King believes racism can be eradicated

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- The son of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is optimistic that racism can be stopped. "I do believe that within my lifetime ... that we can for the most part

Thursday, January 27th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- The son of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is optimistic that racism can be stopped. "I do believe that within my lifetime ... that we can for the most part wipe out racism," Martin Luther King III said Wednesday night during an informal question and answer session before his speech at Oklahoma State University.

King, who is from Atlanta, said he wanted to see society work toward ending poverty and violence. He said the question has moved from civil rights to human rights. He said no one's rights should be violated. King said school curriculums and social attitudes must change before more progress can be made against racism. "In our institutions for higher learning, we learn our history from a Western, primarily European perspective," King said. "I think that it's very important that the history curriculum be expanded so that when you study history, you're studying the history of all the people that make up the population of our nation."

King said the process of educating about other groups should be full-time. He said it is impossible to teach the cultural contributions of any group in a matter of days. He said intensive diversity and sensitivity training is also a must in higher education if the racial picture is to change. "America talks diversity but America does not embrace diversity," he said. "There are 250 plus sites on the Internet that are dedicated toward hatred. In 2000, that's a very sad commentary for this nation."

King said people who are aware racism is wrong are obliged to set an example. "Men and women of goodwill must come forward and be critical and condemn that kind of behavior," he said. "And also say that we are not going to tolerate this in our environment. We will not allow this monster to grow and fester." King was asked if low turnout at Martin Luther King events on campus signaled that civil rights was a dead issue. He said the size of a crowd isn't what matters. "It really is always just a few good women and men who create change. ... The change never came from masses," he said.