MLK - War & Militarism
Martin Luther King Jr. on War & Militarism
Exploring Dr. King's Legacy
Martin Luther King Day often centers around "safe" and non-controversial events, overlooking Dr. King's profound thoughts on the interrelated threats of racism, poverty, and militarism. Dr. King emphasized how these "giant triplets" are interconnected: wars often stem from racism (labeling the "other side" as "not like us") and lead to increased military spending at the expense of social programs (poverty).
In his 1967 speech, “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,” Dr. King highlighted the unpopularity of speaking against militarism, stating that people questioned his stance, saying, “Why are you speaking about the war, Dr. King? Why are you joining the voices of dissent? Peace and civil rights don't mix....” His observation remains relevant, as criticizing military actions is still seen as unpatriotic and “not supporting our brave troops.”
For the past few years, Veterans For Peace (VFP) Chapter 93 has commemorated Martin Luther King Day by addressing militarism. Below, you will find additional readings, speeches, and documentation from VFP talks. A complete video of the VFP Chapter 93 MLK talk given at the Westgate Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library on January 21, 2019 [View video of talk]
Martin Luther King Talk References on Militarism
Key Speeches by Dr. King:
Reactions to "Beyond Vietnam":
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Time magazine criticized the speech as "demagogic slander that sounded like a script for Radio Hanoi."
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The Washington Post stated that King had "diminished his usefulness to his cause, his country, his people."
Suggested Readings
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Waging a Good War: A Military History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1968 by Thomas E. Ricks
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Bearing The Cross: MLK and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference by David J. Garrow (New York Times review)
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At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68 by Taylor Branch (New York Times review)
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The Radical King edited by Cornell West (Chicago Tribune review)
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Martin Luther King, the American dream and Vietnam: A collision of rhetorical trajectories (Download)
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"The Necessity of Moral Resistance in the Face of Militarism" by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
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Martin Luther King's Opposition To Militarism Is A Call For Our Time (January 2020 – ACLU)
Suggested Video Series
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MLK: A Call To Conscience - A six-segment series hosted by Travis Smiley on PBS. Watch Segment #2. The entire series may be available through your local library or for sale online.