Coretta King's Passing Marks the End of the Movement

The funeral of Coretta Scott King is symbolic of the change since the death of her husband, Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1968. The president and first lady Laura Bush lead a political delegation from Washington that included three former presidents.

By any measure, there have been tremendous gains within the African American community since the Civil Rights Movement reached its apex in the 1960's. More African Americas are experiencing middle class life than ever before.

There has been a substantial increase of elected black representation, including African Americans serving as mayors of cities in the Deep South that would not have recognized their humanity a few decades prior.

The remarkable showing of dignitaries was more than matched by the legions of ordinary citizens who paid their respects to woman known as the "first lady of the Civil Rights Movement."

No question that the tributes to Mrs. King were well deserved, she was much more than the widow of a slain civil rights activist. Her tireless efforts to keep Martin Luther King Jr.'s work relevant to subsequent generations were a service to the country, not to mention her ability to build upon her husband's message in ways that has escaped even some of King's closets aides.

Like her husband, she stood in opposition to war. She moved beyond his legacy, however, by courageously including gay, lesbian, and transgender people in her understanding of equal protection under the law.

Mrs. King's passing also symbolizes the evolution of the movement that she and her husband were so deeply committed. Perhaps it is not just her death that we mourn, but also the passing of a movement as well.

To the extent that a Civil Rights Movement still exists, it does so through the narrow parameters of politics, more specifically the Democratic Party.

The middle class is now the face of the movement. Structural change has been replaced by maintaining the status quo; and radical non-conformity has given way to compliance.

The movement of the 1950's and 60's, which was agenda driven is now a shell of its former self.

With the possible exception of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, the national voices commonly associated with speaking for African Americans on the margins are the Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. And they operate largely within the framework of the Democratic Party.

Ironically, Martin Luther King, Jr. never endorsed anyone for president of the United States. Moreover, there is no record that I am aware that he ever changed his party affiliation from Republican.

King understood that the same Democratic President, Lyndon Johnson, who warranted praise for passing landmark civil rights legislation in 1964 and 65, was equally deserving of criticism for the war in Vietnam in 1967.

The post-1960's movement has led to a present-day menagerie of black leadership ranging from elected officials, representing primarily safe districts, to market driven, consumer oriented mega churches that offer very little social analysis beyond their rabid opposition to same-sex marriage.

Perhaps it is time that we eulogized the Civil Rights Movement. Let us praise the participants of the movement for demonstrating an unwavering commitment to American ideals--a commitment that proved to be far superior to the forces of evil that wanted to condemn some members of society to second-class status in perpetuity.

But the remnants of that movement have mostly political interest, which may be more than adequate to sustain the status quo or tinker around the edges, but offer no real change.

It is painfully clear that we need a new movement that operates outside of the restrictive boundaries of party politics. A movement, whose leaders are selected by those in the community rather than by sound bite--the way Martin Luther King was tapped to lead the boycott of the segregated Montgomery bus system 50-years ago.

As we say farewell to Coretta Scott King, let us also bid adieu to the movement. For each has served us well.