His turn as a “mild mannered reformer” is pure whitewashing (pun intended) of history. He was vocally radical and criticized heavily for it during his lifetime. It’s only after his assassination that people have decided to politely ignore his more pointed criticisms of capitalism and the military.

Here’s a choice quote he gave in 1967 in his “Three Evils of Society” speech.

> Again we have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that Capitalism grew and prospered out of the protestant ethic of hard word and sacrifice, the fact is that Capitalism was build on the exploitation and suffering of black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor – both black and white, both here and abroad.

Not exactly mild mannered stuff.