Dr. King's Legacy: From Different Angles

As appeared in a New York Times article featuring opinion letters about Dr. King’s legacy on, September 2nd, 2011

To the Editor:

I’ve always respected Cornel West, who taught me at Princeton. So I’m disappointed over the tone of his Op-Ed essay attacking President Obama for a policy that he believes has fallen “tragically short” of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.

Why wasn’t Dr. West raising as much of a fuss during the previous administration, whose policies proved far worse for the poor and working class?

Implicit in Dr. West’s criticism is that Mr. Obama’s “failed” policies stem from his not being black enough. Blacker-than-thou attitudes are remnants of an era better left forgotten.

David H. Roane

Norwood, Mass., August 29, 2011