Dear Editor,
In response to Ms. Araceli Esparza’s article, [“Eldridge Cleaver recounts struggle,” Nov. 21], I have one concern. On the front page of the newspaper, in the article, there appears a quote erroneously attributed to Mr. Cleaver. The quote appears to have been misconstrued from its original meaning.
While in attendance at Mr. Cleaver’s lecture, I recall when he quoted the words spoken to him by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (i.e., “Don’t fight fire with fire; fight fire with water”), however, he did not expressly or impliedly condone this view of passive political resistance (as Ms. Esparza’s article makes it to appear). Mr. Cleaver merely spoke respectfully of a man (i.e., Dr. King) whom he admired but nevertheless had (and continues to possess) a difference of political view.
I left Mr. Cleaver’s lecture with the clear impression that if he were faced today with what he was faced with as an active member of the Black Panthers, he would react as he did then. He would vigilantly defend himself and those being oppressed with physical active resistance. He did not and does not condone passive resistance similar to that espoused by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and others.
This is a point important to realize and important to accurately report for good reasons. Many historical leaders, e.g., Malcolm X, Friedrich Nietzsche, Elijah Muhammad, Marcus Garvey, Karl Marx, etc., have (by some) been inaccurately portrayed in history. When this has occurred, those who live after these figures have died are left to depend on oral and written history of their lives. If this history is perverted then those who depend on it are deprived of an accurate perception of their lives.
Otherwise, Ms. Esparza’s article was well written and I enjoyed Mr. Cleaver’s visit immensely.
Ivan Turcuit
First-Year Law Student
