MLK's 1964 Prediction: Black President within 25 years

by duo | February 1, 2009 at 02:44 am

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A RARE MLK VIDEO has surfaced revealing Rev. King's 1964 prediction that America would have an African American president in less than 25 years. Rev. King made this prediction during an interview with BBC's Bob McKenzie. Although it took about two decades longer than Rev. King predicted for that event to occur, January 2009 brought the fulfillment of his prophetic vision.

Knowing Rev. King made that bold forecast and came fairly close to getting the timeframe right (only five elections off) makes me believe that his "Mountaintop" speech was not merely a metaphorical oratory designed to keep his supporters motivated amidst the harsh reality of the unbridled hatred they faced during their historic struggle for freedom and equality. Rev. King's "I've Been to the Mountaintop" address was actual prophesy. View the interview recently unearthed by BBC World News America at this link:

DR. KING'S PREDICTION
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/7838851.stm.

Rev. King made his startling prediction during a time when he and thousands of freedom fighters were engaged in a justice quest for non-violent social change in America. They demanded equal rights for African Americans during an era when that concept was considered outrageous and obscene by many white Americans and too ambitious by many blacks. But Rev. King was an optimist. Even while picking himself up from hot Southern pavement, dripping wet after being knocked down by the powerful force of water spewing from fire hoses held by angry policemen, and even while helping a fellow marcher escape the jowls of a vicious German Shepherd, Rev. King was able to envision an America where a black man would take the oath of office for the presidency of the United States.

People of other races were active participants in African Americans' quest for civil rights during the King Movement, and some gave their lives for the cause of freedom and justice for all. The success of the civil rights movement involved people from different races and socio-economic classes working together to realize their ideal of bringing America closer to actually being what she said on paper. Likewise, the joint effort of people from different races and backgrounds finally made Dr. King's 1964 prediction a reality in 2009.

Can't we all just get along? YES WE CAN and YES WE DID!

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Feature Story from civilrights.org
by Marc Morial
January 5, 2004

They [White Freedom Fighters] are - still - the largely invisible men and women of the struggle for racial justice in America. By that I mean those white Americans who joined the crusade not out of a sense of noblesse oblige, but out of a complete belief in the "self-evident" truth that human beings are created equal.

In other words, they understood, as Martin Luther King, Jr. said so powerfully in the "I Have A Dream Speech," that "their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom."

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Other than Jesus and my mother, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ms. Dorothea L. Dix are my favorite heroes. During the course of my family's justice quest regarding the wrongful death of Larry Neal and The Cochran Firm fraud, I have acquired other heroes, but MLK and Dix remain my favorites. See why I find them so admirable at the link below:

HAPPY HEROES DAY - APRIL 4th
http://my.nowpublic.com/culture/happy-heroes-day-april-4-mary-neal

Rev. King's optimism was based on his strong belief that good conquers evil. His confidence in that regard helps me believe in the eventual actualization of ultimate justice for my family. Facing tremendous odds, Rev. King had strong faith. Because Rev. King believed, he persevered, and we all inherited a more sane world.

We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

Mary Neal
Website: http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com

Articles: http://my.nowpublic.com/search?fulltext=1&type=story&keys=mary+neal

Author's page: http://www.care2.com/c2c/people/profile.html?pid=513396753

Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill: http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI

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duo

at 18:07 on February 1st, 2009

President Barack Obama also showed strong faith and perseverance during his presidential contest. I was among those who thought his goal was too ambitious and agreed that he should wait eight years before running for the highest office in the land. I never doubted his ability to lead, but rather, I doubted that our nation had arrived at the day Martin Luther King, Jr. predicted, when millions of white voters would judge President Obama by the content of his character and not the color of his skin. I was wrong, and it pleases me very much that I was. Like the commercial says, "You've come a long way, baby!"

Congratulations, America!

Blessings,

Mary

Subculture Arts

at 22:38 on February 1st, 2009

Very nice, although there are alot of facts that are omitted from the civil rights movement in this country,one thing that is left out by whites and blacks, is the the fact that many white people fought beside black people. From the abolitionists to the time of MLK they were beat and many killed for that exact belief. It has been pushed aside and not being recognized it hinders the movement. The influence that it has on other white people does make a dfference. I say this not as a person who is married to a beautiful woman whom is black or as just some white person, but as a human being. As a young boy in Ms. I was picked on for having friends that were black, it was only a few white kids that did that. I was also accussed of being a racist by a few black kids just based on the color of my skin. I still have the same issues today. ButI believe as a society we have lay the color issue aside and work on our compassion for people. Once we have that compassion then the color of ones skin will be just that, just a color.

Although we have a long way to go , we have come such a long way in just a short amount of time. Just four years before I was born, the great love that I have found with my wife would have been against the law.

Thank you for a very good article

duo

at 00:35 on February 2nd, 2009

I fully agree with you that white Americans with a commitment to justice have always contributed much to the struggle for equality for African Americans. This was true during slavery, throughout the civil rights movement, and continues today. Many white families risked all to allow their homes to be safehouses along the underground railroad, helping black families escape slavery.

Sojourner Truth was sponsored by white women who were engaged in their own justice quest for the right to vote, and they helped her to have a powerful voice against slavery and inhumane treatment.

In addition to the white people who boarded buses in the North and traveled to the South to lend their personal assistance during protests for civil rights, many others who did not get out and march with the Freedom Fighters contributed financially to the Movement. Today, numerous large corporations with mostly white boards of directors and investors continue to help financially by contributing to civil rights organizations and the United Negro College Fund. This is true of many white individuals, as well.

Jewish Americans have a long history of supporting African Americans in the struggle for dignity, respect, and social and economic equality in an oppressive society. As a matter of fact, it cost some Jews their lives.

I hope you noticed that whereas mention of contributions by people of other racial groups to African Americans' justice quest is often omitted in discussions on civil rights, I ensured that credit for their involvement and sacrifices were included in my article. I would like to see more films made to make it very clear to our younger generation - who, unfortunately, do not read as much as they should - that white brothers and sisters stood shoulder to shoulder with African Americans against racial injustice on many fronts throughout American history. Think of the Quakers! Uniting for justice was important during slavery, and the same is true today.

Did you look at the protests after the Oscar Grant tragedy? There were many white youths among the protestors showing their outrage over the senseless murder of that young man. Although I hate that the protest was not as peaceful as the ones Dr. King led, my heart was glad to see so many young white citizens who were incensed over Grant's murder on January 1. To see the protest footage, see my NowPublic story:

Oscar Grant: 1st Unarmed Black Man Killed by Police in 2009 - Next?
http://my.nowpublic.com/world/oscar-grant-1st-unarmed-black-man-police-killed-2009-next

Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in inclusion. That is what the civil rights movement was all about, and it is what America needs now: unity and inclusion.

Thank you for your comments!

Mary