KCMO Morning Show Blog

A remarkable point is made in this story today from the Associated Press about Martin Luther King Jr. The very people that use his name to score points or bolster their stand on an issue ironically do his legacy more harm.

Our thanks to listener Nancy who alerted us to some very well written letters to the editor in Sunday's Kansas City Star. Couldn't say it better ourselves.

Race, KC politics
I am convinced we will continue to have racial tensions in this city. That is, if black political activists masquerading as ministers keep up their tactics of intimidation.

When will the African-American community tell the Kansas City school board that enough is enough? Ever since I came to this town more than 30 years ago, that school board has been a disgrace and a laughingstock. Hiring and firing. Hiring and firing.

And now the Rev. Nelson “Fuzzy” Thompson and his ilk are trying to strong arm the mayor into complying with their political agenda (1/16, Local, “SCLC leader threatens boycott; Charles Steele Jr. calls for all civil rights organizations to stay out of Kansas City if Funkhouser doesn’t fire Semler”). I say, let the Southern Christian Leadership Conference take its bigotry elsewhere.

Abraham Reddekopp
Kansas City

I am quite disturbed by the direction taken with the statements used by many to support Wayne Cauthen. Many of these supporting statements start off with a comment complaining about Mayor Mark Funkhouser trying to fire “Wayne Cauthen, the first black/African-American city manager.”

Excuse me, but I thought people should be judged by their actions, not the color of their skin. If we as a society are ever going to bridge the racial divide, we need to eliminate the racial overtones in both directions and start looking at people based on their qualifications.
Unfortunately, any arguments supporting Cauthen because of his proven job performance have been overshadowed by those who are complaining the loudest about the firing of “an African- American” by pulling conventions, etc.

Many of the statements supporting Wayne Cauthen are clearly racially motivated. I simply cannot understand why, when African-Americans espouse racial bigotry, it is acceptable — even encouraged — in a society where we are supposed to be racially unbiased.
The “race card” has two faces, and it is about time that the African-American leaders and groups representing African-Americans understand that taking racist stands and espousing racial bigotry in support of African-Americans undermines their efforts to eliminate racially motivated actions against them.

Rob Stitt
Lee’s Summit

We finally have a mayor willing to look beyond downtown, including the inner city, and the NAACP and Southern Christian Leadership Conference have a meltdown over Frances Semler and Wayne Cauthen. When does intimidation ever have a positive outcome? I’m hoping common sense will make a comeback and our black community sees the possibilities.

Karol Grutz
Kansas City