Public memory is how a nation remembers its past. It’s shown through acts of commemoration such as the dedication of statues, presidential proclamations, or national holidays. Memory can bind together the citizens of a nation through symbolism and pageantry. Conversely, it can also gloss over the legacies of important figures and moments. The deaths of King and Kennedy loom large in any misremembering of 1968. Though the two men had minimal interaction in their lifetimes, and what relationship they had was complicated, their assassinations during the same year marked a turning point. They occurred just prior to the rise of a staunch conservative ascendancy and liberal division that have continued to saturate American politics. King’s death left a hole in the moral leadership of the American left, while Kennedy’s death was the end of the optimism that defined the “Camelot”-style politics of the 1960s. For Americans to properly talk about what the nation is missing without those two figures would mean to fully reckon with the myriad of ways the United States has failed to uphold King’s dream and has ignored the words of Robert Kennedy’s campaign for president.
In the public imagination, King is the hero that everyone extols, but few uphold his ideals. During this year’s Super Bowl in February, a Dodge commercial for Ram trucks used part of King’s “Drum Major Instinct” sermon, which he gave in February 1968. Many people objected to the use of his words to sell trucks—especially since his sermon included a denunciation of consumer culture. But it is now commonplace to see King’s powerful image and voice, most notably in constant public use of choice sections of his “I Have a Dream” speech, in ways that have served to minimize his commitment to radical social justice. Recently, President Donald Trump’s proclamation commemorating the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination, stated, “It is not government that will achieve Dr. King’s ideals, but rather the people of this great country who will see to it that our Nation represents all that is good and true, and embodies unity, peace, and justice.” The statement ignores King’s repeated calls for the government to invest billions of dollars in a more aggressive and robust “War on Poverty” program, and for the federal government to support affirmative action programs.