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MLK’s Kids Continue to Battle
October 6th, 2008
MLK’s kids continue to battle.
The very public legal squabble among Dr. Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King’s three surviving children stands to scuttle a $1.4 million book deal. For the past several months, the King kids – Bernice and Martin Luther King III on one side and Dexter King on the other – have been battling in court over their parents’ estates. Martin and Bernice have filed lawsuits arguing that Dexter, who is president and chief executive officer of the estate, King, Inc., has mismanaged money from the estate and even tapped funding without authorization. Dexter has produced documentation he says proves that he has made no unauthorized withdrawals and that his siblings have gotten equal periodic allocations. In the latest incident, Penguin Group, the New York-based publisher, agreed to pay $1.2 million to King Inc., and another $200,000 to the Rev. Barbara Reynolds, who taped conversations with Coretta King before her death in January 2006. Now, Penguin has threatened to kill the contract and is demanding that the estate return a $300,000 advance unless it receives photos, personal writings and letters within seven business days. While Dexter signed the agreement with Penguin, the siblings are arguing over which documents and photos should go to the publisher. They also say that their mother no longer wanted to work with Reynolds, who was a longtime journalist before going into the ministry. Representatives for Dexter King say that he was well within his power to execute the contract and that he discussed the deal with his brother and sister before signing it. “He signed the contract, but that’s his job,” Craig Frankel, Dexter’s personal attorney, said. “No one questioned when they got their share of the sale from the King papers whether Dexter had the authority to sign a contract. Nobody complained when they got their millions.” But Jock Smith, an attorney for Bernice and Martin Luther King III, said they knew nothing of the book deal until they were asked to turn over the documents a few weeks ago. “This basically comes down to a situation where Dexter has done things on his own,” Smith said.
It’s amazing how Mrs. King held everyone together. Yolanda tried to be the big sis..think about it…she was probably stressed out from the younger sibs. Many families squabble..yes money can be the root of all evil..but to squabble in public is disgraceful.
I would hope that they would settle privately-but this is what money does if you let it…and they eventually buckled to the financial pressures.
We are not always the sons and daughters of our mothers and fathers so we should not try to use this as a reflection of their parents. I hope they realize God is watching everything…we only see what the camera shows us.
Stay realistic!
i know that their mother and dad are turning over in their grave, this was not his dream, and his kids should know trhat. But money is the root of all EVIL, EVIL, EVIL, and this is evil.
hi im cadia im 12 years old but not to be off track though but martin luther king’s kids look so much like there mom and dad!!
If Dr. King could have made it this far……The Dream
JUST DISGRACEFUL…
It is bad enough that the other sister died, and they were not getting along. They would want to come to some type of an agreement, and stop being “ghetto”.
They ought to be ashamed of themselves. Dr. King is probably spinning in his grave. The things that this man did, stood for, and accomplished, and this is what his children are doing.
IT HURTS ME TO THE CORE THAT THESE SIBLING ARE FEUDING!! My mother was just diagnois with colon cancer and she has appt with the surgeon tomorrow, but what hurts even more than that is I have one sister(older by 12 years) and a nephew, my moms great-grandson she raised is already planning her funeral. I know my mom is no angel but I will not battle over what she has living or dead. I quite honestly don’t give a d–m it the things won’t give me what I have from my mom, What is most important is what there life was now and gone. I agree the Kings would be turning over in there graves and that it is ridiculous to fight over money. I know hitting people in there pockets is a way of getting back or hurting the ones you love, but it isn’t a GODLY WAY. They were raised by Godly parents who Loved the Lord more than them and themselves and quite honestly I don’t believe they were raised that way to bicker and fight over something so trivial. If they want to do it right just split in down the middle to get equal share of everything and put this mess behind them. It won’t bring the parents back and it doesn’t hurt anyone but themselves to be fighting in this way. WAKE UP BLACK PEOPLE AND STOP FIGHTING IN THIS MANNER. MONEY CAN’T LOVE YOU LIKE GOD OR YOUR FAMILY!!!!!!!!
F#$% them all, they will set us back 100 years for MONEY!!!! Their father is rolling in his grave right now, I hope this is a fake report, if not F$%# them, F$%# O.J. , F%$# Al Sharpton and F#$@ Michael Jackson nothing but a bunch of self serving fools!!!!!!!! None of them care about anything but money and power in all of these cases!!!! And for that matter F#$@ any so called black idol or leader who is only self serving!!!!
This is really sad and I hope and pray they get it together. There are so many families in the African American communities going thru this. And it’s a disgrace before God that they would do this with their Auntie and other relatives still alive. After knowing the struggle is was for their Mother and Father. I mean I don’t think they risked their lives for their kids to be behaving like this. God is going to get tired of this mess!!!!! I had so much respect for them and now I’m not sure if I want them to be a role model for me and no one else. This is really sad and we as a nation need to pray for them.
Really? hard to believe.i heard this news times from many friends playing on a tall dating site http://Tallmingle.com ,i did not believe, i think that they are know nothing but dating and love.
i am wrong.
I am 44 years old and can’t fathom the thought of such issues have arisen the this family. Stick together not fall apart for the all americans to see that the teachings the King children grew up with are displayed, not allow greed divide you all.
David, you are such a racist ass! As though White people don/t fight over money. I think it is sad for any family no matter who they are, Jerk.
Now David,
It sounds like you’re caught up on a different issue. I didn’t see any blame being assigned to the “white man” as it regards to this particular issue.
However, there is plenty of blame to be distributed in the King Family. I don’t understand why they cannot come to a rational agreement. Enough already!
Julie got it right, this is sad, no matter who or what race — it is just simpy embarrassing and I know that Drs. Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King would not be in agreement with the way they are handling this issue and disgarcing their Legacy.
How embarassing and what a shame that these siblings can not get along and settle their differences. Money changes people and will separate a family. This is just a shame and I pray that the Lord will intervene and their hearts will become one so that this can be over with amicably!!!! Keep them in your prayers. God bless the King family and may their parents RIP!
Spoiled brats fightin over daddy’s money. Probably never worked hard a day in their priviledged lives.
It’s a damn shame, when the children of the late & great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. & Coretta Scott King, are fighting each other over money, especially since that was not their parents wish, desire or legacy. The sons & daughter of the Civil Rights Giants, should honor & pay homage to their parents by resolving their problems behind closed doors(without the racist media of amerikkka), & continue the fight & struggle that their parents started some 50 years ago, to help not only African Americans, but all oppressed people. My message to Martin Luther King III, Dexter King, & Bernice King, is to quote Rodney King, ” can’t you all just get along”, & stop the fighting to the amusement of racist & idiots in amerikkka. You all are spitting on your parents graves, by fighting each other, especially publicly.
i think that Dr.Martin Luther King and also Corretta left somthing for them to remember what they did and pass it down to generation to generation. And they absolutely ruined that and now latter on in life they will wish they never had done that in the beginning.
Dr. Bernice King happens to be a mentor of mine, and I know that it was not her intentions to be catapulted into the media over a private family issue. What family doesn’t have issues? We should be more considerate of what they may be going through. It doesn’t matter. The money wasn’t left for any of them to misappropriate. When we are left with responsibilities from our parents, we should do all that we can to protect the legacy. If it means setting a family member in order, so be it. Let’s pray for the well being of this great family and stop the gossip and naysaying. Be Blessed!!!
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