MLK, Jr's Children Battle Over Mother's Love Letters

MLK, Jr's children battle each other for rights to mother's love letters which could fetch big payday!

The late Coretta Scott King who died January 2006 was married the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. They had a romantic relationship and kept the letters of his love for her. Now with both of them deceased their three living children are battling each other in three seperate law suits over the rights to publish the letters in a memoir.

The King family are in discussions in Atlanta, GA to determine what should happen to the letters. Though this should be a private matter, the decision regarding the love letters was opened to the public according to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville.

This is really about a power struggle between siblings," said Dr. King eldest son, Dexter just moments after the court hearing. "I've included them, but they've excluded me. They're the ones who are trying to change or rewrite history. This is not something I asked for. This is not something I started."

Dexter King, who was featured on CNN, disagrees with sister Bernice King about their parents' legacy

Dexter King, who heads up King Inc., - the corporation which oversees the rights to his father's works - spent the summer negotiating an alleged $1.4 million contract to publish his mother's memoir. The book is said to be co-written by Rev. Barbara Reynolds, a journalist-turned-minister who recorded conversations with Coretta Scott King prior to her death.

His sister, Bernice, refuses to allow the love letters which are currently in her possession to be published because she opposes the book. She says her mother was against Reynolds writing a book about her and that the love letters are property of the estate of Coretta Scott King, which is controlled by her.

She also issued a statement that asked for public understanding in their private matter. "We are saddened that we are forced to make public statements about family matters that should be handled privately," Bernice King's statement read. "However, as our father taught us, we must respond to unjust criticism ... Our stand against the publication of the memoirs of our mother ... is not merely a family feud but rather our ongoing attempt to protect and maintain the integrity of our mother's legacy. Although she is no longer here to speak for herself, it is important that the integrity and validity of her voice be reflected."

Penguin Group, the New York City-based publisher which is a division of Random House Random House and owned by Pearson PLC, has threatened to cancel the book contract if Bernice King does not provide the love letters by Friday, October 17, 2008.

Many people in the Black community are angry at the King siblings for what they feel is a mishandling of their parents legacy especially because the King family are considered to be African American Royalty and are held in very high esteem.

Do you feel the letters should be published or not? Add a comment to share your thoughts.