Just days away from the anniversary of the March for Jobs and Freedom, better known as the March on Washington, as memories of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. resurrect many of his enduring words. 

Among these are Dr. King’s phrase “Giant Triplets” which referenced the Intersections of Racism, Extreme Materialism, and Militarism. America has more Christians than any nation on earth but resembles a police/militia state, including your neighbor next door. Highly militarized local police departments often view neighborhood inhabitants as hostile foreign enemies.

The growth of white nationalists in the armed forces is also well documented. Armed white nationalist militias march in plain sight, while they plan their violence in the dark. Racist Vigilantes are emboldened to take the law into their own hands to the applause of certain political leaders. For decades, the Gun Violence that has incubated in urban cores has spread to suburbs, exurbs and rural communities alike. Now, suddenly people are concerned.

America has the highest gun ownership of any nation in the world by far and leads developed (SDI) countries in gun fatalities by an equally wide margin. What does all of this mean for marginalized communities of color, and America as a whole? Or is Law and Order simply a old racialized “Dog Whistle” political talking point? What can we do to stem the tide? Three-Fifths Magazine takes a hard look into connections, if any between Dr. King’s “Giant Triplets,” and 2023 America.