RSS Feed
Newsletter
MLK’s Youngest Son Calls His Siblings’ Lawsuit Ludicrous
July 14th, 2008He said he was stunned that his sister and brother were taking him to court
(L-to-R: Dexter, Bernice, Martin Luther King III)
The youngest son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said Saturday that he was “blindsided” by the lawsuit filed by his brother and sister, accusing him of pocketing money from his parents’ estate. “It totally blindsided me,” Dexter Scott King told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution of the suit filed against him by Martin Luther King III and Bernice King. “I think maybe it was a reckless attempt to express their grievances. They are false claims, and I will be addressing that accordingly.” Specifically, the lawsuit, filed in Atlanta on Thursday, accuses Dexter of mishandling funds from King Inc., hiding documents from his siblings and taking money out of the Coretta Scott King estate. At the center of the controversy are millions in King family assets, including some $32 million in contributions from the city of Atlanta to acquire 10,000 pages of Martin Luther King’s writings and other documents. It’s not the first time that the children of the slain civil rights leader and the late Coretta Scott King have been at odds regarding the King Center in Atlanta and the handling of their parents’ estate and legacies. Dexter and Bernice, who sit on the board of the King Center, say they want Dexter, who is President of King Inc., to convene the board. “He owes Martin and Bernice an accounting of what has happened with all of the money,” said Jock Smith, the attorney representing Martin III and Bernice. “We’re trying to get an accounting as to the financing and well-being of the estate. The way to do that is to get records, books and accounting.” Said Dexter, speaking to the Journal-Constitution from his home in the Los Angeles community of Malibu, “We are private family. It is a private business matter, you know, a family dispute, if you will. It’s probably blown out of proportion, but until I’ve had a chance to thoroughly review the complaint, it’s just kind of difficult for me to address it.”
Ya’ll know your mother and father wouldn’t have allowed nothing like that. I know money can change people but your father did to much for all of us for you to be bring each other to court he had a dream and I know that wasn’t in it.
Ya’ll know your mother and father wouldn’t have allowed nothing like that. I know money can change people but your father did to much for all of us for you to be bring each other to court he had a dream and I know that wasn’t in it.
My my my…….no amount of money is worth a family feuding…..think about your mom and dad and put yourselfs together.
Money isn’t the root of all evil. “THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF EVIL”.
They should be smacked in their faces. That’s why it is very important to have a Will of Estate, A Living Will, and a Distribution list of all funds from all businesses. There is no way that people should be fighting over things as such and especially when your parents are the epitome of th Civil Rights Movement. It just doesn’t make any sense. I don’t think a lawsuit should have been filed but I think they should have received a court order to find out where the funds went. Shame Shame Shame.
You must remember these are people who haven’t earned any of this money, these are people who are greed driven and feel entitled. My Dad went to Morehouse with Marty III and he was dumbs as a brick yet driving around in his TR7 sports car. This is not the first published report of the King kids fighting over money.
I think it’s safe to say that when your father is great or loved by many, because he was just “your father”, you have a tendency to take it for granted, or not have the same appreciation that others have of him. I think that the King siblings look at their lives as a birth right but do not understand the full responsibility of that birth right which is to uphold their father’s legecy with the utmost integrity and safekeeping.
This is so stereotypical of the black race. Fighting in the media over money is tragic, especially for this family. If the foundation money was misappropriated or is missing, that’s of their own doing by not setting up a board like most foundations have. It’s just a matter of handling business the right way. There is no reason why Dexter should have had access to the money like that.
Let’s get it together King siblings. This is embarrassing to all of us and I’m sure it would have been just as sad for your parents.
It is amazing that the majority of our ‘Black People” do not listen effectively. After reading all the messages above, I wonder what planet these people have been living on. First, Dexter gained access while working along with his mother Mrs. King. After her passing, he has made decisions without consulting other famity members. Martin III and Bernice have quietly expressed they’re concerns for quite some time. Preserving the King Legacy is and should be first priority. Whether it’s family, a friend or a business associate, it ain’t personal “it’s just BUSINESS”!!! I just hope Martin III and Bernice did not wait to long.
WHY DO THIS FAMILY HAVE TO ARGUE ABOUT MONEY IN THE PUBLIC EYE? THIS IS A PRIVATE FAMILY MATTER AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN PRIVATE. HOW COULD THEY ARGUE ABOUT MONEY WHEN THEIR FATHER’S DREAM WAS PEACE. THIS IS A MESSAGE TO THE FAMILY PLEASE WORK THIS OUT IN PRIVATE BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS IF THEY ARE GIVING THE WHITE MAN EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. YOU KNOW THEY ARE SAYING HOW COULD THEIR FATHER WANT PEACE WHEN HIS OWN CHILDREN CAN’T FIND PEACE BETWEEN THEMSELVES… I PRAY THEY END THIS SOON! SO EMBARRASSING!
Whats even crazy is that this family is taking each other to court! Aint anybody read the part in the bible where it says its a shame to take ya brother and sister to court! Man what about love!?????????????
PEACE BE STILL
we’re all sinners,we all fall short of the glory of god.pray for them like you would yourself.
Money is not the root of all evil. The love of money is. Money is a bear necessity
Money is not the root of all evil. The love of money is. Money is a bear necessity. God is not the author of confusion.
WOW ……HOPE THEY GET IT TOGETHER. LETS LOVE GOD PEOPLE!!!
I hope they find it in their hearts to forgive each other, I know Dr.and mrs. King can’t be happy that their children is acting like this. I know family’s has their ups and downs, but don’t put it out in the streets for everyone to see. make your parents prove and stop all this fighting over money. Remember money is the root of all evil.
They know better than to do something like this. There parents hearts will be broken. I can’t believe this. In my opinion this shouldn’t even be addressed this in public,because this is a family issue not a world wide issue. I feel bad for the whole family. Martin Luther King raised them better than that. And no offense because I’m not racist, but I know these white folks are having a field day with this.
listen all, i am strongly dissapointed in the kind of examples this family is bringing to the public. Even if there is something of this nature, can’t you also sought it out within the members of the family? i feel ashamed of myself and it’s a disgrace to the religion.
This is rediculous that a family could take their brother to court for public hearing all because of money which someone else has worked for………. i have never seen any pictures of this family before until now. You people better know were you came from.
they should not be against each other they should work together as one that is just as shame that they are going threw this right now I really hope that they work things out.
omg..why are all the black people fighting.they need to get it together..they dont practice wat their father taught the world..bullshit…..Black power needs an increase.lets makes a change..juss a thought