The Rev. Bernice King, daughter of the late Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King Jr. took to her Twitter throughout the day of celebration in father's honor to shine a light on her mother's achievements and remind people of how America really treated the late Civil Rights leader.
An activist and minister herself, Bernice often uses her social media to unpack King family myths, in particular, one that her father was heavily revered, when in fact, he was being extensively surveilled by the FBI and did not garner as much support from either side of the racial spectrum as many would like to believe today.
The CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change has also used tweets to point out social justice flaws, such as the time she mocked the Pepsi ad featuring Kendall Jenner.
"If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi," King's second-youngest child wrote in a 2017 tweet.
If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi. pic.twitter.com/FA6JPrY72V
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) April 5, 2017
However, on Jan. 17 and 18, her Twitter focused on reflecting her parent's legacy, for which she carries.
"Thinking of my mother. She persisted, even when several men from the movement advised her to stay home with her children. She founded @TheKingCenter 3 months after Daddy was assassinated and worked to realize King Holiday. And she was a global leader. #CorettaScottKing," she tweeted.
Thinking of my mother. She persisted, even when several men from the movement advised her to stay home with her children. She founded @TheKingCenter 3 months after Daddy was assassinated and worked to realize King Holiday. And she was a global leader. #CorettaScottKing
#MLKDay
pic.twitter.com/Y0sUHC1fyG— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 17, 2021
Bernice also pointed out people have used her father to counter the Black Lives Matter movement.
Instead of using my father to criticize the #BlackLivesMatter movement, use his words and teachings to enact legislation, establish policies, and engage in practices that reflect Black lives mattering.
Because, as #MLK said:
“True peace…is the presence of justice.”#MLKDay
pic.twitter.com/D7Gwt5d2PJ— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 17, 2021
She also referenced the Jan. 6 domestic terrorism attacks and alleged plans of new attacks in Washington, D.C.
How telling that, in the United States, groups of mostly white people are planning armed anti-democracy action in defense of white nationalism and white slave-holder “Christian” supremacy on #MLKDay.
“America, you must be born again!” #MLK
pic.twitter.com/JeL8V7vs9m— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 18, 2021
She then reminded folks that her father was not the beloved person many reflect on him as today.
Please don’t act like everyone loved my father. He was assassinated. A 1967 poll reflected that he was one of the most hated men in America. Most hated. Many who quote him now and evoke him to deter justice today would likely hate, and may already hate, the authentic King. #MLK
pic.twitter.com/yGdQXL5MJ3— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 18, 2021
Bernice also shared an old family photo of the Kings having dinner.
Dinner with Kings. Miss you. #MLK
#CorettaScottKing ???? pic.twitter.com/cYKE29buJq— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 18, 2021
Then there was this reminder for politicians to get the facts straight before posting their King tributes.
Dear politicians/political influencers:
When you tweet about my father’s birthday, remember that he was resolute about eradicating racism, poverty & militarism.
Encourage & enact policies that reflect your birthday sentiments.
Here’s the authentic #MLK:pic.twitter.com/eCJWCVnD1k
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 15, 2021
She, of course, also encouraged someone to increase their level of Dr. King knowledge.
I encourage you to study my father more comprehensively and to attend @TheKingCenter’s virtual sessions on his nonviolent philosophy and his work to eradicate racism, war and poverty. A powerful book to start with is his last one, ‘Where Do We Go From Here…’ #MLK
#MLKDay
https://t.co/KVAJBg3SQ0— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 18, 2021
She honored her late mother for being the architect behind her father's legacy.
As you honor my father today, please honor my mother, as well. She was the architect of the King Legacy and founder of @TheKingCenter, which she founded less than three months after Daddy died. Without #CorettaScottKing, there would be no #MLKDay. #MLK
#BelovedCommunity
pic.twitter.com/cLvgTjeUwE— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 18, 2021
And she beamed with pride as others followed suit honoring Scott King as well.
I love that #CorettaScottKing is trending on #MLKDay. ???????? pic.twitter.com/8cfqDN4zmy
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 18, 2021
