I rather think the difference between MLK and Obama is that MLK and his comrades were serious political activist formulating obtainable goals. MLK with religious rethoric but essentially secular ("humanist"). Obama creates soundbites that echo this rhetoric, but fails to provide anything concrete. On the contrary, his association with figures like Wright gives the impression that this kind of cynical demagogues are part of the solution not the problem.

CH gave a nice link to the page about B.Rustin, at the end of this article you find some articles by this great man. (http://www.socialdemocrats.or­g/brindex.html)

Read Rustins "FROM PROTEST TO POLITICS" and "THE BLACKS AND THE UNIONS" as well as his debate with Malcom X. Than you might realise that there is an essential political advancement lost. If I should believe that Barack Obama will do real change, than I want to see him going beyond the achievements of MLK and the CRM, proposing concrete measures and plans and mobilising people for it, not regressing into demagogy and meaningless empty phrases to get himself elected by dumb white people and black nationalists.