NEW YORK—Inside a Harlem church on Monday, Rev. Ralph Abernathy III, son of Martin Luther King’s best friend, attacked the movie “Selma” for downplaying the pivotal role his father had in the civil rights movement.
“Selma,” which began showing in theaters on Jan. 9, depicts the civil rights march from its namesake town in Alabama, to Montgomery, Ala. The storyline paints Ralph Abernathy Sr. as a subordinate to King.
During a celebration of Martin Luther King Day at Convent Avenue Baptist Church, Abernathy III took to the podium to set the record straight: “They separated them in death but they were inseparable in life ... Abernathy was King’s mentor in Montgomery. King wouldn’t make a move without Abernathy’s advice.”
“There will never be another Martin Luther King Jr., until there’s another Ralph David Abernathy,” said his son, to a crowd of elected officials, clergy, and locals.
In fact, Abernathy and King were “civil rights twins,” said the former’s son. In an extensive speech, Abernathy III revealed details about the partnership and denounced Selma’s producer Oprah Winfrey for failing to accurately depict the relationship.
