Mrs. Coretta Scott King, The First Lady or Matriarch of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States passed away in December 2006.

The contributions of these three powerful, educated, and influential African American women caused them to be a positive permanent part of American history.

Mrs. King was the founder and main supporter of the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Following in the footsteps of her husband, she focused on the philosophy of non-violence throughout the world.

In 1983, she was the prominent leader in creating the Reverend Doctor King’s birthday as the first African American National Holiday. Also she was one of the few African Americans that supported same sex marriages, which drew ire from the African American Christian Community. She always stressed human rights first then civil rights.

Americans celebrated Mrs. King’s home-going with great honor-- music, historic reviews, and preaching. Many political and social leaders attendant that service. They came from around the world to show their respect.  

She had the honor of lying in State at the capitol building in Atlanta.

Members of the King family sat in the front row (which is traditional at Baptist Home-going Celebrations) with four of our nation’s presidents: Former presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, George Hubert Walker Bush, Sr., and then current President George W. Bush and his wife Laura. 

Bernice King (youngest daughter of Coretta and Martin) Assistant Pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church helped with the eulogy. This hallowed event was to be a tribute to Coretta Scott King’s life. However some individuals lash out and used it as a political forum against then sitting President George W. Bush.  

It is happening again with right wing, Tea Party, and Birther members in regards to our first Black President. Southern California Republican ( Orange County) Marilyn Davenport posted pictures on the internet of President Obama with a chimpanzee face. This is not the first time and it probably won’t be the last. They are disrespecting themselves and the President of the United States, our leader of the country. Dehumanizing another human being only dehumanizes yourself.  

The Roots of Racism run deep in this country and it appears that the Obama administration has exposed it and brought it to the surface. It has been stated that The Right Wing political movement in the States of Wisconsin, Arizona, and Southern California are fueled by race and class based issues.

African Americans have always been polite, correct, and reverent in church services. At Mrs. King’s service someone forgot to tell (SCLC) Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Reverend Joseph Lowery and President Jimmy Carter to mind their manners. Both of these caring men may have been correct, but this occasion was not the place to air their political grievances.

 Most African Americans agree that Mr. Bush was not attentive to their needs or their communities. This should have never happened.

The Birther, Right Wing, and the Tea Party should reflect on this sad moment and how they felt five years ago. The fact remains that African Americans have seldom publicly attacked a sitting president en-masse and when they did, they were politically ostracized. Example, Kanye West, at the Katrina Hurricane Fund Raising Telethon. West has never recovered from his public comments. West stated that President Bush did not care for African Americans.  

The American political divide has deepened and it has created two worlds, two economies, and two classes, not communicating with each other. This has to change to create a better America.

In our short 280-year history African Americans have always respected the office of President of the United States. Protocol, respect, and courtesy to an incumbent president were not shown at Mrs. King’s funeral. Many have stated that The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. nor Mrs. King would have approved of the unacceptable actions taken that day.

African Americans have disagreed with many sitting Presidents-- President Richard Millhouse Nixon is a classic example of African Americans not siding with our nation’s leader or it’s leadership.  African Americans have composed songs and written books about such rifts.  They have always maintained a level of respect for the office of the presidency. Clearly times have changed, just as our leaders have changed. Political pondants like Donald Trump, Sara Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Fox News, Marilyn Davenport and some other GOP leaders do not play by the same rules, nor do they have the same moral compass.

Finally, African Americans may not respect the man that sits in the oval office, but have always respected the office of the President of the United States. This should be given to President Barack Hussein Obama. Respect should be shown whether agreeing or disagreeing with his policies. African Americans had done so for many years it is time for Right Wing Americans to be civil and do likewise.

This is what some right wing political activist don’t understand because they have never had to share power. Maybe these fringe leaders need to look in the mirror.

 Respect is for everyone and right now the United States is not doing very well with respecting a Black man in the White House.

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Copyrighted 2011@ Gary Norris Gray- Gray Leopard Prod.

P.S..This was written five years ago in respect due the office not the sitting president, and modified for the current president. It seems that we have learn very little since that time.