WI: Martin Luther King Jr. not assassinated and is still alive in 2015

The current race issues we are having here in the US makes me wonder how things would be different if MLK not only avoided assassination but is still alive in 2015 at the age of 86.

I would imagine events would have gone very different in terms of the development of civil rights...maybe even president MLK at some point? What does everyone think?
 
The current race issues we are having here in the US makes me wonder how things would be different if MLK not only avoided assassination but is still alive in 2015 at the age of 86.

I would imagine events would have gone very different in terms of the development of civil rights...maybe even president MLK at some point? What does everyone think?

He'd pretty much run into a brick wall by that point. He'd started sounding very socialist and worse was working against Northern racism as well as Southern alienating a lot of whites who had supported him previously. He'd probably end up a far more nuanced and degraded figure than the saint of OTL.
 
He had the heart of a 60-something when he died. He likely won't live until 2015. You can make your own assumptions of when he may have died. His death would likely be interpreted not as a martyr, but as someone who fought until exhaustion for civil rights and equality.

At the time of his death, King had turned his attention away from racial divide as the problem in America, and more towards poverty and economic inequality as the source of problems in America. This was his Poor People's Campaign. King was also increasingly facing off against the more radical wing of the Civil Rights movement. From what I can gather, they respected King for the most part, but felt he was misguided. In the end, I don't think you can argue in favor of the militant portion of the movement against what Martin Luther King was doing and believed. King was the radical; he was willing to put his life at risk with non-violence to show injustice and humanity, and the lack of humanity in racism. King did not give in to anger, which had jaded many in the movement and lead to militancy in the late 60s and into the 1970s, and kept his head for the greater good. The militants viewed that as a sell out, and it wasn't.
 
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He had the heart of a 60-something when he died. He likely won't live until 2015. You can make your own assumptions of when he may have died. His death would likely be interpreted not as a martyr, but as someone who fought until exhaustion for civil rights and equality.
Hell, he likely wouldn't have lived until 1975 for that matter.
 
Given the issues I outlined, my primary concern would be King's place in the ongoing movements in Black America and socially, especially in regards to the Black Power movement. King surviving may tame militancy to some degree. And King would be moving more toward an emphasis on poverty and economic justice.
 
King I think if he lives into the 1970s will be very critical of the Vietnam War still until it ends. His focus will move away from race and to be on poverty and economic inequality. The energy crisis and recession of the 70's will make this a large factor for him until the early part of the next decade. He criticizes the country's economic policy.

He starts to travel all over the US not just focusing efforts in the MidWest or South. Because of his smoking habits, King will probably develop a form of respiratory illness in the mid to late 1980s and will become less frequently active with the public. He travels less frequently and his life becomes more private as he returns to running church operations and helping raise his grandchildren through some sort of isolated, private residence in the South. He will occasionally makes television appearances and writes books, attends ceremonies, about his past experiences, and discusses his failing health.
 
He'll be disliked by most of the population. The man was not popular after 1965, and it's because he wasn't a political moderate just asking for civil rights. That being said, the cities may not explode as badly as they did and his living will slow the momentum of militant black radicalism. What he does politically himself though...hard to say. Overtures to labor and wildcat strikers?
 
If MLK had not died a martyr's death in 1968...

...Jesse Jackson might have had to get a real job.

Overall, a happier world.
 
King would have spent the rest of the 1960s and the early 1970s fighting for economic equality and justice. He would have continued to oppose the Vietnam war. Because of this some of his close aides in the SCLC would likely either leave the SCLC or have a sort of hostile takeover the organization and remove King as its leader. With Nixon becoming president, Nixon would have viewed MLK as another liberal opponent and would have had him on his enemies list. Nixon would have in public supported some civil rights issues MLK supported, maybe sign some heavily watered down civil rights bills. But pretty much ignore King and the issues MLK would fight for. MLK might as even go as far as to publicly endorse a presidential nominee for the first time in 1972 by endorsing George McGovern (McGovern would still lose).

By the mid-1970s he would have supported the efforts for American businesses to divest from the apartheid government in South Africa. Would have certainly criticized Nixon over Watergate. With the recessions and high inflation of the 1970s, MLK's economic justice movement might gain some traction with more Americans. By this time he would have started to experience health problems. His family, doctors, and friends could have convinced him to stop smoking, eat healthier, and exercise more. This would have coincided with growing popularity of jogging in the mid-late 1970s. Maybe somebody like former football star Jim Brown could have convinced him to try to live healthier, or at least stop smoking. The deaths of people like Mahalia Jackson (1972), Lyndon Johnson (1973), and Fannie Lou Hamer (1977) might have convinced him to take better care of himself. King would have been a supporter of the women's rights movement and the ERA in the 1970s.

By the late 1970s he would have lobbied Jimmy Carter to push for more progressive economic policies with some success in some areas. King likely would have supported the candidacies of many black candidates for congress. Many of which would have been younger members of the civil rights movement who marched along side of him in the 1960s. King would have lobbied the Carter administration to support sanctions on the apartheid government in South Africa, especially after the Soweto uprising and the death of Steve Biko. He would have found a kindred spirit in Desmond Tutu. President Carter would have given Dr. King the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980.

By the 1980s he would have been more outspoken about apartheid in South Africa. He would have visited the country and maybe have a meeting with P.W. Botha. He would have tried to convince the ANC to go back to practicing non-violence to end apartheid in South Africa. MLK would have been a vocal critic of the Reagan administration. Opposing Reagan's cuts to domestic anti-poverty programs. Dr. King would have been troubled with rising gang violence and the growing crack epidemic in the African-American community in the 1980s. He would have been a critic of the American justice system and the high incarceration rate in the black community. Though I think if MLK had lived these problems would not have been as bad as they were/are in OTL. It still would have been a major problem. MLK would have called upon younger African-Americans to become more involved in their communities and continue the movement to empower the black community in the industries of government, business, education, finance, journalism, and law.

By the mid-1980s he likely would have had to slow down even more. If he were still the head of the SCLC, he would have stepped down by this point. Other African-American leaders would have taken over the spotlight, especially if Jesse Jackson is still a national figure ITTL and runs for president in 1984. MLK would have supported famine relief in Ethiopia and other third world countries. He would have been a supporter of AIDS research and for the government to educate the public about the disease. By the late 1980s because of his declining health his public appearances would have decreased even more. Making some talk show appearances on shows like Donahue, Larry King Live, and The Tonight Show. He would have spent more time with his family and friends in his home in Georgia. Making a few sporadic speeches at events involving civil rights, calling for the release of Nelson Mandela, and ending poverty and homelessness. He likely would have made some money writing his autobiography and other books about his beliefs and philosophies.

By the early 1990s MLK would have been rarely seen in public, probably have a debilitating heart attack or stroke. After Mandela's release from prison he would have visited Dr. King in Georgia when Mandela visited America. Taking an iconic picture with him that would be seen as a link between the American Civil Rights Movement and the South African Anti-Apartheid movement. During the 1992 L.A. Riots MLK would have called for calm and peace, but would have been worried about the future of the young black America born after the height of the Civil Rights Movement he led. His last public appearance would have been a White House visit at the invitation of the newly elected president Bill Clinton in 1993. King's health would have continued to decline and he dies in early 1995 at the age of 66 of heart disease.

Getting him to live to still be alive today is not impossible, improbable, but not impossible. But he certainly would have had to make some lifestyle changes in the 1970s in order to add years to his 60 year old heart. Some believe that brother (A.D. King) died in 1969 after having a heart attack and drowned in a pool. MLK's nephews (A.D. King's children) died of heart attacks at young ages. His father died of a heart attack (though he lived into his 80s). So heart disease appears to have been a problem in MLK's family. So his declining health combined with a succession of conservative presidents through the 1970s and 1980s, these things would have limited Dr. King's anti-poverty efforts.
 
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I also think King would have publicly spoken out again Reagan's major expansions of the military and nuclear arms during the 1980s. He would have spoken out against the growing tensions posed by the out of the control spending and increased risk of nuclear war.

Reagan would have invited him to the White House a number of times as well.
 

jahenders

Banned
Oh, Nirvana .... what a great guy.

Actually, he will get involved in some of that and, to some degree, he'll lose support. It all depends on how his views evolve. If he goes too far to the left (Black Power, pushing for more welfare, etc), he'll lose support from mainstream America. OTOH, if he becomes more of a mainstream figure, then other black leaders will evolve on the right (who knows, you could theoretically have Al Sharpton, or some such, calling him an "Uncle Tom"). He could certainly run for the House or Senate.

In either case, I think his popularity and following has somewhat faded by the mid 70s so he's more of a Jesse Jackson figure. If he does become more of a politician, there's a good chance that he's aged, with popularity faded, before society is ready to elect a black President.


King would have spent the rest of the 1960s and the early 1970s fighting for economic equality and justice. He would have continued to oppose the Vietnam war. Because of this some of his close aides in the SCLC would likely either leave the SCLC or have a sort of hostile takeover the organization and remove King as its leader. With Nixon becoming president, Nixon would have viewed MLK as another liberal opponent and would have had him on his enemies list. Nixon would have in public supported some civil rights issues MLK supported, maybe sign some heavily watered down civil rights bills. But pretty much ignore King and the issues MLK would fight for. MLK might as even go as far as to publicly endorse a presidential nominee for the first time in 1972 by endorsing George McGovern (McGovern would still lose).

By the mid-1970s he would have supported the efforts for American businesses to divest from the apartheid government in South Africa. Would have certainly criticized Nixon over Watergate. With the recessions and high inflation of the 1970s, MLK's economic justice movement might gain some traction with more Americans. By this time he would have started to experience health problems. His family, doctors, and friends could have convinced him to stop smoking, eat healthier, and exercise more. This would have coincided with growing popularity of jogging in the mid-late 1970s. Maybe somebody like former football star Jim Brown could have convinced him to try to live healthier, or at least stop smoking. The deaths of people like Mahalia Jackson (1972), Lyndon Johnson (1973), and Fannie Lou Hamer (1977) might have convinced him to take better care of himself. King would have been a supporter of the women's rights movement and the ERA in the 1970s.

By the late 1970s he would have lobbied Jimmy Carter to push for more progressive economic policies with some success in some areas. King likely would have supported the candidacies of many black candidates for congress. Many of which would have been younger members of the civil rights movement who marched along side of him in the 1960s. King would have lobbied the Carter administration to support sanctions on the apartheid government in South Africa, especially after the Soweto uprising and the death of Steve Biko. He would have found a kindred spirit in Desmond Tutu. President Carter would have given Dr. King the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980.

By the 1980s he would have been more outspoken about apartheid in South Africa. He would have visited the country and maybe have a meeting with P.W. Botha. He would have tried to convince the ANC to go back to practicing non-violence to end apartheid in South Africa. MLK would have been a vocal critic of the Reagan administration. Opposing Reagan's cuts to domestic anti-poverty programs. Dr. King would have been troubled with rising gang violence and the growing crack epidemic in the African-American community in the 1980s. He would have been a critic of the American justice system and the high incarceration rate in the black community. Though I think if MLK had lived these problems would not have been as bad as they were/are in OTL. It still would have been a major problem. MLK would have called upon younger African-Americans to become more involved in their communities and continue the movement to empower the black community in the industries of government, business, education, finance, journalism, and law.

By the mid-1980s he likely would have had to slow down even more. If he were still the head of the SCLC, he would have stepped down by this point. Other African-American leaders would have taken over the spotlight, especially if Jesse Jackson is still a national figure ITTL and runs for president in 1984. MLK would have supported famine relief in Ethiopia and other third world countries. He would have been a supporter of AIDS research and for the government to educate the public about the disease. By the late 1980s because of his declining health his public appearances would have decreased even more. Making some talk show appearances on shows like Donahue, Larry King Live, and The Tonight Show. He would have spent more time with his family and friends in his home in Georgia. Making a few sporadic speeches at events involving civil rights, calling for the release of Nelson Mandela, and ending poverty and homelessness. He likely would have made some money writing his autobiography and other books about his beliefs and philosophies.

By the early 1990s MLK would have been rarely seen in public, probably have a debilitating heart attack or stroke. After Mandela's release from prison he would have visited Dr. King in Georgia when Mandela visited America. Taking an iconic picture with him that would be seen as a link between the American Civil Rights Movement and the South African Anti-Apartheid movement. During the 1992 L.A. Riots MLK would have called for calm and peace, but would have been worried about the future of the young black America born after the height of the Civil Rights Movement he led. His last public appearance would have been a White House visit at the invitation of the newly elected president Bill Clinton in 1993. King's health would have continued to decline and he dies in early 1995 at the age of 66 of heart disease.

Getting him to live to still be alive today is not impossible, improbable, but not impossible. But he certainly would have had to make some lifestyle changes in the 1970s in order to add years to his 60 year old heart. Some believe that brother (A.D. King) died in 1969 after having a heart attack and drowned in a pool. MLK's nephews (A.D. King's children) died of heart attacks at young ages. His father died of a heart attack (though he lived into his 80s). So heart disease appears to have been a problem in MLK's family. So his declining health combined with a succession of conservative presidents through the 1970s and 1980s, these things would have limited Dr. King's anti-poverty efforts.
 
Well he wouldn't be elected president, I'd stake my life on that. Barack Obama is in a lot of ways a fluke and if that particular sperm hadn't met that particular egg, I'd say we were at least 25-50 years from the first black presidency (and are very likely that far from the next one)

Great man that Dr King was, the sad truth is that he was only beatified because of his assassination. Butterfly that away and you butterfly away a lot of White America's affection for him. His surviving trajectory would be much like that of Ralph Abernathy, a friend and ally of his.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Abernathy

Though that raises the question, why was Dr King raised up to nigh-sainthood and other leaders, like Medgar Evars, were not? Just coincidence or something more?
 
Though that raises the question, why was Dr King raised up to nigh-sainthood and other leaders, like Medgar Evars, were not? Just coincidence or something more?

King had the biggest profile, to be honest.

A black man that talked about the "evils of capitalism and militarism" will never, ever get elected President in the United States. He probably wouldn't even want the job and would only run if he did for the sake of awareness/political bargaining, probably on a third ticket. Again, he was unpopular in the last few years of his life.
 
Dr. King would have been troubled with rising gang violence and the growing crack epidemic in the African-American community in the 1980s. He would have been a critic of the American justice system and the high incarceration rate in the black community. Though I think if MLK had lived these problems would not have been as bad as they were/are in OTL.

.......nah. The Heroin epidemic was already well underway. Once the drugs start flooding in, mass incarceration is inevitable. Combine that with the Sexual Revolution and suddenly young boys aren't being raised by their fathers. Modern Gangs rose in earnest during the 70s.

Black America was basically already decimated BEFORE Crack hit like a biblical plague. It's sorta like if you never did a Marshall Plan and just trashed Europe again in the 1950s. Basically, yeah.

Marginal, near-anecdotal improvement from OTL. IMHO that's as good as its gonna get for MLK ITTL.
 
.......nah. The Heroin epidemic was already well underway. Once the drugs start flooding in, mass incarceration is inevitable. Combine that with the Sexual Revolution and suddenly young boys aren't being raised by their fathers. Modern Gangs rose in earnest during the 70s.

Black America was basically already decimated BEFORE Crack hit like a biblical plague. It's sorta like if you never did a Marshall Plan and just trashed Europe again in the 1950s. Basically, yeah.

Marginal, near-anecdotal improvement from OTL. IMHO that's as good as its gonna get for MLK ITTL.

No, heroin in the 1970s was not seen as exclusively a black drug like crack was/is. There were plenty of whites doing heroin in 70s, more whites did heroin than blacks did. Crack unlike heroin was easier to produce and was sold on the streets at a cheaper price. Causing crack to be a bigger problem in the 1980s than heroin was in the 1970s. There were black gangs in major cities even during MLK's time in the 1960s. But the problem of gang GUN violence exploded during the economic malaise of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Largely do to the growing crack epidemic of the 1980s.

But it wasn't until the fear of the crack epidemic and the increased media attention to drug use and gang violence in the 1980s that led to already strict drug laws to become even stricter. Which had a severely negative impact on the African-American community. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 introduced federal mandatory MINIMUM drug sentences for people found guilty of drug possession. Causing more young African-Americans to be incarcerated in the 1980s than it did in the 1970s. "The proportion of black offenders grew from under 10% in 1984 to 28% of the mandatory minimum drug offenders by 1990" (http://www.fjc.gov/public/pdf.nsf/lookup/geneffmm.pdf/$file/geneffmm.pdf [page 26]).
 
Oh, Nirvana .... what a great guy.

Actually, he will get involved in some of that and, to some degree, he'll lose support. It all depends on how his views evolve. If he goes too far to the left (Black Power, pushing for more welfare, etc), he'll lose support from mainstream America. OTOH, if he becomes more of a mainstream figure, then other black leaders will evolve on the right (who knows, you could theoretically have Al Sharpton, or some such, calling him an "Uncle Tom"). He could certainly run for the House or Senate.

In either case, I think his popularity and following has somewhat faded by the mid 70s so he's more of a Jesse Jackson figure. If he does become more of a politician, there's a good chance that he's aged, with popularity faded, before society is ready to elect a black President.

I don't see MLK running for any political office if he had lived. It would have stifled him too much and he wouldn't have been able to focus on the issues that were most important to him. He wouldn't have the freedom to express the views that he held as a non-elected official. He'd have to spend time campaigning and raising money for himself. He likely would have thought that money would be better off given to some more worthy cause. I can't see him going from working on something like the Poor People's campaign to raising thousands of dollars for a political campaign of his own for public office. He might have initially publicly supported Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign. But I can't see him running for congress. He might get a couple of delegates to vote for him to be the presidential nominee at the 1972 and 1976 Democratic Conventions at their own volition.

When I wrote my original post in this thread I thought about MLK possibly being the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa under President Carter. But the Carter administration was unwilling to go as far as to endorse sanctions on the South African apartheid government, something MLK would have supported.

Maybe MLK could have been Carter's choice to be the Ambassador to the U.N. considering Dr. King's aide Andrew Young was Carter's U.N. Ambassador IOTL. But an appointed position like an ambassadorship under the right circumstances, at a certain time in history, is as far as I can see MLK holding any type of government office.
 
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