So I had a meeting today with Erik Clemons, one of the most visionary people I’ve ever met, and it inspired me to revisit the MLK speech at Riverside Church in New York. Delivered on April 4, 1967, the speech created problems for MLK but is often cited as one of his most powerful speeches.
Read below from the American Social History Project:
On April 4, 1967, Martin Luther King delivered his first major public statement against the Vietnam War, entitled “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence.” Addressing a crowd of 3,000 at Riverside Church in New York City, King condemned the war as anti-democratic, impractical, and unjust. He described the daily suffering of Vietnamese peasants caught in the crossfire, as well as the human and economic burdens being placed on America’s poor. Not only were lower-class Americans more likely to fight in Vietnam, but Johnson’s domestic “War on Poverty” designed to help poor families was being derailed by U.S. foreign policy. King called for an immediate end to the bombing and a negotiated peace settlement with Vietnam. Although some activists supported King’s opposition to the war, many were concerned that the speech would be perceived as unpatriotic and hinder the civil rights struggle by connecting it to the more radical peace movement.
“Some of us who have already begun to break the silence of the night have found that the calling to speak is often a vocation of agony. But we must speak.” – MLK Jr.
As a Malcolm disciple, who sees Christ in him, I have not given as much love to MLK in public. But I have to for this speech and for the appreciation that no matter how I may feel about these Ancestors’ politic, there is no doubt that they knowingly risked their lives, their families sacrificed their presence, so that you and I could enjoy the freedoms we do today.
Listen to Voice Note
On the painting – Kaleidoscope of Liberation
This vibrant digital painting by Otha “Vakseen” Davis III captures a powerful moment of unity between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, rendered in an energetic blend of bold, kaleidoscopic colors. The radiant hues of purples, blues, greens, and yellows infuse the image with passion and hope, while their handshake symbolizes solidarity in the face of shared struggle. Against a backdrop of intricate geometric patterns evoking African heritage, the two figures appear as larger-than-life symbols of resilience and revolutionary thought. Vakseen’s dynamic style elevates this historic moment into a vivid celebration of Black brilliance and the enduring quest for justice.
Make a bid for the painting here.
“An edifice that produces beggars needs restructuring.” – MLK Jr.
For support building Liberated technology, strategizing on data and storytelling, you can book a Strategy Session with us at a discounted rate through tomorrow night at 11:59PM EST.
