Before they do battle on January 29, undefeated junior welterweight stars Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander took time to reflect on the legacy of a man who’s influenced both their lives, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As an African-American, and one of the main forces behind the Civil Rights movement, Devon Alexander (21-0, 13 KOs) believes Dr. King will always have an exalted status in the black community. But he sees the non-violent, civil disobedience King used as unifying stance that’s made him into a revered, transcendent figure over 40 years after his assassination.
“Martin Luther King was legendary. Without him, I don’t believe things would be like they are today,” Alexander explained. “We might still be struggling for basic equality. He was a major figure in the black community. He taught non-violence and tried to make peace between people. No drama. He just wanted to bring people together. All Americans should be proud of who he was and what he stood for. It made him a world figure, a historical figure.”
On a personal level, Alexander credits King’s legacy with instilling him with racial pride while growing up in a tough St. Louis neighborhood.
“His influence on me in particular is that I remember him telling black people to be proud and not to be ashamed of who you are,” he continued. “It sounds simple, and it is, but it’s also very important. He always said everybody should be treated equally. I like all races and people and believe in equality. No man should get better treatment simply based on their race or color, and I think Dr. King taught me that in the words he wrote, the way he spoke and the way he led people.”
Despite King’s favorable reputation now, the Atlanta-based freedom fighter was not popular in mainstream America at the time of his death. King took a hardline stance against America’s involvement in Vietnam, comparing it to European colonialism. Those comments resulted in him losing support from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration, and in many media outlets. In addition, King begun focusing his efforts on poverty and class issues afflicting all races of people through his “Poor People’s Campaign.” When he was murdered in Memphis on April 4, 1968, King had been in town to support black sanitation workers on strike to receive higher wage and better treatment.
Dr. King’s fearlessness in the latter years of his life is what Timothy Bradley (26-0, 11 KOs) dubs his “warrior mentality.” While King never renounced his non-violence theory, Bradley cautions that King’s work should never be confused with passive acceptance of the status quo, or reluctance to give voice to unpopular political and economic beliefs.
“Martin Luther King was a realist, a man who had a dream to stop slavery and give all people equal freedom. He stood by his beliefs. He was a warrior with a warrior mentality,” Bradley proclaimed. “He did not take ‘no’ for an answer and because of his determination, he was unfortunately taken from the people that he freed. Due to what he accomplished, I have had opportunities that I might not otherwise have had today, and I am grateful for the freedom that he not only gave me, but all the other African-Americans living in this United States of America today.”
With the MLK holiday just a few weeks shy of February’s Black History Month, Bradley revealed that he uses King’s day as a beginning point each year for community service in his household.
“My family and I celebrate Martin Luther King Day all the way through February by joining together with the community at certain celebrations to honor Black History Month,” he detailed. “It is our distinct pleasure and honor to be there in remembrance of one of the greater leaders in our time, Dr. Martin Luther King.”
Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander will meet on January 29. The winner will become the unified WBC and WBO 140 pound champion.
This year, Dr. Martin Luther King would have turned 82 years old.
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