Bernice King Gives David Banner a History Lesson on Her Father’s Views on Integration

Bernice King is setting the record straight on her father, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s, legacy after comedian and rapper David Banner had choice words about the civil rights leader’s ideals. But as you should already know by now, any questionable mention of MLK’s name is just another opportunity for his daughter to educate us all. Class is now in session!

It all started when Banner sat down for an interview with former NFL player Cam Newton on his “Funky Friday Podcast.” During the show, Banner argued that King’s actual dream has been largely misunderstood.

“Martin Luther King was sick of getting his a** beat on,” Banner said, referring to the civil rights leader’s non-violent principles. By the end of his life, Banner argued that King had completely transformed into a different man with ideals that closely resembled Malcolm X.

“The version of Martin Luther King that Black people love, I don’t think Martin Luther King liked him,” Banner told Newton. “If they could separate themselves, he wouldn’t like that dude.”

The comedian went as far as to claim that integration was one of King’s biggest regrets, citing the civil rights leader’s confession to Harry Belafonte shortly before his death. King allegedly said, “We have fought hard and long for integration, as I believe we should have, and I believe that we will win, but I have come to believe that we are integrating into a burning house. I’m afraid that America has lost the moral vision she may have had.”

Banner’s words quickly sparked debates online, and by the time the conversation reached Bernice King, she had to speak out. “I am one of the children of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that David Banner said would agree with his opinions about my father,” she began on social media. Then, she clarified the real message behind her father’s work.

“It is important to understand that Daddy’s goal was never assimilation or Black people simply being in the same spaces as White people,” she said in a statement.

King was a proud Black man who championed integration and warned against total assimilation. He rejected the idea that Black folks had to erase their cultural heritage and conform to white mainstream society. Instead, King’s teachings outline his views of a world where Black Americans have shared power, mutual respect and cultural pluralism in this country.

“His dream was never weak, about acquiescence to injustice, or centered on a colorblind society in which negative peace (void of justice) prevails,” Bernice went on to say. “His dream was that we would work together to rid our World House of the despair of poverty, the destruction of war, and the degradation of racism.”

After hearing all of the backlash, Banner responded in a separate video posted to his Instagram account. He rejected the idea that he was disrespecting Dr. King. Instead, he said his point was “if you froze anybody in time, and just spoke about that one part…. It’s the same system that y’all plotted to destroy,” he said. “My focus is on what they did to his image, how they manipulated his image the same way they did Jesus.”

Banner doubled down on his initial statement, saying he doesn’t think he made any mistakes on Newton’s podcast. Bernice King has yet to respond to Banner’s comments.