Dr. Bernice King“Dr. Bernice Albertine King (born March 28, 1963) is the second daughter and youngest child of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, Jr and Coretta Scott King.[1] Her older siblings are Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King, and the late Yolanda Denise King. Bernice is the only King child to become a minister”.

“With her brother Martin Luther King III, she has played an active part in reforming the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) once led by their father. On October 30, 2009, she was elected president of the SCLC, a position previously held by both her father and brother. She is the first woman to lead the group”.

Wikipedia.org

Dr. Bernice King is following in her father’s footsteps and continuing the movement of the SCLC She is now the president of the organization that was co-founded by her father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was the first President of this organization and his son Martin III took the reins for a while as the Coretta King and childrenPresident. She is the first woman to become president, however, the first staff person hired and went on to be Executive Director and the last powerful woman of this organization was Ella Baker. After leaving the SCLC, she was the spearhead for many of the Civil Rights Movement groups in the 60’s.

I saw Dr. Bernice King marching with Bishop Eddie Long against gay marriages and for the first time I wondered if gay people felt the civil rights movement turned their back on them. I am not an advocate of homosexuality but I feel everyone has the right to live how he or she wants with out being judged by society. I feel if we are going to allow a person to hug and kiss in front of our children who cares if they get married? I hear people trying to make it a religious thing and say it is a commitment before God. But are we being hypocrites when we make marriage such a religious ceremony? I was married before and when it comes to divorce, God has nothing to do with it. It is all about the law and the finances and the property. This is where I sympathize with gay people because for legal reason they should be able to marry. They should be able to get insurance together and make some kind of commitment for the sake of property and medical decisions if the partner dies. When I hear gay people speak of getting married this seems to be the main purpose for them wanting to do it.

I believe in freedom, justice and equality for everyone. I was kind of turned around when I saw Dr. King’s daughter protesting the rights of any group. I don’t know what Dr. King would do if he were alive. I do know that one of his greatest advisors was a homosexual. I think all of that is more political than religious and for that reason I feel some of our prominent leaders get used by politicians to push their agenda. Do we actually think that homosexuality will stop if we pretend it’s not there? I see people of the same sex hugging and kissing everywhere I go in America. If you go to a church, you will see gay men in the choir, in the pulpit, you name it. Dr. Bernice King has a responsibility to all God’s children.

What is our responsibility? I think as the recipient of the benefits from our parents, of this leader and others, like the Kennedy family, we also owe a debt. I think of the recent election for Mayor and Governor around the country and the low turn out rates. As African Americans or Black People, which ever title you prefer, I don’t think we take our history serious enough. I often reflect on how every privilege I have, someone died for it. We don’t have the privilege of other races to say we are not going to participate in certain things. I think voting is one of those things. We have to remember freedom came at the price of life for us. We should be ashamed of ourselves when we don’t participate in the process.

I hope the city gets out for the Mayoral run off and I pray Dr. King remembers the most important part of her father’s famous speech which spoke of “all God’s children”. Until Truth prevails my eyes will be watching.

Dr. Bernice King’s website

The King Center - Atlanta, GA

MLK Online - Everything Martin Luther King Jr.

Stateline.Org Article on Gay Marraige Rights