Assassination Of The Scapegoat Analysis

Assassination of the Scapegoat

On April 4th, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, an event that would change history forever occurred. That was the day James Earl Ray assassinated the driving force of the Civil Rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. It shook the nation, as the man who was planning on bringing peace and racial harmony in the United States was killed in an instant. He was probably the most influential scapegoat in American history, setting out to create equality for all races in America. There were many extremist white-based groups which detested the idea of equality, believing that whites were superior over all, groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Martin Luther King did not back down when groups like the KKK harassed him; he used their hate against them and allowed it to thrust him forward for the sake of bettering his cause and pushing towards racial equality. In the end, Martin Luther King was assassinated for his passion and beliefs; his hard work paid off because after his death, there was at least legal racial equality in the U.S. His bravery and strength

through harassment, and life as a scapegoat, is quite comparable to Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.

One may never understand how another may be so ignorant to believe that they are better than someone else due to race. The idea of segregation is rather useless seeing as we are all humans, and there is no practical reason to do so. Groups like the KKK believed that segregation was something that was meant to be, and the African Americans were naturally inferior to whites. They believed that blacks were a disgrace and that they were animals, not humans and treated them as such; they were concerned that if African Americans became equal to whites it would ruin society. Hester had similar problems because the Boston Bay Colony shunned and chastised her for not having the perfect appearance and behavior the town wanted. Her sin ruined the ideals of having a “city upon a hill”, which was one of the core beliefs of Puritan society, although it refused to acknowledge the other sinners around them."We are not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world. There is one worse than even the polluted priest! That old man's revenge has been blacker than my sin. He has violated, in cold blood, the sanctity of a human heart" (Hawthorne 153), Dimmesdale stated, showing that some sins were ignored by the community. The KKK also believed that any interaction with an African American would scar anyone's reputation, and the appearance of whites in general. Society always wants to be seen as perfect, people alone and as a whole, and some people will go to extreme lengths if they believe their perfect persona is ravaged.

After MLK gave his “I have a Dream…” speech, members of the KKK were outraged and loathed the man leading the Civil Rights movement. They did not believe that African Americans deserved the equality the King was preaching, and this made them furious. MLK's speech was one of the most moving discourse Americans had the opportunity to listen to. “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood,” (Americanrhetoric.com). All King spoke of was peace and love between races, which is something everyone should strive to have as an ideal. But the KKK used this to fuel their hatred and the hatred of those who agreed with their beliefs. In contrast, Hester’s actions which caused the Protestant public to be upset with her were more selfish decisions than one to bring peace and equality though the races. No matter what they were being berated for, both used their criticisms to help them progress as individuals.

MLK’s biggest opponent would definitely be all the racists that lived in the U.S. Groups like the KKK harassed and threatened MLK, but he continued to make his mark with his amazingly tranquil lecturing ability. He used their threats and hatred against them, using them as examples on how not to be as a person, and how hate was irrational when it came down to race. He used their loathing towards him to his advantage, and spreading his beliefs of harmony, though his peaceful marches and moving speeches. Hester also carried herself with strength after being judged based on the letter on her chest. She stayed in the town to show that she would not flee from her tormentors, that she will go through her life dealing with the consequences of her actions. Through this she bettered herself as a person, using her humility to become a stronger woman who was able to be completely independent. Both scapegoat had opponents that harassed and judged them due to their actions, and they used this to strengthen and drive them through their lives. Unfortunately, MLK’s incredible speech and his leadership in the Civil Rights movement, inevitably lead him to his demise.

A man who fought so fearlessly with his words and used his placid nature to move mountains, was shot in cold blood for fighting for what he believed in.

A man name James Earl Ray shot and killed Martin Luther King out of pure hatred for the man doing so much good in the world. Even though MLK was killed, his dream carried on, and his people began to gain equality and segregation soon became a thing of the past. “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood,” (Americanrhetoric.com). Although it took time and hard work, MLK’s dream of peace and brotherhood was finally reached. The loss of MLK definitely fired up those involved in the Civil Rights movement, and helped them push through to their goals. Even though he lost his life in the process, surely he would be very prideful for his accomplishments, and will surely never be

forgotten.
That fateful day in April, America lost one of its most valiant and cordial heros. A man who fought for the rights of his people, and equality for all, in the most sincere way possible. His peaceful protests and speeches that electrified the nation will never be forgotten, and he will remain a part of history forever. He is easily one of the most memorable scapegoats in history, and this was due to the hate he received for the betterment of mankind by teaching everyone to respect each other. He and Hester both were very sturdy individuals in the way of which that they took their harassment, although what they were being harassed for differed between the two in how they affected society. Throughout history there have been many honorable scapegoats who have been treated wrongly and have come to an untimely demise, it is rather unfortunate that Martin Luther King has to be one.