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... riot happen in the streets where we are corralled and a lot of us are shot up, unorganized... He exhorts, Black people, organize! (Franklin, p. 185). The leaders of the Black Panther Party seek to provide the avenue, the means, and the organization for militant mass-resistance Perhaps encapsulating the entire struggle of rage during the Civil Rights Movement are the works of Malcolm X. In one speech, he proclaims, Until the problem of the black people in this country is solved, the white people have a problem thats going to cause an end to this society, system, and race as you know it (Breitman, p. 79).
To Malcolm, black rage is not a black problem created by the black race, but a white problem conceived in the very root of white oppression. In another speech, he states, The black man can see where every maneuver that white America has made, supposedly to solve this problem, has been nothing but political trickery and treachery of the worst order (Breitman, p. 53). The Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, constitutional amendments, civil rights legislation, Brown vs. the Board of Education -- have all failed to give a race of men and women what they rightfully deserve in white America: peace, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Malcolm insists that the only viable solutions to Americas Negro problem are violence and revolution. Concerning the impending violence seen throughout the nation, he says, Well, Negroes didnt do this ten years ago.
But what you should learn from this is that they are waking up (Breitman, p. 133). To those who dismissed the possibility of mass demonstration of rage, Malcolm explains: One thing that you have to realize is, where the black community is concerned, although the large majority you come in contact with may impress you as being moderate and patient and loving and long-suffering the minority who you consider to be Muslims or nationalists happen to be made of the type of ingredient that can easily spark the black community. (Breitman, p. 148) Taking the same impatient now approach as others in the movement, Malcolm tells us that freedom does not come without a fight. Calling on the arguments of Garvey and others, Malcolm X also envisions a racial reversal of power on a global level, beginning in America. He says: Not only is this racial explosion probably to take place in America, but all of the ingredients for this racial explosion in America to blossom into a world-wide racial explosion present themselves right here in front of us. Americas racial powder keg, in short, can actually fuse or ignite a world-wide powder keg. (Breitman, p. 157) As Malcolm X has sought to channel black protests to effect change, so too has Martin Luther King, Jr. During his life, no doubt, King understood the rage of his race.
King describes a duplication of the old age -- this time black over white. Although he does not want to accept it, King knew what both history and reality teach. Desiring to divert the rage and protests of his people, he dismisses the rhetoric of violence and hate, proclaiming: I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into a hell of thermonuclear destruction.
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality... (Franklin, p. 157) King, like other black spokesmen, also stresses the coming of the inevitable. Arguing against the determination of some to racially dominate, King says: We do not wish to triumph over the white community. That would only result in transferring those now on the bottom to the top. But, if we can live up to nonviolence in thought and deed, there will emerge an interracial society based on freedom for all. (Franklin, p. 213) When asked about receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in an interview, King responded, The Nobel award recognizes the amazing discipline of the Negro.
Though we have had riots, the bloodshed we would have known without the discipline of nonviolence would have been frightening (Franklin, p. 222). Here, King recognizes, understands, and admits that the potential of black rage and protests is immense -- frightening. Many blacks were fired by their employers because of their participation in the boycott, but King urged his people to fight on. Even when white supremacy groups began to threaten King and his family, they continued their boycott. Even after January 30, 1956 when the King household was bombed, King urged the blacks continued their fight for freedom.
King said to an angry mob that filled the front yard of his house after the incident, "'Remember if I am stopped, this movement will not stop because God is with his movement. Go home with this glowing faith and radiance assurance. " (Franklin, p. 231) On November 3 rd, 1956, the U. S. Supreme Court had decided the segregation of the Montgomery buses unconstitutional.
All the hard work and determination that came from the boycott finally came to an end with this decision. King had proved that nonviolence pays off, and now blacks were really starting to make an improvement on their status in society. King's next move in the civil rights movement came with the foundation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957. The purpose of this organization was to, .".. urge the Federal government to pass civil rights laws and to promote the movement for black equality in the South. " (Franklin, p. 239) The most specific of the group's issues were Negro-voting rights. The leaders of the SCLC knew that it was the African American's right to vote under the Constitution and the denial of this right was unlawful.
King felt very strongly about blacks gaining the right to vote. "The denial of this sacred right is a tragic betrayal of the highest mandates of our democratic traditions and it is democracy turned upside down. " (Franklin, p. 239) The SCLC under Martin Luther King Jr. also did many other things for the civil rights movement. They started many marches, sit-ins and protests for the advancement of the cause. They launched a giant campaign in Birmingham, Alabama for desegregation. During this campaign King was arrested at one of the many student sit-ins. It is in jail where he best explains his reasoning behind the Alabama campaign.
King felt that their sit-ins were causing such chaos throughout the cities that they performed them in, that people were now being forced to confront the issue of segregation instead of ignoring it as they had. Overall, King was probably the most influential person in all of the civil rights movement. His great leadership quality and tremendous speeches moved the nation as whole to be persuaded to confront the civil rights issue. His fight eventually led to his assassination on April 4 th, 1968, but Dr.
King did not die in vein. He died for the cause of his people, and like he said, the fight continued even after his death. Martin Luther King, Jr. , was a brilliant man. For his work in the Civil Rights Movement, he should be highly commended and honored for promoting peace and harmony.
King had a vision and a dream that one day all of Gods children would be able to live together in peace, harmony, and perfect equality. He said that he had been to the mountaintop, he had seen the Promised Land. (Franklin, p. 150) While this Promised Land may indeed exist, King saw a moral and spiritual vision not of this earth. In his famous I Have a Dream speech, King exhorted: Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. (Franklin, p. 159) There are a couple of solid reasons as for why black religious leaders were more successful than black leaders before them.
First of all, religion unites people more than any other common cause, thus the movement for rights centered on people that represented religion was destined to succeed, since they were regarded as the highest authority by the followers. Besides, the very notion religious leader somewhat meant that the movement was supported by God, and it was especially true since God made all people equal, and thus there were no reasons for discrimination. One of the minor aspects accounting for success of religious leaders was their ability to talk persuasively long practices in religious debates and eloquence were of great help to them when they needed to encourage and motivate people. Black religious leaders definitely changed the course of the Civil Rights Movement.
They were able to direct the stream of the black rage and use it to show whiter society that white dominance have to end, otherwise African Americans would not be able to coexist with them in peace anymore. While people before them were expressing their ideas and even attracting some followers, King and Malcolm X actually created a social movement that changed the history of the United States. Words Count: 2, 547. Bibliography: Barbour, F. The Black Power Revolt. Toronto: Collier, 1968.
Breitman, G. , ed. Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements. New York: Pathfinder, 1989. Bunch, R. A Critical Analysis of the Tactics and Programs of Minority Groups. Journal of Negro Education. 4. 3 (Jul. 1935): 308 - 20.
Franklin, J. and August M. Black Leaders of the Twentieth Century. New York: Harper Collins, 1982.
Mays, B. Disturbed about Man. New York: Random House, 1969.
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Research essay sample on Martin Luther King Jr Civil Rights Movement
