I read chapter 1: No longer just a dream.
I chose to answer the Analytical question: "Explain why the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial omits the accomplishments of other African American leaders such as Marcus Garvey or
Malcolm X. How did the goals of these social movements align with and
differ from Dr. King’s message or the goals of the Civil Rights Movement
more generally? Why do you think these figures were not included in the
King Memorial, which was originally designed to commemorate a broad
number of activists dedicated to civil rights? Do you think Garvey or
Malcolm X will ever be recognized in a monument or memorial situated
on the Mall?"
Firstly, Martin Luther King Jr's approach to activism was very different in comparison to leaders like Marcus Garvey and Malcom X. Dr King believed in a non violence approach to activism while the others did not. I think that the omission of Marcus Garvey and Malcom X shows the type of society we live in. I think it's safe to assume that those in positions of power, aka white males, do not like to feel threatened. Perhaps they felt that Marcus Garvey and Malcom X's violent approach was too extreme for society, thus people only choose to memorialize MLK jr because he was more "passive" and "likable". (I use these words very loosely.)
This is interesting, because even today, POC feel the need to tone down their feelings even when they are in the heat of the moment. I know this because I am a black woman in America and I know the stereotypes of " the angry black woman". Society is so quick to portray you as "angry" when you are trying to articulate your thoughts and make your points come across. Of course Marcus Garvey and Malcom X were not too pleased about the treatment of African Americans in society but I do believe they had the good idea by "fighting fire with fire".
I believe they were not memorialized in the same way that MLK jr was because of their approach to activism and how they where somewhat painted as villains for wanting to fight fire by fire.
With the black lives matter movement today, you can also see how society paints protestors. They say "violence is not the answer" but yet the police is using violence to "solve their problems"...