April 4 marked the anniversary of the death of Rev

April 4 marked the anniversary of the death of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Both Hillary and McCain traveled to Memphis, the site of Dr. King’s final moment, to honor his memory. McCain used the moment to apologize for voting against the creation of a Dr. King federal holiday. Hillary related a personal story of how Dr. King affected her growing up. However, to the disappointment of some, Obama chose to pay tribute in Indianapolis. Some critics immediately concluded Obama is ignoring the African American community as a given vote in his pursuit of the presidency. Of course, a similar analysis can be made of McCain and Hillary’s visit to Memphis as an effort to court the votes of this same group. Intentions can be widely debated but Obama’s decision to make his speech in Indianapolis highlights an aspect of Dr. King’s message that holds more relevance for Asian American / Pacific Islanders.
On April 4, Senator Robert F. Kennedy successfully calmed a potential riot in Indianapolis while many other cities erupted in violence upon hearing of Dr. King’s assassination. “Johnny B” appreciated Obama’s decision to speak in Indianapolis. “Johnny B” is an African American reader who posted a response to an essay about Obama’s speech on the New York Times politics blog. He related how he saw fights break out between black and white students when the news of the killing of Dr. King spread and remembered Robert F. Kennedy, who had metaphorically climbed on top of a car to bring calm:
“That night, I clearly remember seeing Bobby Kennedy emerge and deliver the most calming words imaginable within a sea of calm in Indianapolis. My anger, hurt and confusion was doused. RFK became my new hope. The fighting stopped immediately in Madison, WI. A little while later RFK was assassinated. All fighting and rioting stopped immediately, all over the country as the nation went into deep mourning. I personally was overcome with grief and sadness. It was as if God Almighty had sacrificed Bobby to the nation to atone for Martin…Some of my most enduring and lifelong bonds of friendship with White Americans emerged from this great national tragedy. Many of whom are my closest friends to this day.”
Johnny wept once more and uncontrollably when he listened to Obama. Obama stirred these same emotions for this man who lived through these twin tragedies. Johnny explained that “this young man, Obama stirred up those emotions again, like no other has. He is a living, breathing personification of what those two brave Americans died for. I am so very proud of him.”
Robert F. Kennedy acknowledged the anger of a diverse people and called upon us to follow Dr. King’s lead and seek to understand and exercise compassion with one another. He left the crowd, citing the words of the Greeks, that we must aim “to tame the savageness of man and make the gentle the life of this world.” It is easy to forget that about 17 years ago, racial tensions escalated when a judge handed a light sentence to a Korean store owner who shot African American Latasha Harlins behind the head and the ensuing violence and despair in Los Angeles on April 29, 1992 when a jury acquitted four white police officers of beating African American Rodney King. My in-laws, who are Korean, lost their store when it was burned down. I remember some Korean community leaders demanding reparation from the African American community. I remember some African American community leaders declaring Korean Americans got what they deserved. I remember the calmer minds of both communities who pointed to the lack of opportunities in economically depressed Los Angeles, racial tensions fueled by the sensationalism of the media and the “thin blue line” protecting Beverly Hills and the nearby more affluent neighborhoods while poorer areas were left to their own.
At that time, Poet Ishle Park declared in spoken word, “we have no Jesse, no Martin, no Malcolm, no Al, no eloquent and rapid tongue. Just fathers with thick tongues and children too young to carry anything but a straw broomstick and a hefty bag. So all our women cry and hurl what has not already been shattered. But two mornings later, they march over the ashes, dust licking their proud ankles, 30,000 Koreans try to sing in a language that most of them will never master…’we shall overcome some day.’” Our communities felt a momentary loss of direction and found itself again in the tradition of the movement led by Dr. King.
It is easy to forget that Asian Americans owe the efforts of the Civil Rights Movement for creating the context for the removal of the remaining anti-Asian exclusionary policies from national immigration law in 1965. Our communities rose in rapid numbers in the US as a result. It is easy to forget the strength in unity of which Robert F. Kennedy and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr called us to coalesce around.
Obama repeated their message which is needed even more in these economically troubled times. He focused on the reasons why Dr. King found himself in Memphis and highlighted Dr. King’s assertion that “genuine equality” can not be separated from fighting poverty. Invoking the intertwined spirits of Robert F. Kennedy and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Obama resurrected the call to end divisiveness and for us to work towards a politics of community. “Johnny” ended his post with these words, “Maybe, I’m just an old, sentimental man and this sense of history and moment stuff isn’t very important anymore. But it resonated with me to the depths of my soul.” The memories and moments Obama touches upon also resonate with our struggles as Asian American/ Pacific Islanders.
–John Delloro