WI: MLK Survives the Assassination Attempt

So, in honor of today's holiday, I thought I'd throw this out there. What if MLK survives? I know he became much more progressive leaning towards the end of his life, planning marches against poverty and so on. How might his ideals've evolved, and could he have become political in any way?
 
He would he increasingly disappointed by the shortcomings and fracturing of the civil rights movement.
 
He would focus his attention on fighting poverty. He would be critical of the free enterprise system and run into new criticism. I remember reading that the doctors who did his autopsy said he had the body of 60 year old. He was an overweight smoker who had a stressful job. I assume he would die of natural causes circa 1978.
 
Considering what I've learned about his health issues, I'd be surprised if he made it past his 50s. If he dies from heart-related issues, he's just another civil rights spokesman, but since he was assassinated he became a martyr for the Civil Rights Movement.
 
On a related note, what about Malcolm X? What would be have been like?

Since his departure from the Nation of Islam, he was moderating, although still militant. Given this, he'd probably begin to grow ties with groups like the Black Panthers, and continue to advocate for Black self-determination. If he lived through 9/11 or a 9/11 like event, he'd also probably begin to discuss issues of Islam.
 
The Boondocks did a pretty interesting episode back in their first season (2006) imagining a universe in which he survives, but goes into a decades-long coma. He wakes up in 2000, is popularly acclaimed, says his faith demands he turn the other cheek even in the face of 9/11, becomes wildly unpopular, criticizes strongly the state of modern black pop culture and political engagement, and finally moves to Canada. The show also depicts him as unable to survive in 21st century cable news media culture, too slow and thoughtful in speech to compete with, well, right-wing bullshit. The gist of his criticism (and a great deal of the show as a whole) was that more recent generations of black people have grown complacent with their social status and that black pop culture embraces pre existing negative stereotypes, which is an argument I am not qualified to address. The bright side is in the episode it sparks a renewal of black political engagement (and I guess cultural renewal?) culminating in Oprah Winfrey getting elected president in 2020 just after he dies in Vancouver.

Al Sharpton was upset about the episode and demanded an apology be issued mainly because of MLK, Jr using the word "nigga" a few times in his final, frustrated criticism speech. I saw it as more of a Tv Tropes "Precision F Bomb" or whatever they call it but I guess that's subjective if it was in good taste or not.

Anyway I thought that was an interesting contemporary interpretation of the OP's question. Great show. Thought provoking, shame it's no longer in production.
 

guinazacity

Banned
MLK surviving? Damn the FBI must be hella incompetent for that to roll :p edit: IS JOKE, HAHA

He would focus on poverty after the signing of the civil rights act, and definitely would be smeared as a socialist because of it. I can see him being painted as a race baiter, whatever the hell that means by cryptoracist rightists.
 
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The health issue can also be used, when you compare Dr. King to his eldest daughter Yolanda, who succumbed to complications related to a chronic heart condition, dying at the age of 51.

So if we could push him to this age, he will be dead in 1980.

If he doesn't go into politics I could see King doing, similar to what he did in 1964, by urged his supporters to vote against Republican Senator Barry Goldwater for president, to 1968 third party candidate, Alabama Governor and American Independent candidate, George Wallace

Maybe he is in California, during the California Democratic presidential primary, supporting his friend, Robert F. Kennedy, he is able to stop the would be assassin Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian, saving Kennedy's life and being chosen as running mate.

How would Richard Nixon go in round two against a younger Kennedy? How does Spiro Agnew debate against MLK?

Could King being alive in 1970 help, former Governor of Georgia Carl Sanders win a third term, keeping Jimmy carter away from the Governorship and away from politics
 
He was really good at building interfaith bridges. If he creates a major interfaith network built around poverty, that could be really interesting. It's potentially an avenue where he and Billy Graham could patch up their relationship, and where he could make further gains with Catholics and mainline Protestants.

Imagine the Southern Baptists (et al) with a major anti-poverty plank in their platforms. Perhaps it wouldn't take, but there are no major obstacles to it.

One potential bombshell coming down the pipe is Roe v. Wade in 1973. That could change political dynamics substantially.
 
He would've continue to help those impoverished Blacks with issues of poor work place treatment and conditions. Like Bobby Kennedy he might tackle issues of poor housing, economic living conditions, etc. He keeps marching from time to time in different communities and issues and makes various media appearances. Probably he will make a few appearances on cable television news like CNN, maybe get some awards from President Reagan, and more.

He'll probably die by his early 60's of heart and lung issues. Major health problems like smoking, obesity, and heart disease will take a toll on him. He'll be dead before the 90's. There will be no holiday named after him because he lives long enough not to become a martyr.
 
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