When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stood up against structural racism, the Vietnam war, and economic injustice, his opponents could not counter his arguments. That’s why they smeared him as a traitor, a communist agent, and a threat to national security.
Many Americans fell for those lies. By 1966, 63 percent viewed him unfavorably.
Today, as our nation celebrates Dr. King today, we must also remember that our nation failed to appreciate Dr. King or recognize the truths he spoke during his lifetime.