The Illusion of a Hero

There is also a false face that Martin Luther King, Jr. revealed to the public, one which can be supported with documents and texts (Hubbard, 3). As per Abernathy, many of the ideas and speeches that King presented as his own actually were founded by Abernathy himself. Abernathy writes that “as long as he was our leader, I gave him my complete and unqualified support” (Abernathy, 478). In this circumstance, King is, in essence, excused from plagiarism because Abernathy willing handed over rights to these ideas. However, what seems less excusable and infinitely less known to the public was that “he stole his ideas and illustrations from older works” (Abernathy, 479). One of America’s greatest appreciations of Martin Luther King, Jr. is found in his ability to captivate an audience. Excerpts of King’s speeches are constantly referenced and exclaimed over. If the public were to know the extent to which King “borrowed” from others, it is quite possible their appreciation and respect for this minister’s integrity and morals would be demolished.

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If one were to take a look at other modern icons, such as Martha Stewart, Bill Clinton, and James Frey, it can be determined that the publics opinion of a well-known person if affected by that person’s actions. The public is not fickle in who they pick to exult over, nor is the public naive enough to overlook glaring faults. For example, once Martha Stewart was imprisoned for her illegal activities, her name and face lost much of the integrity they once held. The same applies to Bill Clinton, who lost the respect of many Americans after not only engaging in extramarital activities but also denying them. Finally, author James Frey who falsified his memoir lost the respect of even Oprah after his misdeeds were revealed. Applying these examples to Martin Luther King, Jr., it is difficult to not see how the publics opinion of King would be drastically modified if the public knew all faces of the minister.

In conclusion, one can see that Martin Luther King, Jr. was not the full man he presented to the world. It is clear why he would conceal the joker part of his demeanor in order to gain ground in his civil rights movement. However, if the general public knew during his lifetime what even now few of us know about his indiscretions with women, his illness, and his plagiarizing tendencies, it would be difficult to image that there would be a day devoted to his

honor every year. Though it cannot be denied that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a courageous man who was devoted to his civil rights movement, it also cannot be denied that this minister fell numerous times into serious lies, frauds, and indiscretions that everyday people, ones without a day in their honor, have managed to avoid.