Hagiography: Biography that idealizes its subject
On New Year’s Day, Seattle’s version of Rush Limbaugh passed away at the far too young age of 61. Much like the defenders of perhaps the most vicious and vile person to ever populate the airwaves mourned his passing, so too did the defenders of Seattle’s “Rush” leaped to praise him…and defend him.
It was as if they knew what was coming.
One apostle threatened a boycott of the Seattle Times and lead a subscription cancelation campaign because in the story about his passing, the paper had the AUDACITY TO PRINT THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS MAN:
Like how—and why—he was fired from his position with the Seahawks,
Or
How a school district actually thought that a man who could say things like that was perhaps not a person they wanted coaching their children.
Another apostle made a very overt threat toward those who didn’t mourn the death as profoundly as she was.
And those who were not apostles started their memories of the broadcaster by saying “we may not have agreed, BUT….”
Much like the late unlamented Limbaugh, the Seattle broadcaster made his reputation and fortune as a bully. His strength, “punching down” and mocking those who the “Sheeple” (one of the broadcaster’s favorite terms) of Seattle might support and want to help: you know, people of color, people courageous enough to make the decision to be comfortable within their own bodies and those people who are unable to live in a home.
Perhaps if they had listened to the interminable ads voiced by the broadcaster about building wealth and financing mortgages, they wouldn’t have needed to be on the streets…but I digress.
So why I’m spending time writing about this individual?
Because on this day, many of the apostles of this broadcaster will spend today talking about the 35 words they like to bring out on the day we recognize and celebrate of a TRUE HERO. Of course being an apostle means blind obedience, so they’ll also mention it’s too bad Dr. King’s people are too focused on “forcing wokeness on everybody” instead of working on their “character.”
What they will neglect to mention is that the hero who we honor on this day gave his life putting a hand out, not a fist.
Someone who while not condoning the uprisings in Watts and Detroit understood that “a riot is the language of the unheard.” (“The Other America,” March 1968)
A hero that understood that what is now called by many of my melanin lacking friends “being woke” was the first step toward taking off the blindfolds that still obscure our future:
“White Americans must recognize that justice for black people cannot be achieved without radical changes in the structure of our society.”
—Where Do We Go from Here? 1967
And finally, a hero that spoke truth to power, even when he knew it would cost him the support he had garnered in fighting American Apartheid:
“The evils of capitalism are as real as the evils of militarism and racism. The problems of racial injustice and economic injustice cannot be solved without a radical redistribution of political and economic power”.
—To the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) board on March 30, 1967.
Was this hero perfect? Of course not. For those of us who believe, there was only one perfect person—and we remember how he was treated.
In fact, some of the same apostles who will praise the 35 words today will also gleefully point out the imperfections of Dr. King, their way of denigrating the work he did because that is how they’re wired.
It’s very easy to garner fame and fortune by mocking your fellow man, and the late broadcaster did just that, which is why so many of the people who joined in deifying him probably couldn’t look me in the eye if we were to discuss him.
True heroism, true heroes understand the impact of their words and the cost to be paid in speaking truth to power.
True heroes, true heroism will not exchange reputations and honor to gain wealth and comfort.
And when people talk about true heroes, most hopefully won’t start with “we may not have agreed, BUT….”
We celebrate the life of one man today, but let us celebrate all of those who reach out with a hand—and not a fist.
And if that makes us “Sheeple”
BAA, BAA, BAA!!!
“For when people get caught up with that which is right and they are willing to sacrifice for it, there is no stopping point short of victory.”
–Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. April 3, 1968
Until Next Time…
Thoughts From A Short Round Black Man 