. dianux reblogged this from cheatsheet
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  3. aimeecastenell reblogged this from clatl and added:
    history is a living thing.
  4. thunderdolt reblogged this from picardwouldtotallyrulekirk and added:
    We need to maintain history intact. Not vanilla-ize it.
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