First, I must confess
that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have
almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride
toward freedom is not the White citizens’ “Councilor” or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white
moderate who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the
absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says “I agree
with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direst action” who
paternistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth
of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.” Shallow
understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from
people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection. …
First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White citizens’ “Councilor” or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direst action” who paternistically feels that he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection. …
MLK was right