The MLK Monument Controversy.

bassrique · #1 08-23-2011, 06:42 PM

~800K for the rights to use the intellectual property of King's words:

KING 'MONUMENT TO GREED' - NYPOST.com

I'm a capitalist so I have no problem with that. It's an honest buck.

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The monument was made in China:

Martin Luther King memorial made in China - Telegraph

I'd prefer US made, but I generally like the idea of free trade, so no biggie.

**colcifer** · #2 08-23-2011, 06:45 PM

Seems a bit sensationalist but I should expect as much...

Kwesi · #3 08-23-2011, 06:55 PM

So long as it's the family getting the money why not. Does it cheapen Martin Luther King's memory or legacy? Not even a little.

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 08-23-2011, 06:59 PM

I'd only support it if they gave that money to a Civil Rights museum. Making a buck off of their father's, grandfather's, cousin's, brother's, etc.... words seems pretty silly considering they weren't the one's to actually do anything.

fhm555 · #5 08-23-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

So long as it's the family getting the money why not. Does it cheapen Martin Luther King's memory or legacy? Not even a little.

Couldn't agree more. But it sure cheapens the legacy of his living family.

it's as tawdry as the Presley estate keeping a brace of lawyers on retainer who's only job is to scour the country for violations of copyrights and trademarks associated with the estate. Threatening little joints over things like displaying an unlicensed, unofficial, Elvis bust or statue, or naming something with an Elvis song title without paying some blood money.

At least Tom Parker was honest when asked what he was going to do when Elvis died. His reply? "I'm going to keep on making money off him."

Just me maybe, but I would be honored all to heck and gone if this nation wanted to use the words of one of my dead relatives in a national monument, and that honor would be more than enough compensation.

Bloodhammer · #6 08-23-2011, 07:22 PM

I wonder if we can keep this thread civil...

bassrique · #7 08-23-2011, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhm555

Couldn't agree more. But it sure cheapens the legacy of his living family.

it's as tawdry as the Presley estate keeping a brace of lawyers on retainer who's only job is to scour the country for violations of copyrights and trademarks associated with the estate. Threatening little joints over things like displaying an unlicensed, unofficial, Elvis bust or statue, or naming something with an Elvis song title without paying some blood money.

At least Tom Parker was honest when asked what he was going to do when Elvis died. His reply? "I'm going to keep on making money off him."

Just me maybe, but I would be honored all to heck and gone if this nation wanted to use the words of one of my dead relatives in a national monument, and that honor would be more than enough compensation.

I'd feel the same way.

**jmattbassplaya** · #8 08-23-2011, 07:25 PM

I just wanted to add that, in my most honest opinion, Dr. King's words do not belong to his family. They belong to all people of the world who fight against injustice and discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc... Making a buck off his legacy just seems wrong on so many levels.

Jim Nazium · #9 08-23-2011, 07:27 PM

Here's the part i don't like:
"The memorial is being paid for almost entirely through a fund-raising campaign led by the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation."
Do the people donating the money know where it's going? I'll bet not; I'll bet they are being told the money is to "build" the monument, not to pay Dr King's heirs for the rights.

Dr. Cheese · #10 08-23-2011, 07:29 PM

As someone who works in academia, the idea of paying to use the words of a historical figure is wrong to me.
I realize that MLK did not leave his family Kennedy money when he passed, but so what? They have his name, and they all went on the earn educations that should be able to support them. All of them have had opportunities that are probably beyond their actual level of talent from what I can see.

To a certain degree, they have suffered from people who have expected them to somehow be special because they were the children of a transcendant historical figure. The fact is that they all seem very ordinary, and should have been allowed to live ordinary lives.

bassrique · #11 08-23-2011, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I just wanted to add that, in my most honest opinion, Dr. King's words do not belong to his family. They belong to all people of the world who fight against injustice and discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc... Making a buck off his legacy just seems wrong on so many levels.

That was my first reaction, but King died w/out much of a financial legacy to leave his heirs. He did however leave his family a wealth of intellectual property, and while it may seem a little unseemly, it's legit what they are doing. i'll bet if MLK is looking down at this, he's happy is family is not struggling.

Dr. Cheese · #12 08-23-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassrique

That was my first reaction, but King died w/out much of a financial legacy to leave his heirs. He did however leave his family a wealth of intellectual property, and while it may seem a little unseemly, it's legit what they are doing. i'll bet if MLK is looking down at this, he's happy is family is not struggling.

Think of all of the famous people Dr. King quoted in his speeches, and imagine if he had to pay to mention them? I know that this is not what is happening with paying to put the quotes on the statue, but charging folks money to cite your father when they are honoring your father is a bit too much for me.

bassrique · #13 08-23-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Think of all of the famous people Dr. King quoted in his speeches, and imagine if he had to pay to mention them? I know that this is not what is happening with paying to put the quotes on the statue, but charging folks money to cite your father when they are honoring your father is a bit too much for me.

I don't know how far the family is taking this. Are they making like the Elvis family? Is it that bad?

Dr. Cheese · #14 08-23-2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassrique

I don't know how far the family is taking this. Are they making like the Elvis family? Is it that bad?

No, it's not at that level, but some publishers and academics have run into problems reprinting King's words for books of various kinds in a way that does not happen for other historical figures.

bassrique · #15 08-23-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

No, it's not at that level, but some publishers and academics have run into problems reprinting King's words for books of various kinds in a way that does not happen for other historical figures.

History books? Hmmmm.....the family seems to be making some self-defeating actions.

stratovani · #16 08-23-2011, 07:55 PM

On a related note, isn't the dedication ceremony supposed to be this Sunday? Hurricane Sunday??

JAUQO III-X · #17 08-23-2011, 07:59 PM

If MLK's family is trying to get money for his speeches they should be paying his co writers as well.

MLK's most famous speech(I Have A Dream) was co-written by Clarence Jones.

Clarence Jones and all the other co-writers of MLK's speeches should be getting compensated as well.

fmoore200 · #18 08-23-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

If MLK's family is trying to get money for his speeches they should be paying his co writers as well.

MLK's most famous speech(I Have A Dream) was co-written by Clarence Jones.

Clarence Jones and all the other co-writers of MLK's speeches should be getting compensated as well.

Wow, I had no idea MLK had cowriters. In no way does it diminish the power of his work, but its interesting to know. Thanks for the info

OldDog52 · #19 08-23-2011, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmoore200

Wow, I had no idea MLK had cowriters. In no way does it diminish the power of his work, but its interesting to know. Thanks for the info

Really good public speakers usually have really good writers crafting their speeches. The speech writers are responsible for accurately getting the essence of the speaker's beliefs etc. down on paper in a way that will make a great public speech. The speaker him(her)self my or may not be as gifted at crafting the words as they are at delivering the words with ultra sincerity. I could name some recent US presidents as prime examples of having gifted speechwriters, but I'll leave it to everyone's imagination to fill in those blanks.

(PS: I didn't know MLK had speechwriters, but it makes perfect sense)

Dr. Cheese · #20 08-23-2011, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmoore200

Wow, I had no idea MLK had cowriters. In no way does it diminish the power of his work, but its interesting to know. Thanks for the info

The popular image of Dr. King was that he a singular genius who brought about change by himself, but he simply the most famous of many people who had been working for many years to bring about the Civil Rights Revolution of the 1950s and 1960s.

As Jauqo suggests, to ask money for King's words really diminishes all of the people who made his leadership possible.