Essay on Martin Luther King A True Leader - 944 Words

Martin Luther Kind: A True Leader Do you think Martin Luther King deserves his reputation for being a great leader of the Civil Rights movement? What were his strengths and weakness? Overall, what is your verdict? Dr. Martin Luther King’s actions during the Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s demonstrated that, in the eyes of many, he was one of the greatest leaders of all time. His tactics of peaceful protest won him much praise and when he was killed in 1968, the non-violent protests faded out and†¦show more content†¦It was not King but other local figures, for instance, who planned the famous Montgomery bus boycott of 1955. The first student sit-ins of the 1960s also denied that they were under King’s influence. It was the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), rather than King’s organisation that launched the freedom rides and the SNCC that ensured their success. However, King can take credit for the success of the marches on Birmingham and Selma as the organization and manner (which influenced the Kennedy brothers) in which they were carried out were completely down to him. His speeches (most notably â€Å"I have a dream† and â€Å"Mountain top†) influenced both races in their thousands in their view of racial equality. Certainly, it would be a big overstatement to claim that Martin Luther King single-handedly won blacks civil rights. However, one cannot totally ignore his input in this field by any means. It would certainly be fair to say that, without King, the Civil rights act would, at least been delayed considerably in its passing. King’s personal key to a successful protest was keeping it peaceful and non-violent. This had mixed success and brought King under a lot of criticism, some claiming that he was an â€Å"uncle tom† that sucked up to whites. Privately, King’s own supporters knew that non-violence was not an outlookShow MoreRelatedMartin Luther King Qualities1327 Words   |  6 Pagesmade Martin Luther King to become a great leader in civil rights movement. Martin Luther King was a social activist and Baptist minister who led the civil rights movement from the mid-1950s to 1960s. According to the website called Martin Luther King Jr.-Biography, Martin Luther king was graduated from high school when he was fifteen. After getting his B. A. Degree from Morehouse, the B. D. from Crozer and then he got his doctor’s degree from Boston University. This shows that Martin Luther KingRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King Jr., A Political Icon Essay1441 Words   |  6 Pagesbecause the y and their accomplishments have forever changed society and the world. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of those individuals. Martin Luther Kings contributions to history place him in this inimitable position. One of the great figures in the march of human history, Martin Luther King Jr., like Gandhi before him, lived by a heroic credo of non-violence. More than two decades since his death, Martin Luther King ideas; his call for racial equality, his faith in the ultimate triumph of justiceRead Moreâ€Å"I Am Happy To Join With You Today In What Will Go Down1420 Words   |  6 Pagesdemonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.† (Lerone Bennett Jr. pg.125) Being a hero means to be a leader. To be a leader you have to have strength, courage, and commitment. In the 1960s, there were many leaders fighting for what they believe is the right of freedom and equality of all people. A major leader, Martin Luther King Jr. was involved in the Civil Rights Movement during t he 60s. King was influenced by advocates of nonviolence such as Mahatma Gandhi. He wanted to seek equality for AfricanRead MoreDifferences Between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X Essay805 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the 1960’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X represented two sides of the Civil Rights Movement. Speaking to all of humanity, Dr. King made these famous peaceful words, â€Å"I have a dream, a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal† (King, 1963, para 10). Malcolm X spoke of a violent revolution by claiming, â€Å"If it’s necessary to form a Black Nationalist army, we’llRead More Complexities of Dr. Martin Luther King Essay1254 Words   |  6 PagesMartin Luther King, Jr.’s impact on the civil rights movement was nothing short of monumental. To say anything less may be considered sacrilege in the history of the United States. King’s liberal and Christian upbringing, comfortable and educated childhood, and his theological education all played a large part in his contributions to civil rights in America. Perhaps one of his most sustained acts was his ability to represent the plight of African American rights while simultaneously portrayingRead MoreCourage and Moral Leadership1727 Words   |  7 PagesLee Strayer University Analyze the qualities that mirror courage and moral leadership in the leader, and document those qualities (moral traits) as discussed by Daft (2010) (Chapter 6: Courage and Moral Leadership). Martin Luther King, Jr. was the mirror image of a moral and courageous leader. Dr. King upheld his morality principles as well as set examples for his followers. Dr. King had special virtues in which he lived and they was love, courage, hope amongst others. Love, courageRead More Martin Luther King Jr. Essay926 Words   |  4 Pagesindividuals and learn about past people who have had a great effect on people showing us what a true hero is. The late Martin Luther King Jr. is a hero in the eyes of people due to the fact that he spoke his mind as a social activist, risked his life to end segregation, and stood up for what he believed was right during the civil rights movement. Overall he was a hero for the common race. Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and developed into a well-mannered and highly educated individualRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr.867 Words   |  4 Pagespeople, one of them is Martin Luther King Jr. He made the world a better place for black citizens by doing non-violence movements and marched the way to freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta Georgia as Michael King Jr., but changed his name to Martin Luther King Jr. in honor of Protestant Martin Luther. Through his activism, King played a pivotal role in ending the legal discrimination of African American citizens. During his childhood, Martin Jr.’s father stronglyRead More America Needs Moral Leadership to Bring Justice to an Unjust World1061 Words   |  5 PagesJail,† Martin Luther King says that â€Å"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere . . . Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly† (143). Everyone wants to be treated fairly but there are places in the world where atrocities take place which impact the entire world, such as the persecution of Tibetans in China, the threat of terrorism to Western countries and racism in America. However, often from turmoil rise great leaders, such as the Dalai Lama and Martin Luther King, who helpRead MoreMartin Luther King’s Quest for Equality1340 Words   |  5 PagesEquality Martin Luther King Jr. had a substantial impact on how the United States views civil rights. During his lifetime, Martin became highly educated and used his knowledge to help others in a positive way. King was not only an influential leader of the Civil Rights Movement, but also a catalyst and a leading figure of the 1960s. His leadership and practices still live on today, and the Civil Rights Movement wouldnt have been nearly as successful without his leadership and guidance. Dr. King pushed