Martin Luther King, Jr. was a clergyman, tireless activist, civil rights leader… mountain mover.  He even became the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (back when they gave Peace Prizes for real, hard-fought accomplishments).  And wherever he traveled he generated big crowds.  Nothing could compare to the crowd assembled at the National Mall in 1963 for the March on Washington.  King would deliver his famous speech and four words would ring in history forever:  ”I Have a Dream.”

My book Hollywood on the Potomac, chronicles many historic moments when Hollywood took a stand on the biggest political issues of the day — from World War 2 to Iraq, International Relief to Civil Rights.  In 1963, it was stars such as Marlon Brando, Paul Newman and Harry Belafonte at the Lincoln Memorial with Dr. King.

Actor Marlon Brando at the Civil Rights ‘March on Washington’ (to his right are playwright James Baldwin and actor Charlton Heston).  Brando also participated in the ‘freedom rides,’ protests that publicly tested segregation court decisions in the South.  After the death of Martin Luther King Jr., Brando scrapped his upcoming movie telling The Joey Bishop Show, ”I felt I’d better go find out… what it is to be black in this country; what this rage is all about.” (more…)

I am appalled.  I just found out that I am a racist and a coward and I did not know it.

Eric Holder said yesterday, “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.”

How could I have been so self-deluded?

Wow.  I know, huh?  The things you find out about yourself if you just listen to newly appointed/elected government officials.  (more…)

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