Talk of the Town

By Taxpayers

July 11, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

Never saw this coming, huh? While they allow the King Center to go into disrepair and attempt to extort more money from the taxpayers to foot the bill they enrich themselves. A real shocker!

By Kiljoy

July 11, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

The children of MLK Jr are a disgrace to his name and his legacy. They apparently are a group of lazy, greedy failures. Please give them as money as possible provided they agreee to move to a foreign country and never be heard from again.

By Tonaya

July 11, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

The King’s Family dispute over finance management and converting money, This would really hurt their family history if this is going on. Family court has to step in.

By Interested

July 11, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Why don’t the King children just all go get a job and stop living off the backs of everyone else, they have had enough of our money and it is now long overdue that they go punch a clock just like the rest of us. They are all so use to riding on the coat tails of everyone for so long they don’t want to let go. Well to bad so sad.

By Shiny Cobalt Blue Gumz

July 11, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

What a bunch of clowns…..does anybody take them seriously anymore. They’re about as relevant as Jesse Jackson now.

By Rolling over in his Grave

July 11, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

I know this is not what Dr. King envisioned for his children - I think his first grandchild was just born recently - siblings fighting over money, power and whatever else - I am very disappointed in them and I don’t see where they have made a positive impact on the community, black or otherwise - The King Center is a huge, internationally renown tourist attraction but going there is like watching paint dry - there’s not much to it - it’s anti-climactic - the kids deserve much of the blame for this - what happened to grabbing the torch and carrying on the legacy and making Daddy and Mommy proud?

By ELLE

July 11, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

Sad… no different than any other family. A break down of relationships.

Could be greed, arrogance, just being a stubborn “sibling”.

None the less it is sad when family relationships break down and the courts have to intervene.

By Jodi

July 11, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Sad, but not surprised…

By BAD NEWS!

July 11, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Hello, is anyone paying attention. Correction! These are not kids BUT grown adults between the ages of 45 and 50 years old, acting like kids.

By Diva

July 11, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

I don’t wish to judge, but I’m going to have to assume that maybe the kids are carrying a torch they really don’t wish to do and maybe that’s why it appears that haven’t accomplished mush and lived up to the Dream. It was their Dad who had the Dream and it’s possible the burden to carry out that Dream is too much for the kids. I would have to imagine that if it were me, I would want to set a good example for the legacy my famous Dad began. But it’s not me and I’m not walking in their shoes. I am hopeful that the granddaughter will be the one to lead the charge to renew the King vision and dream…PEACE (and look for the good)…

By Rich

July 11, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

LOL. TYPICAL

By todd

July 11, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

I’m actually enjoying it. It will soon be reaching “Springer” status. Next week… Bernice shares a secret.

By S Chance

July 11, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

Everyone has their 2 cents about what the Kings should or should not do - they are a family like any other - they were thrust into the spotlight a decision their mother and father made - not them - also - what taxpayer money is the King center being given? is it part of the same funds that the Carter center, and the Clinton library have access to? I’m sure their buildings aren’t in disrepair! They don’t owe me, you or America a thing or a dime! They gave the ulimate sacrifice - their father and a normal childhood!

By WTH

July 11, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

News flash - the descendants of a famous / wealthy family, having been coddled and spoiled since they were young enough to crawl, squander their inherited legacy / fortune for their own petty ends. How is this any different than the Kennedys, the Bushes, the Hiltons, the Carnegies, etc.?

By v63sfo

July 11, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

I’m sure you people are “so” concerned about King’s legacy. Get back to your drink.

By Jeffisgoofingoff

July 11, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

Come on kids, make your daddy proud.

By C.M. Thornton, III

July 11, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this

Kings true legacy. His on family is made up of thieves and common thugs. No one should be surprised they will steal from each other. White man keep a brother down? Nah…look closer to home.

By Derick

July 11, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Well this goes to show. That even the King’s have problems when it comes to the changing of the guards. Could it be that by acting in a fraudulent manner, Bernise and Martin III’s hands have been forced. As a Coorporation, certain activity can be illegal. The question we must ask is why did this happen in the first place. Are egos and stubbornness to blame. They have been battling for a while and its really sad that inability to come together and join hands seems to be missing from Dr. Kings very own bloodline legacy. Really really sad

By Jack ATL

July 11, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

This is what happens to little ‘snowflakes’ when they never have to work as kids, and lead a pampered life on the coat tails and backs of their parents. They end up with life skills consisting of greed, selfishness, and jealously! SAD.

By jr

July 11, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

well since you are pizzing money away left and right, I am 2 weeks from living in the street, can you help a white single mom out?

By Excuse Me?

July 11, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

What fortune have they squandered - what inheritance did their father leave? People talk what you know - not what you think or what the AJC would lead you to believe and also don’t allow the bad judgment of one sibling to represent them all! Check your facts - all of them work or have worked except Dexter - no one draws a salary from the King Center but DEXTER SCOTT KING..public record…

By Preshana Price-Cox

July 11, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this

Many have stated that the King children don’t work. That’s not true. Berniece is a lawyer and a preacher. Yolanda was an actress. I really feel that Yolanda and Martin tried to to discuss this with Dexter and he didn’t communicate with me. His siblings have a right to this information. If it was my parents I would want to know. I pray that Dexter will cooperate and this lawsuit will be dropped.

By Jack ATL

July 11, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this

Which one will Jesse Jackson side with you ask? The one with the money of course!!

By Terry

July 11, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this

I say that its about time that they took steps to unseat Dexter. He’s clearly run the King vision into the ground since he took over after Coretta Scott. Its regretable that they have to sue him to unglue his greedy, money grubbing fingers from the reigns — but whatever it takes! Sometimes drastic steps are necessary to unseat absolute wrong.

Hopefully Martin III and Bernice can steer their parents immense legacies back to where it should be — LORD LIFT US UP WHERE WE BELONG!

By GM

July 11, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this

Dear “Taxpayer”: The National Park Service is responsible for and owns all of the property in and around the King Center. The Center is NOT a part of the estate. The estate involves intellectual and personal property of Dr. King, including his writings. You’d probably know this if you’ve ever visited the King Center, but my guess is that you haven’t.

By TC

July 11, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this

Bernice and Martin Luther King Jr will do anything to stay in the news. They did not receive alot of attention with the baby so now this. GO AWAY THE WORLD IS SICK OF YOU TWO.

By joeybagodoghnuts

July 11, 2008 8:59 PM | Link to this

Tax payers foot their bills every day, he lives in Malibu? I thought that the King’s business was here at the monument, how much are they going to coin off of the new center being built in Washington. What a joke, a waste of money.

By Rob Vinson

July 11, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this

The King heirs need to quit extorting money from the City of Atlanta and the Federal Government and need to go out and work for a living. They shoud all be ashamed of how they have turned out. Their parents would be very disappointed.

By joeybagodoghnuts

July 11, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this

Answer to terrible blog from WTH, the Hilton’s, Bush’s, and Kennedy’s families all have made money in business, not off of the exploitation of the Civil Right Movement. All the King’s money comes from Uncle Sam. There is no way they could ever run a company, look at how much they have screwed up so for.

By James

July 11, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this

You’re right, v63sfo, I don’t care about Dr. King’s legacy because none of the people he preached to and about want to try to help themselves - especially his children. Just blame da white man and anybody else but themselves for all their problems. And yes, I do need to get back to my drink. It was getting watered down wasting time reading this AJC article.

By Graham

July 11, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this

The King family from my understanding were not rich, Famous yes, rich no. This is a family like any other. Yhey have their problems. All three siblings should be aware of the business regarding the estate. If Dexter has nothing to hide and everything is legal, than why isn’t he willing to show his brother and sister the books? The estate and legacy does not belong to Dexter only. It seems like they exhausted all other avenues before going to court in an effort to get needed answers. I hope that one day people can evaluate a situation without resorting to name calling and making statements that you don’t know to be true. Afterall, how many of you really know this family. Put away the unfair judgments and jealousy.

By JBInsider

July 11, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this

The Federal taxpayer contribution to the KIng National Historic District, including the park site, is approaching or has reached $100,000,000 over the past two decades. That figure does not include around $15,000,000 of taxpayer monies given to the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change - the family - as an operational stipend. Beginning in 2004, that stipend was raised to $1,000,000 annually. Given these resources and the potential they have fostered over the years, the family’s squandering of so many opportunities to celebrate their father’s legacy is appalling, if not bordering on criminal.

By ernestine willingham

July 11, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

Just know that the Kings are human just like everyone else. All families have problems. They just happen to be the children of Martin Luther King Jr. and everyone think they should be perfect. All of you need to stop pointing fingers, and tend to your own business. Someone stated that they should get a job. They all have jobs. It is a job just being the children of Martin Luther King Jr. If they were all perfect you people would have something to say about that. Dexeter could have eliminated all of this by just sharing info with his sister and brother. Maybe he is hiding something. Just let them handle their business. To the white single mom, go ask Bush for help.

By BT fan

July 11, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

Dexter got a small share of the wealth compared to other ADVISERS and CONSULANTS…Its a forest to have this kind of money and wealth misplaced by a greedy family and associates… “As King Family Turns”

By IOTH

July 11, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this

HEY WTH - I WILL TELL YOU HOW IT IS DIFFERENT THAN ALL THE RICH WHITE FAMILIES YOU NAMED - THEY HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL HAVE THEIR MONEY. THEY DON’T FIGHT OVER MONEY IN PUBLIC.

By Fresh Prince of Bel Air

July 12, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this

Martin, met you while we were waiting to board a flight in Pittsburgh February 1, 2001, I think, handed you some impromptu thoughts written down on napkins and you were kind enough to take a picture with me once we landed in Atlanta. Dexter, you signed a copy of your book (Growing Up King) for me at The Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore during your book tour. The picture and book continue to rest on my dresser at home serving as a reminder “to never forget” the sacrifice that so many made so that I may have a better life. It also feels me with a sorta’ kindred spirit, as I’m sure many others feel the same sense for a myriad of reasons. Bernice, I’ve never experienced a personal encounter with you, however I’m sure you’re as affable as your brothers, but let me say to all three of you, I’ve always held the King family in high regard and I will continue to do so. I’m not here to judge but I would be remissed if I didn’t say, “I’m saddened to see this matter play out in the courts and in the court of public opinion. I kinda’ wish you were poor right about now, because if you were you would settle your disputes like the rest of us, at home around the dinner table with family or on the basketball court in the backyard, instead of in the court house.” Couldn’t you have called Nelson (Mandela) to settle this sibling quabble?

By jackieo

July 12, 2008 12:12 AM | Link to this

Please go away the world is sick of you.

By Understand a probate mess

July 12, 2008 12:42 AM | Link to this

Too bad the King children can’t live a “normal” life, but it just goes to show you as my family is going thru Probate “mess” with suppose to be “Family”. We all will read about a billion opinions but the bottom line is…”It’s your way and there’s my way but it’s the “RIGHT WAY”..Bernice and Martin III, “I feel ya”. Stay strong in making things right, and for all who haven’t experienced a death in the family, no matter who it is…just wait…family “changes” when relatives die..no matter if you’re famous or not.

You have my prayers and support..I understand.

By cpwood

July 12, 2008 5:54 AM | Link to this

The difference is that all these families had businesses. There legacy was determined by industry, not by the Federal Government making payments to them.

By David

July 12, 2008 6:26 AM | Link to this

Damn Shame MLK and CSK are turning over in their respective graves….This is ignorant…and I am a black man!

By D

July 12, 2008 6:29 AM | Link to this

Disgrace to all involved. Also, Shirley Franklin should face up to the problem of paying over 32 million to the King family then getting rid of firemen and policemen. She is a major problem, but the media isn’t making her face the music.

By David

July 12, 2008 6:34 AM | Link to this

The King Center looks like crap and there is a dispute over CAAAAASSSHHH?? Ridiculous!!! The MLK/CSK cash should have went to the King center in the first place, not those lazy children of his…. as if we (Black People) are not stereo-typed enough…sheeesh!

By Sportsman

July 12, 2008 6:45 AM | Link to this

How about get a job and move on?

By David

July 13, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

The King siblings are acting like kids because the are “professional children”. What has any of them done to promote their father’s dream other than have a last name? They talk about how their lives are under a microscope. No, not really, this is just where they have kept their lives. I’ve looked at their lives and one thing I cannot find is a JOB! What do they do for a living except collect a check from their father’s foundation after they sold HIS intellectual property. Atlanta needs to break off its’ dysfunctional relationship with this bunch of losers. We owe Dr. King respect and support for his dreams. We owe these three freeloaders NOTHING. They are responsible for trying to pull a good man down, not lift him up. I have a dream also….greed and arrogance does not make a life…hard work and commitment does. My father died when I was a teenager. I’ve worked my entire life and I’ve help lots of other people. Did I miss something?

David