Yolanda King, 1955-2007

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 4:10pm

Yolanda "Yoki" King, eldest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King, died today at age 51, apparently of complications due to a heart problem.

Yoki was a graduate theater student with me at NYU Tisch School of the Arts in the late 1970s, and I remember her as being a lovely, warm, talented student with a wonderful attitude toward the theater and toward life. She used to say that she wasn't as smart as her father or as beautiful as her mother, but she had great humor and enormous dignity.

She was only 12 when her father was assassinated. In 2006, she made this speech at the Out & Equal Workplace Summit in Chicago:

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In the 1950s and 60s, African-American men and women made some choices--often dangerous ones--and they were joined by men and women of goodwill, gay and straight, from all races and backgrounds, and together, tremendous progress was made toward the betterment of our nation.

The civil rights movement served as the inspiration and paved the way for all the movements for human rights which followed it--the women's movement, the peace movement, and, of course, the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.

We have come a long way. And while the scars and stains of racism remain, the fact is, racial discrimination is no longer legal. However, discrimination under the rule of law still exists. If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you do not have the same rights as other Americans. You cannot marry. And while there has been some progress, thanks to the work this organization [Out & Equal Workplace Advocates] in the workplace, you still face discrimination in the workplace, and in our armed forces. For a nation that prides itself on liberty, justice and equality for all, this it totally unacceptable.



Rest in peace, Yoki. God bless you, and your mother, and your father.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 4:16pm

Wow. Didn't know she went to Tish School of the Arts. The news never mentioned that.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 5/16/07 at 4:32pm

Thanks for posting that information and the short speech made by Yolanda King. She has some of her father's eloquence.