Viewing page 20 of 100

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

FREEDOMWAYS          FIRST QUARTER 1972

direct action.  He favored both and felt black people could do both simultaneously.  Before his brutal assassination, he was able to see partial fulfillment of his struggles in the election of black Mayors, Sheriffs, Congressmen and State Legislators.  Today there are approxi-mately 2,000 black elected officals-when Dr. King began his work there were less than 300.
  Another of Dr. King's prophecies was that American society would degenerate if it persisted in making wars and repressing its minori-ties.  Obsessive militarism, he argued, would end in defeat no matter what territories the American military overran.  He uttered this grave warning more than a decade ago.  Today, no one denies that America has descended into a cultural and moral abyss.  Old wars hang on, new ones loom on the horizon.  The young generation is hounded by disillusionment and drugs and the black young are the most seri-ous victims.  The decay and death of the cities are a nationally recog-nized tragedy.  The air and water are poisoned systematically.  But beyond all of these there is a more extraordinary indication that like the Roman Empire of old this system is degenerating though it still looks powerful; I am referring to the explosive growth of corruption in government, in business, in police forces, and in institutions of justice.  Big business buys immunity from government regulations; racketeers bribe entire police departments, elected officials, and even judges; army generals in an even more sophisticated form of bribery are given fabulous salaries by war manufacturers when they leave the armed forces.  Add to this that once again, history records that the American Army is committing mass atrocities expressive of its racism.
  Taking it all together we are seeing society ripping itself apart materially and spiritually.  It does not matter what imposing pro-duction figures are accomplished, how many cars are made and sold, how many television sets are built and in use.  None of this will change the painful fact that this is a morally weak and degenerating nation.
  These facts are important to us because we have talked very often, very glibly, about revolution.
  All too many leaders have simplistically understood revolution to be practical when those who are oppressed become dissatisfied.  By itself, this is a dangerous illusion.  In addition to the discontent of the oppressed, there must be a weakened and indeed a feeble adver-sary.  If the ruling elite is powerful and arrogant, no amount of revo-lutionary zeal will enable a minority to seize its share of power.  For too long we have been beguiled by many leaders who judged what

18