MLK on Class, Conscience, and Corporate Buyouts

On August 28th, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King told the world about his dream of racial equality in the United States. On that day, and increasingly as he matured as a political thinker by confronting the exigencies of his time, King also articulated a dream of class equality, a fact that more often than not goes unmentioned in our now ritualized and therefore tamed celebration of his life. But remember, the march on Washington that summer was for "Jobs and Justice," class and race conjoined, with feminists showing us later in the decade that gender must be added to the now familiar analytical troika for understanding how power is wielded and reworked in our daily lives.

But as a recession begins to bite hard, and Wall Street analysts hustle about with canned explanations for our, as George Bush puts it, "sound fundamentals," class inequality is a question that the country seems willing to confront more forcefully, at least during a moment when political candidates are fishing for votes and talking a "populist" talk. That discussion should start with a debate about the role of 'private equity' firms in the U.S. economy, the Wall Street buyout tycoons that squeeze American workers to turn their incomprehensible profits.

Buyout firms like KKR and Blackstone make their money by purchasing companies, cutting back on wages, benefits and jobs, re-selling them at much higher margins and taking a 20 percent commission for the job. The buyout industry is gobbling up huge portions of the American economy like Pac-man. The top 20 firms own companies employing nearly 4 million workers. In 2007, buyout firms in the U.S. controlled a $400 billion war chest to acquire yet more. This kind of Wall Street pirate profiteering impacts middle America like a kick in the stomach.

If the opinions I heard while interviewing working people on a recent trip across the country for Brave New Films' 'War On Greed' video series are an indication of the general mood of the country, the question of class and corporate influence on policy-making should be disturbing the public consciousness long after the cameras leave town.

After the promises made by politicians to take corporate power to task have been forgotten by those who are now making them, working women and men will be pondering how class works in the United States, that is, who rides whom and how.

2008 is certainly not 1963, Martin Luther King and most blue-collar workers today don't speak with the exact cadences or deliberative pathos, but profoundly conflicted times require equally profound and radical solutions to those conflicts, then as now.

Martin Luther King changed as his time changed, and no more dramatically than on the Vietnam War and on the question of class in America. In the Gandhi Memorial Lecture at Howard University, King pointed out that "We are grappling with basic class issues between the privileged and underprivileged."

Two weeks ago in Rockford, a locked out iron pourer named Scott Henderson told me that "corporate greed is killing this county," and that Henry Kravis (CEO of the private equity firm KKR that bought his company) making fifty-one thousand dollars an hour last year is, well, not quite what Jefferson had in mind when he wrote that all men are created equal.

In a mid-60s speech before his Southern Christian Leadership Conference staff, King summed up a central dilemma of the nation, "Now this means that we're treading....in very difficult waters, because it really means that we are saying that something is wrong with the economic system of our nation. It means that something is wrong with capitalism."

In Ardmore, Oklahoma Mary Lou Lowery, who works for in a Dollar General factory owned by the private equity firm KKR, presented her own analysis of our difficult waters: "It's kinda like the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." Echoing F. Scott Fitzgerald to Ernest Hemingway, Mary Lou noted wryly, "The rich people, they're not like us. They're different." Mary Lou laughed big at that last sentence, then continued with a remark about the New York firm that owns her company: "The KKR executives...they have the politicians, they know they will back them because they can support them. They only look to us because they know we make the money. We know that the workers in the warehouses we make the money. They don't make it. We do the physical work and we make it work."

In a speech to the Negro American Labor Council, Martin Luther King said "Call it democracy, or call it democratic socialism, but there must be a better distribution of wealth within this country for all God's children."

A laid off worker from a KKR-owned tech firm in Florida told me, "I think greed plays a primary role in all of this. I think greed is the main reason that hundreds of people have lost their jobs, that hundreds of lives have been disrupted simply for the, the gain of a very few. It's about gluttony, excess to the greatest degree. It's absurd that so many people's lives can be ruined for the sake of more money for a select few."

When he was murdered in Memphis, Martin Luther King was in the midst of SCLC's Poor People's Campaign, and he was in that city to support striking sanitation workers who carried signs declaring "I am a man!" By the end of his life Martin Luther King was thinking deeply in class ways as much as in race ways, and the combination of the two made his view of America much more radical than anyone who left out either of the two lenses when looking at our society.

But class talk today, now trivialized by our talk-show sociologists as playing the populist "card," goes back into the deck after elections are settled, dismissed as too unsightly in the United States of classlessness. But if that illusion has a future, it is not because a good majority of the population is unwilling to point out to the wealthy minority that owning a time-share of Baltic Avenue doesn't quite match the power and influence, the lovely cache, of having Boardwalk and Park Place in one's possession.

So class inequality remains America's dirty little secret, and the notion that throughout American history there might have existed something called class conflict, waxing and waning by the decade or epoch, is even dirtier.

It may be bad form to focus on class politics today, rude in fact, given that the "working class" has exited the building some time in the latter part of the New Deal, replaced by the cleaner cut and gussied up "middle class," to which all politicians now pay ritual homage. But Martin Luther King was not polite enough to turn his eyes away from the social suffering that accompanied class disparity. His conscience was not for purchase, his speech was not for hire, the clarity with which he saw the United States of his time not swayed by special pleading from groups whose vision was often more cramped and sectarian. Class inequality counted in a big way for Martin Luther King, and he told us about it in increasingly radical tones from 1963 to 1968.

Especially on this day, the commemoration of his life and on every day that the ever-bending arc of justice has not reached its place of rest, class should count. For the game has not yet been won by those who, in King's words, "blindly believe their right to uncontrolled profits is a law of the universe." Almost,but not yet.

****

Kerry Candaele, a producer for Brave New Films, is currently interviewing workers laid off as a result of private equity takeovers for BNF's second short documentary in its "War on Greed" series.

Comments

[CanSoc]

Class does matter but Americans deal with class the same way the Mexicans have dealt with race. In Mexico supposedly everyone is of mixed race, mestizo, so the dominance of whites can be denied. In the US supposedly all citizens are middle class, so the dominance of the wealthy can be denied. While the former is easily refuted the latter is not so easily, since it is reinforced by the longstanding individualism of US society. The proper approach then is not to ignore that the US has become a plutocracy but rather to address social justice issues in individualist rather than collectivist language, in short as liberals rather than social democrats. It may not be true to the facts but it will be more acceptable to the millions who believe in the myth, a myth that Sen. Obama sometimes seems to invoke, without qualifying it as he has on occasion been forced to do as "aspirational".

[Sciguy]

I hope this post makes it. It's a quote:

"... and you think you're so clever and classless and free,
but you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see.
A working class hero is something to be,
yeah, a working class hero is something to be"

"Working Class Hero" by John Lennon

[BTN]

As long as companies go green in a recession, we'll all be ok.

http://theglobalwarmingtruth.com/

[JoAnnCr]

Dr. King: "Equality means dignity. And dignity demands a job and a paycheck that lasts through the week."

To all the presidential candidates: Don't tell me the color of your skin or what gender you are or your political affiliation. Tell me, what are your plans for equality, dignity and jobs with a paycheck that lasts the week? What are your plans to give everyone a shot at the American Dream?

The dream dashed, bravenewfilms.org:

War on greed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jdi20kfI PY

Rev. Yearwood & the war on greed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICIpPvdIL oY

Homeless vets & Bill O'Reilly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jdi20kfI PY

[jlh1rrisr]

Clearly, there is a lack of clarity, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding allowing others to provide a dualistic ideology of self, which causes you to believe something that is not. To raise your child[ren] where black females' obvious desire is to emulate white women and males coveting a jailhouse slave mentality believing this is a way of life. However, there are issues far more important such as, the First Commandment with a Promise seen and felt daily which most Blacks believing to be some so-called African-Americans reject and does not historically exist. From the Garden of Eden to America today here is one area that the enemy continues to effectively infiltrate and systematically destroy. Depression and anxiety, separatism and hostility with children dying at an alarming rate and earlier than his/her parents all fostered based on an ill-conceived notion supported by a socioeconomic system caring nothing for the family or family values. Which continues to promote in every lifestyle inclusive of a demonic educational system, a greed based bias corporate structure, an inept judiciary, an ill-equipped clergy, political and social leaders sending false and misleading messages to the populace. While rejecting the reality, the very notion of God and in so doing have destroyed homes and families for the sake of personal gratification glorifying the enemy, Satan. It is a sad state of affairs when a country, any country is racially segregated based on a bias cultural identity causing even further segregation and a bias sexism having an even deeper impact and destructive tendency destroying family and family values. A few cultural anthropologist or sociologist and black opportunist would attempt to get you and your children to believe otherwise attempting to re-write history to appease a portion of humankind while rejecting truth claiming all in the name of humanity. Is America reaping what has been sown because of the destruction of family, family values and a wholesome Godly environment?--John L Harris, Sr. author of the Decimation of America by its own hand! ISBN 0-9761112-8-4

[furion4865]

You all have directly identified the reasons for the war in Iraq and the vilification of brown people coming from Mexico, both tactics have been implemented by America's elite to keep us whipped up in a patriotic fervor and distracted from our enslavement to an economic system that gives us just enough to keep us quiet and pacified, but never enough to break free from the yoke of our corporate masters, who truly believe it's their divine right to rule over everyone and everything. What's happening in this country goes way beyond race and class, it's about taking back control of your life from corporations and politicians that don't give a damned about you.

[nomoredead]

Private Equity and Hedge Funds rape and pillage then pay just 15% taxes. It is also time to look at the tax shelters the rich use. Offshore corporations, charitable trust (Jim Cramer) and big churches need to help their beloved country. Why wouldn't a patriotic american want to help his country?? snark......ps.....I wake up and kiss my union card everyday.

[wolfgangmo]

There has been a class war waged in this country for decades and the rich are winning.

Is it time to take up arms and refresh the tree of liberty?

[Bettysdad]

So what, exactly, is everyone doing to get John Edwards elected. Nothing.

Everyone here seems to be going for the PC candidates; The black man or the female.

I could puke.

[oldlefty]

This should be required reading for every American. On this day commemorating MLK's incredible life, it is important to remember what he thought about class, as well as racial equality. It is too radically opposed to the way that capitalism works for most mainstream politicians and talking heads to acknowledge without a serious threat to our "American way of life" (ie. greed). This is why I cannot bear to hear all the platitudes to MLK from those who never want class equality to end greed by stopping economic exploitation of the workers.

[Herrington]

I can't say in that in my experience MLK held class inequality on par with race inequality. But for the sake of argument, I can't see how a person would not. This because the rich subjugate the poor whites as well as blacks and the only difference being the poor whites then subjugate the blacks in displaced anger at their own lot.

Now as we try a approach a two tiered society instead of a three tiered one, it may become clearer to all the white, black and latino poor that they are set against each other by a governance of those who find political advantage in pitting them against each other.

Now having said that, and if you are still reading, there is nothing wrong with capitalism, other than the fact, literally, that we have not yet figured out how to make it work in a manner consistent with the best interest of the people or the nation. More to the point it is evolving faster than our philosophy can accomodate.

The Reagan era ushered in a philosophy that may yet destroy capitalism altogether as a failed experiment along with democracy. The problem is that Reagan ceased to recognize, philosophically, the concept that monopoly is as dangerous to an economy as is totalitarian communism. Both centralize power on a political clique that is answerable to no one, able to dictate terms to the wealthy as well as the starving. And the new breed of monopoly is the professional investment banking firm engaged in mergers and acquisitions. They buy, sell, move, make and break companies without the least regard to the consequences to the actual business of the target, the employees, and more seriously, the country.

In this limited comment space, I must conclude. But it is time for us to see that the current incarnation of the smartest and most easy, laziest business in America, the leveraged buy out, must be regulated with prejudice. Curb it now, and stop half of the troubles that we face as a nation.

[lovethesinner]

Great post, Kerry. A fitting tribute to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I don't think it was a coincidence that King's assasination occured at precisely the moment when he began to connect the struggle for racial equality with questions about social and economic justice in our democracy. The idea that white America might suddenly realize it's own economic discrimination and start marching with King was more than they were willing to chance.

This discussion reminds me of a movie I saw recently, done by the BBC. It suggests that our governance is also guided by forces more psychotic and sinister than greed:

"The Trap: What Happened to Our Dream of Freedom" (in three parts)

http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/trap1.php

"The Trap" is a series of three films by Bafta-winning producer Adam Curtis that explains the origins of our contemporary, narrow idea of freedom. It shows how a simplistic model of human beings as self-seeking, almost robotic, creatures led to today's idea of freedom."

(it's long, but very well written and produced. great documentary footage of fifties existentialists)

[tiggersthotfulspot]

Martin Luther King Jr was a prophet about justice. Not just about ending racism.

Listen to this speech "A Time to Break the Silence" which is about Vietnam and about militarism and imperialism. It's hard to think of a more accurate speech predicting American history since then. These words should haunt us, but we don't actually acknowledge having an empire or having made a hell for a lot of the world's poor.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkatimetobreaksilence.htm

"The war in Vietnam is but a symptom of a far deeper malady within the American spirit, and if we ignore this sobering reality...and if we ignore this sobering reality, we will find ourselves organizing "clergy and laymen concerned" committees for the next generation. They will be concerned about Guatemala and Peru. They will be concerned about Thailand and Cambodia. They will be concerned about Mozambique and South Africa. We will be marching for these and a dozen other names and attending rallies without end, unless there is a significant and profound change in American life and policy."

Never were truer words spoken.

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."

Now it's 40 years later. You can take out the word "approaching."

[Pneumaticus]

Warren Buffett himself observed recently that for the past 20 years the middle class in this country has been on an economic treadmill while the superrich have been on a spaceship. How's that for a trajectory?!

[kirotahoe]

it struck me when obama spoke of ronald reagan changing the country. reagan was the last in a long line of my father's generation who were somewhat obsessed about communists.
part of the paradigm in mlk's time WAS the inclusion of the populist message in his racial equality movement. this is what really scared the rednecks. though dr. king was visionary and a true american hero, perhaps if a cooling off period occurred between addressing these two problems, more of the public would have accepted the movement. but as with all young idealists who always want everything right now, mlk's mind moved much faster than the general public could comprehend.
for so long, i thought much of mlk's life was given in vain, but mr. obama has chipped away at the impossiblness that was king's constant enemy. wouldn't dr. king be proud. we are at an historical crossroad here and i say to clinton and barak - find common ground and help chip away at even more of the impossibleness and make us all proud.