A King among men: Martin Luther King Jr.'s son blazes his own trail - Dexter Scott King

Vegetarian Times, Oct, 1995 by Jill Howard Church

It is impossible to meet Dexter Scott King and not be reminded of his illustrious father, die Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. But Dexter has his own identity and message. As president of the Atlanta-based Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-violent Social Change, he credits his vegan diet with giving him strength to further the goals of equality and justice.

King, 34, was introduced to vegetarianism eight years ago by comedian/activist Dick Gregory, who runs a vegan health spa in die Bahamas. After visiting Gregory's spa, King realized he felt healthier in body and soul when eating whole, natural foods.

"Veganism has given me a higher level of awareness and spirituality, primary because the energy associated with eating has shifted to other areas," he says.

His family-mother Coretta Scott Kin , sisters Bernice and Yolanda, and brother Martin Luther Iii-greeted his new regimen with curiosity. "My family has always been open-minded, but certainly orientation. They weren't sure what to think." But now, he proudly says, his mother is a vegan and one sister is "interested." Ultimately, Dexter's personal example proved more persuasive than any diatribe.

"When I first became a vegetarian, I was very self-righteous about it, " King says. "As I've aged an become more seasoned with time, I've mellowed The best testimonial is the proof in the pudding."

The entire country took notice when King was recently named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People." King is modest about the designation saying, "Hopefully the beauty part is interpreted as being internal as well."

King acknowledges that his race and gender are somewhat atypical among predominantly white an female American vegetarians. "Women in general are probably more sensitive to their health needs and sensitive to what they eat," King observes. "Men generally aren't as concerned." As for the race issue, "it probably has something to do with the socio-economic picture. It's expensive to be healthy. "

King beheves education and example will encourage more men and people of color to change their diets. "I don't know a heck of a lot of African-Americans who are vegetarian, " he says, "but I know more who are becoming aware. "

The King family name is practically synonymous with the principles of non-violence, and King believes that vegetarianism is the logical extension of that philosophy. "If you're violent to yourself by putting [harmful] things into your body that violate its spirit, it will be difficult not to perpetuate that [violence] onto someone else," he says.

King's energies are guiding the King Center's programs into a new era, while keeping the flame of memory alive. Although many would be content to guard his father's legacy, King wants to bring his father's vision to a generation too young to have witnessed the Civil Rights movement.

"What I hope to do is use technology and all the latest tools to reach people with positive information and messages that help them understand my father's legacy and how it applies day to day," he says.

King wants to address what his father called "The Triple Evils": poverty, racism and violence. He emphasizes die need for spiritual growth, and believes his vegetarianism is a testament to his own.

"There is a connection between how you have life and how you treat others," he says. "It starts with the individual."