The king of love is dead.

January 21, 2013 8:03 PM

On April 7, 1968 - three days after Martin Luther King's assassination - Nina Simone performed the Martin Luther King Suite for the first time at the Westbury Music Festival in NY: Sunday in Savannah, Why (The King of Love is Dead), Mississippi Goddam.
posted by ChuraChura (13 comments total)

Hey, I was just listening to this on a Boston radio station. Intense.
posted by Miko at 8:19 PM on January 21

This should, certainly, be the defining post for today. Thanks.
posted by HuronBob at 8:41 PM on January 21

Nina Simone - Oh God. I hope she's watching, today.
posted by newdaddy at 8:49 PM on January 21

You know what? MLK was not about love. He was about making the contradictions of a racist system apparent by non-violently getting in the face of the enforcers of that system. That ain't love and thank God he did it.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:43 PM on January 21

@Ironmouth: That's exactly what love is. MLK wanted to break down oppressive and unjust systems because they also oppress the oppressor. He wanted to turn enemies into friends. He wanted to undo hate with love. That is what Christianity is.

This post is a favorite for two of my favorites. Thanks, ChuraChura.
posted by koavf at 10:22 PM on January 21 [8 favorites]

That ain't love and thank God he did it.

Oh, I think it is love. It was fierce love for his people, for all people, love of freedom, justice and peace. it was a kind of tough love mandated by the calling he had accepted and his non-violent strategy--all of which took a huge toll on his family, his organization and on him. He would not stop even when he knew before going to Memphis that his days were numbered. It was an amazing life of love that transcended the flawed humanity we all share. It elevated him and all who walked with him. It still elevates us all. I am so glad his words are with us and his voice can be heard today. We haven't had a prophet like him in our time. I, too, thank God for him.
posted by Anitanola at 10:36 PM on January 21 [6 favorites]

That ain't love
posted by Ironmouth at 21:43 on January 21 [+] [!]

Eponystericallissimo!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:10 PM on January 21 [1 favorite]

Hey, I was just listening to this on a Boston radio station.

There was an NPR story on it.
posted by pracowity at 3:55 AM on January 22 [1 favorite]

I feel like, if anyone is entitled to refer to him in the way that makes the most sense to them, it is Nina Simone three days after his assassination.
posted by ChuraChura at 4:11 AM on January 22 [1 favorite]

That's what love looks like.
posted by Miko at 5:47 AM on January 22 [1 favorite]

"I have decided to stick with love..I'm not talking about emotional bonds when I talk about love. I'm talking about a strong, demanding love. I have seen too much hate...hate is too great a burden to bear." From Where Do We Go From Here?, 16 August 1967.
posted by Miko at 5:57 AM on January 22 [4 favorites]

Youtube playlist of these three videos for continuous play
posted by rossmeissl at 7:43 AM on January 22 [1 favorite]

Duke Ellington’s Tribute to Martin Luther King, 50 Years Later
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:40 AM on January 22