Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Economic Policy


Whenever the government provides opportunities and privileges for white people and rich people they call it ‘subsidies.’ When they do it for Negro and poor people they call it ‘welfare.’ The fact is that everybody in this country lives on welfare. Suburbia was built with federally subsidized credit. And highways that take our white brothers out to the suburbs were built with federally subsidized money to the tune of ninety percent. Everybody is on welfare in this country. The problem is that we all too often have socialism for the rich and rugged free enterprise capitalism for the poor. That’s the problem.

  • Andrea

    Dear Mr. Mahlstadt, what is the source of this quote? Where can I find it with a proper citation? It is a really excellent quote. I have seen part of this quote before but never with a source.

    Thanks

  • Smahlstadt

    It is from a talk he gave to clergy titled “To Minister to the Valley” in Miami in 1967 or 1968.