The two cannot be compared because they have two entirely sepreate agendas. King led a movement for rights. Obama is leading the country in hopes of surviving the disaster the Bush administrations (yes plural cause his daddy started this whole mess). Martin requried the actions of others. Obama can decide and implement what he believes to be right for this country. And King alone didn't make Civil Rights happen. Obama stands on the shoulders of the unnamed civil rights activist across this country...
HeadMistress
· 10 months ago
They are/were equally powerful just in different respects, Martin was the most powerful for his time and for the purpose that his life served and what he stood for...
No one can say for sure but had "King" not done the work he did and dedicated his life to the civil rights movement Barack may not have had the opportunity and responsibility that he has been entrusted with now....
There have been so many, not just Martin or Barack, who've made bold moves and impacted history that made this historical moment possible,
I don't think either King or Obama would even accept being referred to as the Most Powerful in reference to or in competition with each other....
BlogXilla
· 10 months ago
So was Jesus the most powerful of his time? There is no written history of the man of Jesus during the time he walked the planet. True King's legacy grew and made it possible for what is today, no doubt but his and the work of others helped make today, today. Influence and power are two different things. Obama has the power to make law the final say. Obama is the president and that office is referred too as the Most powerful position in the world. He has the power to end the world and drop nukes... lol
HeadMistress
· 10 months ago
Jesus is the Most Powerful of ALL TIME (next to his Father of course) no comparison there...
No written history ??? There's the Bible...
Influence is power...we, as black people, had NO RIGHTS, King and others changed that completely, Barack is in power because of King's influence/power...
King was assasinated BECAUSE of the power that he had, those who hated us and sought to keep us oppressed killed him because it was the only way they knew or thought they could to stop what they feared most from happening...
That's EFFIN Power!
Chadillac
· 10 months ago
This is actually a toss up.
MLK single handedly influenced THE HUGEST MOVEMENT in America by influencing a govt to end segregation and give equal right to blacks.
But Obama said WHAT IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION? and did what Alan Keyes and Al Sharpton and i think Jesse Jackson all failed to do. Be a competent and completely convincing and influential and charismatic potential president and be black at the same time by becoming the first black president ever.
You can look at it like MLK threw the alley-oop but Obama slam dunked it for black people. Without MLK giving us a chance and without Obama sealing the deal successfully none of this would matter.
I say they both earn their own respective spots in the history books. Thats like saying WEB Dubois > Frederick Douglass....both are monumental in their own respects.
Just my opinion tho!
BlogXilla
· 10 months ago
And that's my thing the difference between POWER and Influence!! Obama has more power than any black man before him... and more power than anyone in the country and arguably the most powerful man in the world. He can unite the world not just America.
onewayweezy
· 10 months ago
Obama edges him out simply because hes in a position to have a greater influence due to his position and status.
Anthony Taurus
· 10 months ago
I would say they were equal. Power judged from the position of the person is one thing but judged externally is a different issue. Judged externally, Obama had, as Sun Tzu put it, "the will of the people" and is definitely more powerful. If Dr King had the will of the people then as Obama has now, I'd say they were equal. But, I do not quite know how to factor in value of his martyrdom and message. But that really goes more towards his legacy. Obama is still alive so his legacy isn't set in stone. Sure, he is president, first Black president, but we don't know what the future will. Obama definitely more powerful.
nynikki
· 10 months ago
As POTUS Obama is, no contest, the more powerful man. Taking into account the timeframe that MLK lived, he accomplished a great deal to move the country in the right direction. But Obama is going to lead the country into the next phase and that's where the power is. My 2 cents.
Chadillac
· 10 months ago
Yeah i was thinking that to have POWER IS TO HAVE INFLUENCE and TO HAVE INFLUENCE IS TO HAVE POWER.
Have ya'll ever read that book Lord of the Flies? The one with the most influence has the most power and the one with the most power has the most influence. And if Guy A is more powerful/influential than Guy B, Guy B is gonna become more like Guy A and follow him.
Lil Wayne is powerful and influential in music. He has everyone dressing like 80s rock-stars rocking skinny jeans.
MLK was powerful and influential because he set the tone for blacks FOR THE REST OF LIFE. His power and influence will last forEVER, while Obama's will last 4-8 years.
So i think power and influence go hand and hand and they are both in their own respective leagues.
HeadMistress
· 10 months ago
Well stated!
A great measure of Obama's power is in his "position" right now, he is well respected and does have a great deal of influence right now but he has just begun - he has the potential to have everlasting influence depending on what he does in these next 4 possibly 8 years...
hunniebee724
· 10 months ago
I agree that Obama does have the power to have everlasting influence. I'm already seeing it in my school.....these kids have been inspired, and now see that they can do anything they put their mind to. My students see themselves in him, and it's very likely they'll change their ways because of Obama.
Louemma
· 7 months ago
Louemma says, why would you compare the two? You people need to know that if your looking for a savior or a "Redeemer" Obama is nothing more then a man ,some say he will fix the economy he is only as good as the teleprompter in his ear. Martin Luther King was by far the greater man whose memory far out shines the smooth talking Obama.
All Comments
No one can say for sure but had "King" not done the work he did and dedicated his life to the civil rights movement Barack may not have had the opportunity and responsibility that he has been entrusted with now....
There have been so many, not just Martin or Barack, who've made bold moves and impacted history that made this historical moment possible,
I don't think either King or Obama would even accept being referred to as the Most Powerful in reference to or in competition with each other....
No written history ??? There's the Bible...
Influence is power...we, as black people, had NO RIGHTS, King and others changed that completely, Barack is in power because of King's influence/power...
King was assasinated BECAUSE of the power that he had, those who hated us and sought to keep us oppressed killed him because it was the only way they knew or thought they could to stop what they feared most from happening...
That's EFFIN Power!
MLK single handedly influenced THE HUGEST MOVEMENT in America by influencing a govt to end segregation and give equal right to blacks.
But Obama said WHAT IS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION? and did what Alan Keyes and Al Sharpton and i think Jesse Jackson all failed to do. Be a competent and completely convincing and influential and charismatic potential president and be black at the same time by becoming the first black president ever.
You can look at it like MLK threw the alley-oop but Obama slam dunked it for black people. Without MLK giving us a chance and without Obama sealing the deal successfully none of this would matter.
I say they both earn their own respective spots in the history books. Thats like saying WEB Dubois > Frederick Douglass....both are monumental in their own respects.
Just my opinion tho!
Have ya'll ever read that book Lord of the Flies? The one with the most influence has the most power and the one with the most power has the most influence. And if Guy A is more powerful/influential than Guy B, Guy B is gonna become more like Guy A and follow him.
Lil Wayne is powerful and influential in music. He has everyone dressing like 80s rock-stars rocking skinny jeans.
MLK was powerful and influential because he set the tone for blacks FOR THE REST OF LIFE. His power and influence will last forEVER, while Obama's will last 4-8 years.
So i think power and influence go hand and hand and they are both in their own respective leagues.
A great measure of Obama's power is in his "position" right now, he is well respected and does have a great deal of influence right now but he has just begun - he has the potential to have everlasting influence depending on what he does in these next 4 possibly 8 years...
why would you compare the two?
You people need to know that if your looking for a savior or a "Redeemer"
Obama is nothing more then a man ,some say he will fix the economy he is only as good as the teleprompter in his ear.
Martin Luther King was by far the greater man whose memory far out shines the smooth talking Obama.