The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Opinion / Funeral a time to look ahead

Funeral a time to look ahead

February 10, 2006 by Mitch Holt

By Mitch Holt, Staff Writer

Don’t Believe the Hype

Coretta Scott King, civil rights leader and wife of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., died Monday, Jan. 30 in Mexico where she was seeking further treatment for advanced ovarian cancer.

Tuesday thousands of supporters of Dr. and Mrs. King piled into the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., to lay to rest the body of Scott King who, according to daughter Bernice King, was an “incredible example of Christ-like love and obedience.”

Her funeral, at times, became a political forum.

It served as much more than reflection on her life. It was also an inspiring, thought-provoking ceremony that explored dreams of social reform and political renewal.

Scott King, an activist for nonviolent equality and advocate for the poor, would have been pleased with her funeral.

The six-hour service included highlight speeches from President Carter, President Clinton (who was appropriately welcomed like a champ), current President Bush and Rev. Jesse Jackson and Joseph Lowery, advisers for the late Dr. King.

“We only have to recall the color of the faces of those in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi to know that inequality exists,” President Jimmy Carter said in his speech referring to his views on the racial inequality of Hurricane Katrina disaster relief.

Lowery boisterously expressed Scott King’s passion for the down-and-out in a rousing speech during the service. He emphasized her desire to live in a country that, instead of confronting wars overseas, confronts more important wars of poverty and health care on its own soil.

Lowery’s statements about social reform and Carter’s remarks about racial inequality in America received much applause from those in attendance. Those who truly know the meaning of caring for the poor and breaking racial barriers learn from active individuals like Dr. and Mrs. King.

Coretta Scott King spent her life helping the poor through attempts at social reform. Throughout her life she led nonviolent protest marches for the poverty-stricken and established non-profit organizations. Scott King truly saw the importance in taking care of and giving a voice to the voiceless.

Criticisms of the way President Bush, also in attendance, handled and is handling certain issues – the war and the billions of dollars going to it, Hurricane Katrina and secret domestic wiretapping – came up several times.

How can someone bring politics and issues like these into a funeral?

Well the answer is simple: Scott King’s entire life was devoted to these issues, or at least the ones that dealt with poverty, injustice and racial inequality. She would have been insulted if her funeral didn’t serve as a time to learn – a time for truths to emerge and a charge of resilience to be given to those with a passion for changing the socioeconomic state of the U.S.

Appropriately, the memorial to the fallen activist served its purpose. Now it’s time for supporters of the ideology of Dr. and Mrs. King to serve their purpose.

Filed Under: Opinion

Other Opinion:

  • Tariffs are the last thing struggling students need

  • Gen Z won the election for Donald Trump

  • A Swift rebuke: When it comes to politics, celebrities just do not get it

About Mitch Holt

You are here: Home / Opinion / Funeral a time to look ahead

Other Opinion:

  • Tariffs are the last thing struggling students need

  • Gen Z won the election for Donald Trump

  • A Swift rebuke: When it comes to politics, celebrities just do not get it

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
2 Jun

The Optimist reached out to ACU Athletics, who provided the following statement.

Reply on Twitter 1929676060947632336 Retweet on Twitter 1929676060947632336 1 Like on Twitter 1929676060947632336 1 Twitter 1929676060947632336

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

11 months ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved