Berthold steinhilber biography of martin luther king

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an occasion to honor the life and legacy of one of America’s most impactful and beloved civil rights activists. Coincidentally, it is also Donald Trump‘s secondInauguration Day in which he will make history as the first two-time impeached and convicted felon to be elected President of America.

The celebration of these opposed historical figures on the same day is wildly ironic, to say the least.

King was just that, a regal man of integrity who did not just promote civil disobedience, he practiced what he preached. A man of unwavering Christian faith, he believed in acts of service, altruism, and above all, “that all men are created equal.”

Then there’s Trump—a self-serving elitist whose idea of giving back is tossing paper towels into a crowd of Hurricane Maria survivors in Puerto Rico. As for faith and non-violent protest, let us not forget when Mr. MAGA used the military to tear gas peaceful George Floyd protesters to clear the way so he could take a press photo in front of a church holding the Bible.

For many Black folks, including me, this strange coincidence feels sardonic and makes me feel unsettled. So, I cannot help but wonder if Dr. King’s soul was able to rest easy last night.

RELATED CONTENT: Michelle Obama Is Skipping Donald Trump’s Inauguration — And We Don’t Blame Her

A Long Road Back To The Cabin

The road to Martin Luther King Jr. Day becoming a federal holiday in the United States was long and arduous. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation to make it official in , about 20 years after King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. The first nationwide observance took place in with several states still resistant to join the ranks. South Carolina was the last to relinquish, holding out up until

Fast forward 25 years and the Southern state is now represented by Tim Scott, the longest-serving Black senator in American history and the sole Black Republican in the Senate. Undoubtedly, a trailblazer in his own right, Scott is also a devoted Trump supporter and considered the ultimate “Uncle Tom” by many.

Kismet Kinfolk

The irony continues as the last time Inauguration Day fell on MLK Day was in , when Barack Obama was sworn in as President for a second term. In the presence of Bernice King, Dr. King and Coretta Scott King’s youngest child, America’s first Black President took his final presidential oath using a black leather Bible that belonged to MLK.

When the stars aligned on that day, it didn’t feel like a coincidence. It felt like fate. Piggybacking off his previous themes of “Hope” and “Change,” Obama maintained the optimism of his slogan “Yes, We Can.” Looking “Forward,” his vision for the future of America seemed much more aligned with Dr. King who encouraged people to “never lose infinite hope.”

King’s Dream Deferred

Conversely, when Trump formally announced his bid for the White House in June as a Republican—for two decades he repeatedly flip-flopped between different political parties—he immediately depicted a dystopia in which the “American Dream is dead.”

His dream for America is Black people’s worst nightmare and could not be further from that of MLK. The reality TV star turned politician is a dishonest megalomaniac who incessantly complains about “fake news” when it concerns him. Yet, he regularly propagates dangerous falsehoods like when he accused Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, of “eating the pets of the people that live there” during his presidential debate with Kamala Harris.

Using xenophobic stereotypes and relying on ignorance Trump aims to spread fear and create division. Through his rhetoric, actions, and policies he seems determined to take the country back to a time in history that Dr. King fought so hard to dismantle.

MLK dreamt of “a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” In contrast, Trump’s dream promotes intolerance, injustice, and inequality, at least for people of color and any other marginalized groups who muddy his Norway-inspired dreamland.

A staunch and unapologetic (he never apologized to Obama) “birtherism” conspiracist, he dreams of an America in which Black people must show their papers to prove where they come from harkening back to the days of slavery. Furthermore, in the same vein as the Jim Crow era, Trump’s administration will resume efforts to restrict voting rights for many Americans, especially people of color.

On the other hand, King marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to pressure the government to sign new national voting rights legislation, ultimately contributing to President Lyndon B. Johnson passing the Voting Rights Act of

An avid philanthropist Dr. King vowed, “I choose to give my life for those who have been left out of the sunlight of opportunity.” He showed compassion for those in need and encouraged generosity, asking, “What are you doing for others?” Meanwhile, Trump wants to build both literal and figurative walls to keep out “bad hombres” and enact policies that prevent the immigration of people from “s—hole” countries.

An Inflated Ego Is A Hell Of A Drug

Despite all the flagrant differences between the two, Trump is delusional enough to equate himself with MLK. In fact, at a news conference last August, he compared the “crowd” of approximately 53, of his supporters who gathered on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, , to overturn the “rigged” results of the presidential election to the estimated , attendees at Dr. King’s historic speech at Lincoln Memorial in

When asked if the end of his first term could be considered a peaceful transfer of power despite the insurrection, Trump pivoted, instead taking the opportunity to compete and boast.

“If you look at it, Martin Luther King, when he did his speech, his great speech. And you look at ours. Same real estate, same everything, same number of people, if not we had more,” he bragged. “Look at the picture of my crowd … we actually had more people.”

The attempted coup caused $ million in damage to the building, left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer who was beaten by rioters, and, of course, threatened American democracy altogether. But did you see the size of his crowd?

With delusions of grandeur this extreme it’s probably safe to say Trump slept like a baby last night. Dr. King, however, may have needed an Ambien to quell the night terrors triggered by this recurring nightmare of yet another Trump administration. As for me … wake me up in four years.

RELATED CONTENT: Video Of Republican’s Husband Refusing To Shake VP Kamala Harris’ Hand Goes Viral