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Martin luther kingessay
Roles played by Martin Luther King Jr. in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States
Martin luther king jr role in the civil rights movement
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. possessed many leadership characteristics that made him an effective leader. Dr. King was a well-known leader of the Civil Rights Movement who strived his whole life to prove that equality matters. He believed that all men were created equal and that a black person should have the same rights as a white person. Some of the leadership qualities Dr. King possessed that made him an effective leader of the Civil Rights Movement include nonviolence, a strong moral compass and bravery. To begin with, Dr. King believed in nonviolence. An example of Dr. King's dedication to nonviolence found in the eulogy from Benjamin Mays "Nonviolence to King was a total commitment not only in solving the problems of race in the United States, but the problems of the world." For example, he was opposed to the Vietnam war because of the violence. It was not in his nature to be violent. Dr. King's message of nonviolence can also be heard in the article Complete Life "We will match your capacity to endure suffering. We will meet your physical force with soul force. Due to us what you will and we will still love you." He remained true to his belief …show more content…
King possessed is a strong moral compass. One example of a strong moral compass, as stated by Benjamin Mays is “Here was a man who believed with all of his might that the pursuit of violence at any time is ethically and morally wrong…that violence is self-defeating; and that only love and forgiveness can break the vicious circle of revenge.” This states that Dr. King believed that violence only encouraged more violence. Another example as stated in source 2 paragraph 8, Dr. King gave the people around him an ethical and moral way to work on social change in a more peaceful manner without violence and bloodshed. For example, he helped the people to peacefully protest in Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma, and Chicago to mention a few
Dr. King, Jr. Was a Baptist minister and social activist who played a key role in the American civil rights movement in the mid 1950's. Drawing inspirations from both Christianity and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. During King's movement African Americans achieved more progress toward racial equality in America than the previous 350 years. King's method involved the six principles of non-violence: information gathering, education, personal commitment, discussion/negotiation, direct action, and reconciliation. Information gathering," you must become an expert on your opponent's position." Education, "it is essential to inform other, this minimize misunderstandings". Personal commitment, "daily check affirm your faith in the philosophy and methods of
Throughout all the great civil rights leaders, I personally believe that Martin Luther King was the greatest of them all. What king achieved during the little over a decade that he worked in civil rights was remarkable. "There are few men of whom it can be said their lives changed the world" from wikipedia. Using Mohanda Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence King gained the power of many citizens respect which lead him in success in, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Birmingham Protest March, and breaking the barrier to allow black people vote rights.
Dr. King is a man who is over flowed of nothing but creditability. Not once he pointed his finger as a child would and blame the Caucasian men for forcing the African-American to attempt to survive a horrific ordeal of history. He encouraged his brother and sisters of color not to protests with bitter and physical violence but to engage hands and peacefully demand to be treated equally. He encouraged his colored brothers and sisters to go back to where they are from with not despair in their hearts, but hope that one day there will be freedom within reach.
These three men expressed their views on liberty in unique ways. Martin Luther King, Jr., a son of a preacher man grew up to be regarded as one of the greatest leaders and heroes in American history. Mr. King expressed his desire for all races to be free by giving heart-felt but intense speeches. He also held strikes, picket lines, and started boycotts. He emphasized for people to put an end to violence and to dispute their differences.
Martin Luther King Jr. is considered to be one of the most prominent human rights’ defenders of the XX century and the speaker for non-violent social change. He believed that building power is the most important task facing movements for human progress because the human progress comes through the tireless efforts of people, who should use powerful and true weapon – non-violence – in order to achieve positive effects. King managed to achieve brilliant success in the battle for the liberty of blacks and not pour the way to freedom by rivers of blood.
had become a leader, and he had found his group of supporters, or in other words, his social group. In this case, my formula only works because of the parentheses surrounding the first three parts of the equation. From my perspective, Martin Luther King Jr. became a symbol of a general group of African American Civil Rights Activists, before they found him as an actual leader. While others may figure that there is more than one specific leader that had an impact on the Civil Rights Movement, I really cannot deny that way of thinking, rather I can only say that it is of my belief that he was the most important of all in this process. Others may also present the counter argument that there may have been more than one leader and that all of them were equally important in the process of this. I cannot deny that opinion either, as it is valid. I can present my opinion and only my opinion here, which presents that Martin Luther King Jr. deserves to be the leader of all leaders. Possibly, the best example of his leadership came on a day in August, at “The March of Washington,” when he presented a speech of dynamic poetry. My favorite lines from this “I Have a Dream Speech” go, “I have a dream that one day in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” (King Jr. 5) After this line, the audio recording presents the roar of the crowd. In my opinion, it was not just the words of this speech and this specific quote that made him a leader. I perceive that words are just words, as they need substance, this substance is created with a charismatic attitude. Martin Luther King Jr. had this, and it is possibly the biggest indicator that he was a leader of his group. It is possible that there were other
King can be considered influential in his preaching of nonviolent protest during the civil rights movement. King quickly realized that there were two alternatives in the struggle against “the forces of injustice'; (Ansbro, 233): violence or nonviolence. He decided against violence for
King believed that the way to secure civil rights for African Americans was through a nonviolent approach. In his speech “Where Do We Go From Here?” King expresses that nonviolence “is the most potent weapon available to the Negro in his struggle for justice…through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can’t murder murder…darkness cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that.” King wants his listeners to believe that violence and hatred will not provide relief from years of oppression. It is only through love and nonviolence (light) that we can overcome hatred (darkness). King understood the frust...
The title or term, Leader, and the name Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are synonymous in the minds, hearts, and souls of millions perhaps billions across the globe today and for many years to come. Not only was Dr. King an effective visionary leader, he accomplished enormous feats applying appropriate ethical principles along the way. As the focal point for the Civil Rights Movement from December 1955 through April 1968, Dr. King was able to successfully lead a movement that garnered more results for the equality of African Americans in the United States than the previous 3.5 centuries had produced. As the son, grandson, and great-grandson of Southern Baptist Ministers, Dr. Kings up-bringing and religious faith provided a solid foundation of values and structurally sound ethical practices that aided and guided him along the journey he embarked on that would inevitably change the American landscape and transform the lives of every person that was fortunate enough to call America home ("The King Center", 2014). His overarching vision for the future of an equal and level playing field for all and the peaceful pursuit of such a climate in America is regarded as one of the most significant accomplishments in our countries great history. The first area we will explore in this paper speaks to how Dr. King was effective at using transformational leadership in leading the Civil Rights Movement. We’ll also look at how Dr. King was effective at aspects of Team Building. Being ethically sound was pertinent given the climate in America back then, so we’ll also dive into some of Dr. King’s practices and how they were ethically apt. Finally, looking back over the tools Dr. King used, we’ll explore how his leadership ability and ethical principles ...
Martin Luther King Jr was one of the most beloved and one of the most hated men of his time. The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. is embodied in these two simple words: equality and nonviolence. He believed that Gandhi’s method of nonviolent resistance was the key to overcoming evil (The Archive, 1968). King was involved in many nonviolent protests including the Montgomery bus boycott, The Albany movement, and the Birmingham campaign. He also wrote many speeches and writings that changed the way people thought about others. In one of his most famous speeches, I Have A Dream, King says, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” He is basically saying that anger and revenge will actually do the opposite of setting you free. The hatred in your heart will never satisfy
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the greatest civil rights leaders to ever live. Through his empowering speeches, he made a huge impact on the world for the equality of all races. Throughout King’s life, he showed everyone how he believed equality should be acquired. With his peaceful protests and amazing speeches, he influenced people both during his time and after he passed. Many believe that King’s work in the Civil Rights Movement was the final push that America needed to finally respect people no matter their skin color.
Dr. King had been one of the greatest leading person during the 21st century. Fifty years later till this day, the message he has portrayed, is still being reviewed today. The ideas that King had brought along in his speeches would still be relevant to civil problems that are occurring in the United States currently. One of the most incredible moments in his life at the time was when he conveyed his tendency from human rights onto the stage of the world; educating the listeners, while obtaining the Nobel Peace Prize Award.
King traveled the country making speeches and inspiring people to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He organized non-violent student sit-ins and fought for the rights of the black population. In his speech, he proclaimed a free and better nation of equality and that both races, the blacks and the whites, should join together to achieve common ground and to support each other instead of fighting against one another. King’s vision is that all people should be judged by their “personality and character and not by their color of skin”(‘I Have a Dream”). All the points he made in his speech were so strong that lots of people were interested in his thoughts. He dreamed of a land where the blacks could vote and have a reason to vote and where every citizen would be treated the same and with the same justice.
Throughout his education, Martin Luther King Jr. tried to find a way to demonstrate his belief of racial equality with the most effective means possible. He quickly realized that the best strategy to end segregation was to use nonviolent forms of protest. At Crozer, Morehouse and Boston University, he studied the teaching of Mohandas Gandhi, who used nonviolent methods to help India claim its independence from Britain. King read several books on the ideas of Gandhi, and eventually became convinced that his methods could be employed by African Americans to obtain equality in America. King knew that any violence on the part of African Americans would lead to violent responses from segregationists, which would lead to injury or maybe even death for his followers. He had to teach his followers not to respond violently to cruel attacks from segregationists. King decided to sponsor workshops to train African Americans in nonviolent beh...
Martin Luther King Jr. was the most influential leader of the American Civil Rights Movement as he fought for the freedom of African Americans. King’s most influential speech is his “I Have a Dream” given on August 28, 1963.1 King himself was a man whom thousands of people admired. Martin Luther King Jr. uses an expressive tone in his speeches by using verbal powerful imagery toward his audience, reminding them of the challenges facing them and defeating racism. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired others to take action, lead by example, as shown in his speeches and promoted non-violence as a method for change.