Martin Luther King Jr. and Bedford Stuyvesant
Researching Martin Luther King Jr.’s connection with Brooklyn, we discovered that on May 29, 1966, he gave a 45-minute speech at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bedford Stuyvesant called “Guidelines for a Constructive Church.” Here’s an excerpt from the text: You see, the church is not a social club, although some people think it is….
Researching Martin Luther King Jr.’s connection with Brooklyn, we discovered that on May 29, 1966, he gave a 45-minute speech at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bedford Stuyvesant called “Guidelines for a Constructive Church.” Here’s an excerpt from the text:
You see, the church is not a social club, although some people think it is. They get caught up in their exclusivism, and they feel that it’s a kind of social club with a thin veneer of religiosity, but the church is not a social club. The church is not an entertainment center, although some people think it is. You can tell in many churches how they act in church, which demonstrates that they think it’s an entertainment center. The church is not an entertainment center. Monkeys are to entertain, not preachers.
This quotation is pretty interesting in light of what an important role the church has played in Bedford Stuyvesant over the past four decades since he gave the speech. The history of this particular church is quite interesting as well.
Founded in 1917, the church started out at 933 Dekalb Avenue before moving to 688 Dekalb in 1929 and then, three years later, to the corner of Gates and Irving. In 1944, the congregation ponied up $29,000 to buy the Lewis Avenue Congregational Church at 562 Madison Street and another $28,000 to renovate it. We don’t know when the church itself was built. Anyone?
We were unable to find other connections between MLK and Brooklyn. Anyone know of any?
Church History [Cornerstone Baptist Church] GMAP
MLK Inventory [Stanford University]
Guidelines for a Constructive Church [Stanford University]
That’s it for today. Full posting resumes tomorrow.
How do you “eliminate the inequity” of “distribution of goods among blacks and whites in our society”? A grant to all blacks? Not all blacks are poor. Heck, the CEO of Merrill Lynch is black. Sweeping generalizations and calls for some sort of wealth redistribution will not solve or help the situation.
Simple 2:41. I believe the poster at 1:17 is troubled by the unequal distribution of goods among blacks and whites in our society, which leaves blacks as a group disadvantaged when it comes to competing for real estate that is sought after by whites. Eliminate the inequity, eliminate the racism. I don\’t think the poster at 1:17 had more than this in mind, but he can correct me if I\’m wrong.
To 1:17PM, let me see if I have this straight. If black people are discouraged from moving into a white neighborhood, that is racist, right? But if you discourage/resent white people moving into a black neighborhood that is–racist too?? Would it help if they were poor white trash who could not help to improve the neighborhood? I thought Dr King preached against racism, can you clear this up for me?
king was about social justice. whatever that would mean in bedford stuyvesant, clinton hill (still majority black despite what some might hope) and fort greene, is simply what it is.
Thank you for this post as a way to commemorate the memory of Martin Luther King, Mr. B. And what a beautiful, meaningful quote you chose.
Can we just avoid talking about these facts, 1:17PM? It’s just too awkward, and besides, people who are as white and as wealthy as us shouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable about anything.
He spoke at Plymouth Church on Orange Street in Brooklyn Heights in 1963, and delivered a rough draft of his “I have a dream” speech.
I would say the congregation heeded Dr. King’s message. The church has been an important social and economic force in that community and has nurtured many key (and unsung) community leaders that have helped to stabilize and improve that portion of Bed-Stuy.
It’s a pity Dr. King is no longer with us. If he were alive today, he could help many of the people of color living in Bed Stuy and other Brooklyn neighborhoods pack up and get out in favor of wealthier, mostly white, home buyers. Moving is hard work. Always helps to have an extra set of hands.