Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Doer, not a Dreamer
An esssay on the life of a remarkable leader.
By Eduardo Barraza
Atlanta, Georgia - The creation of a national holiday to honor the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., gives
us an idea of the proportion of the historical importance and the achievements of this man, who has
come to be a transcendent symbol not only of the dreams and hopes of African-Americans, but also of
other people in the world.
The impact of his work, within the context of the civil rights movement of the mid XX century, is such that
even to this date "most renowned scholars still have not determined what that impact is or finally will be."
Martin Luther King was an exceptional, articulated voice that gave the movement a strong direction, a
moral definition, and a great grade of accomplishment. This voice came out of the mainstream of the
Black-American tradition of protest against injustice, segregation and bigotry. King was neither the first
nor the only voice of the struggle for racial equality, but his message, delivered with his unique
personality, provided the movement with its best representative of the people in this last century,
arguably of all American history.
His quality and internal spiritual power to withstand hardship, his moral character –now challenged by
evidence of extramarital affairs– and his religious background, produced in him a necessary and special
ability to distinguish the difference between justice and injustice. He knew, since the beginning, that the
movement was not an unfounded revolt, but an inescapable appointment with history, a true social
revolution that was about to transform the national conscience of America.
King's philosophy of action was a true reflection of his Christian beliefs, theorized by his ecclesiastical and
family background, and actualized by the extreme pressure that he faced in the first weeks of his
leadership with the movement. His education, secular and theological, placed him on a platform of a deep
understanding and knowledge of social issues, which uplifted him above the average thinking of his
times. This also enabled him to shake the nation's conscience, by putting in front of America's face a
mirror that confronted her with the ugliness of racism and segregation.
When he unexpectedly appeared in the historical context of America, and within the frame work of the
black struggle for freedom and equal rights, Martin Luther King, Jr., was a young Christian minister,
pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, in Montgomery, Alabama, "he soon emerged as the
preeminent spokesman... He was an impressive figure and an inspiring speaker." The "Rosa Parks'
incident," catapulted him into the leadership of the just formed "Montgomery Improvement Association,"
created to direct and organize the bus boycott in Alabama in 1955, against the segregated system of
transportation.
Mrs. Parks, a well respected lady in the community, refused to yield her seat in a bus to a white citizen,
as it was ordered by a segregationist local law, resulting in her arrest. This prompted the immediate
action of community leaders, thus setting the scenario for the legal struggle. E.D. Nixon, a local leader,
with the agreement of Mrs. Parks and her family, mobilized black leaders in Montgomery, when he
recognized the arrest of Mrs. Parks as "the case we've been waiting for...to break the situation on the
bus."
The gifted, young new pastor of the Dexter Avenue Church was chosen by his fellow clergymen, as the
spokesman and president of the "Montgomery Improvement Association." Recalling this decision, King
later confessed about his election: "I was surprised to be elected...both from the standpoint of my age,
but more from the fact that I was a newcomer to Montgomery." He was also, "obsessed by a feeling of
inadequacy.’”
However, King's newness in the community was precisely and as a matter of fact, what actually made
him the ideal candidate to direct the boycott. He also proved that he was not inadequate at all, but just
the leader that would become the best exponent of the civil rights movement from then on.
King's exceptional thought, plus his philosophy, gave to his actions a singular and very effective style. His
message consisted of the doctrine of Christian love, preached by Jesus, and the practice of civil
disobedience, inspired by Thoreau and Gandhi. Nonviolence and civil disobedience were the tactics to
mobilize the people to confront the "Jim Crow" system. Resistance through these methods resulted in
much of the success of the movement.
us an idea of the proportion of the historical importance and the achievements of this man, who has
come to be a transcendent symbol not only of the dreams and hopes of African-Americans, but also of
other people in the world.
The impact of his work, within the context of the civil rights movement of the mid XX century, is such that
even to this date "most renowned scholars still have not determined what that impact is or finally will be."
Martin Luther King was an exceptional, articulated voice that gave the movement a strong direction, a
moral definition, and a great grade of accomplishment. This voice came out of the mainstream of the
Black-American tradition of protest against injustice, segregation and bigotry. King was neither the first
nor the only voice of the struggle for racial equality, but his message, delivered with his unique
personality, provided the movement with its best representative of the people in this last century,
arguably of all American history.
His quality and internal spiritual power to withstand hardship, his moral character –now challenged by
evidence of extramarital affairs– and his religious background, produced in him a necessary and special
ability to distinguish the difference between justice and injustice. He knew, since the beginning, that the
movement was not an unfounded revolt, but an inescapable appointment with history, a true social
revolution that was about to transform the national conscience of America.
King's philosophy of action was a true reflection of his Christian beliefs, theorized by his ecclesiastical and
family background, and actualized by the extreme pressure that he faced in the first weeks of his
leadership with the movement. His education, secular and theological, placed him on a platform of a deep
understanding and knowledge of social issues, which uplifted him above the average thinking of his
times. This also enabled him to shake the nation's conscience, by putting in front of America's face a
mirror that confronted her with the ugliness of racism and segregation.
When he unexpectedly appeared in the historical context of America, and within the frame work of the
black struggle for freedom and equal rights, Martin Luther King, Jr., was a young Christian minister,
pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, in Montgomery, Alabama, "he soon emerged as the
preeminent spokesman... He was an impressive figure and an inspiring speaker." The "Rosa Parks'
incident," catapulted him into the leadership of the just formed "Montgomery Improvement Association,"
created to direct and organize the bus boycott in Alabama in 1955, against the segregated system of
transportation.
Mrs. Parks, a well respected lady in the community, refused to yield her seat in a bus to a white citizen,
as it was ordered by a segregationist local law, resulting in her arrest. This prompted the immediate
action of community leaders, thus setting the scenario for the legal struggle. E.D. Nixon, a local leader,
with the agreement of Mrs. Parks and her family, mobilized black leaders in Montgomery, when he
recognized the arrest of Mrs. Parks as "the case we've been waiting for...to break the situation on the
bus."
The gifted, young new pastor of the Dexter Avenue Church was chosen by his fellow clergymen, as the
spokesman and president of the "Montgomery Improvement Association." Recalling this decision, King
later confessed about his election: "I was surprised to be elected...both from the standpoint of my age,
but more from the fact that I was a newcomer to Montgomery." He was also, "obsessed by a feeling of
inadequacy.’”
However, King's newness in the community was precisely and as a matter of fact, what actually made
him the ideal candidate to direct the boycott. He also proved that he was not inadequate at all, but just
the leader that would become the best exponent of the civil rights movement from then on.
King's exceptional thought, plus his philosophy, gave to his actions a singular and very effective style. His
message consisted of the doctrine of Christian love, preached by Jesus, and the practice of civil
disobedience, inspired by Thoreau and Gandhi. Nonviolence and civil disobedience were the tactics to
mobilize the people to confront the "Jim Crow" system. Resistance through these methods resulted in
much of the success of the movement.
| ADVERTISEMENT |
Public Domain. U.S. News & World Report
Magazine. Collection at the U.S. Library of
Congress.
Magazine. Collection at the U.S. Library of
Congress.
King was not an advocate of violence. He did not
believe in racial superiority either. His message was
very consistent with the natural law and the eternal
truth. On this topic, he was, specially articulated and
bright. He explained and defined the two types of
laws: just and unjust. "A just law is a man-made
code that squares with the moral law of God. An
unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the
moral law of God...Any law that uplifts human
personality is just. Any law that degrades human
personality is unjust," wrote King, while being jailed
in Birmingham for the violation of an "unjust law."
He viewed blacks and whites as equal. He fought to
established equality, not superiority. He perceived
life as worthy, regardless of a particular exterior
human appearance. In a speech that he delivered in
Nashville, Tennessee on December 27, 1962, before
a church conference, he spoke about ethical demands
believe in racial superiority either. His message was
very consistent with the natural law and the eternal
truth. On this topic, he was, specially articulated and
bright. He explained and defined the two types of
laws: just and unjust. "A just law is a man-made
code that squares with the moral law of God. An
unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the
moral law of God...Any law that uplifts human
personality is just. Any law that degrades human
personality is unjust," wrote King, while being jailed
in Birmingham for the violation of an "unjust law."
He viewed blacks and whites as equal. He fought to
established equality, not superiority. He perceived
life as worthy, regardless of a particular exterior
human appearance. In a speech that he delivered in
Nashville, Tennessee on December 27, 1962, before
a church conference, he spoke about ethical demands
| ADVERTISEMENT |
for integration: "The life of an individual does not lie in the measure of his intellect, his racial origin, or his
social position. Human worth lies in relatedness to God. An individual has value because he has value to
God. Whenever this is recognized, 'whiteness' and 'blackness’ pass away as determinants in a
relationship and 'son' and 'brother' are substituted.”
Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke in such a powerful way that, not only Americans, but also around the world,
his courage, moral character and activism were recognized in favor of a more equal society. Thus, he
became the recipient of the Nobel Price for Peace in 1964.
Through his leadership, many victories were won during the twelve years he was active in the
movement, as well as several defeats. King was not successful in bringing a total conviction to the entire
black community and to his fellow activists. In the midst of dissension, he stressed the fact that violence
was not a viable way to accomplish equality. He did not seek to humiliate the "white brother,” but to
eliminate hatred evil in the interaction between both races. Nevertheless, nonviolence was not seen by
many leaders as the proper way to achieve their goals. This caused a great gap within the movement.
“Black Power,” the philosophy of using violent means to obtain social equality by African-Americans,
challenged King's doctrine of nonviolence, and split the movement. Black leaders as Malcon X and Stokely
Carmichael pushed for separatism and inequality. But King remained, until his death, an apostle of
nonviolence.
Martin Luther King was a profuse thinker. He gave many public speeches and wrote numerous writings.
One of his major speeches was the "I have a Dream,” delivered in the context of the “March to
Washington,” in August 1963. His exemplary qualities as a man, his skills and attributes, his
understanding of the civil rights struggle, and his advocacy for nonviolent activism, gave him a prominent
place in human history. His faith grew in the same proportion of the opposition he faced.
Until his tragic death, he remained fully persuaded that the avoidance of violence was not a choice, but
the only moral way to obtain equal rights and freedom. He understood that respect and dignity are not
attainable by using disrespect, or by seeing white people as unworthy. He believed that America, in
order to be a true great nation, needed to live out its credo of men’s and women’s equality. He
envisioned a just, equal society where the basis of judging a person would be based on the character,
instead of judging by the color of the skin.
King's legacy is very alive today. Legislation on racial issues that was won by the movement 40 years
ago has been reshaping the landscape of America. Much of his dream has become a reality to a great
extent, for many African-Americans, as well as for other ethnic groups in the U.S., within the context of
legal justice and rights.
Discrimination, though not legal, it is still real and very alive also. Hatred and prejudice are rooted in the
human heart, and no law can exterminate it. But King's work transformed the legal scenario and Blacks
now enjoy the fruits of his efforts.
We still "must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live
with its conscience. That will be the day not of the white man, not of the black man. That will be the day
of man as man."
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Albert, P.J. and Hoffman, Ronald, Editors (1990). We Shall Overcome, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Black Freedom
Struggle. Pantheon Books, New York.
Nash and Jeffrey (1994, 3rd. Edition). The American People, Creating a Nation and a Society.
HarperCollinsCollegePujblis-her, New York.
Nash and Jeffrey (1994, 3rd Edition). The American People, Creating-, a Nation and a Society.
HarperCollinsCollegePublisher, New York.
Albert, P.J. and Hoffman, Ronald, Editors (1990). We Shall Overcome, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Black Freedom
Struggle. Pantheon Books, New York.
Albert, P.J. and Hoffman, Ronald, Editors (1990). We Shall Overcome, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Black Freedom
Struggle. Pantheon Books, New York.
Washington, James M., Editor (1986). A Testament of Hope, The Essential Writings and speeches of Martin Luther
King, Jr. ("Letter from a Birmingham City Jail". King, 1963) . HarperSanFrancisco, New York.
Washington, James M., Editor (1986). A Testament of Hope, The Essential Speeches and Writings of Martin Luther
King, Jr. ("The Ethical Demands for Integration". King, 1963). HarperSanFrancisco, New York.
Washington, James M., Editor (1986). A Testament of Hope, The Essential Speeches and Writings of Martin Luther
King, Jr. ("Our God is Marching On!" Montgomery, Alabama speech. King, 1965). HarperSanFrancisco, New York.
social position. Human worth lies in relatedness to God. An individual has value because he has value to
God. Whenever this is recognized, 'whiteness' and 'blackness’ pass away as determinants in a
relationship and 'son' and 'brother' are substituted.”
Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke in such a powerful way that, not only Americans, but also around the world,
his courage, moral character and activism were recognized in favor of a more equal society. Thus, he
became the recipient of the Nobel Price for Peace in 1964.
Through his leadership, many victories were won during the twelve years he was active in the
movement, as well as several defeats. King was not successful in bringing a total conviction to the entire
black community and to his fellow activists. In the midst of dissension, he stressed the fact that violence
was not a viable way to accomplish equality. He did not seek to humiliate the "white brother,” but to
eliminate hatred evil in the interaction between both races. Nevertheless, nonviolence was not seen by
many leaders as the proper way to achieve their goals. This caused a great gap within the movement.
“Black Power,” the philosophy of using violent means to obtain social equality by African-Americans,
challenged King's doctrine of nonviolence, and split the movement. Black leaders as Malcon X and Stokely
Carmichael pushed for separatism and inequality. But King remained, until his death, an apostle of
nonviolence.
Martin Luther King was a profuse thinker. He gave many public speeches and wrote numerous writings.
One of his major speeches was the "I have a Dream,” delivered in the context of the “March to
Washington,” in August 1963. His exemplary qualities as a man, his skills and attributes, his
understanding of the civil rights struggle, and his advocacy for nonviolent activism, gave him a prominent
place in human history. His faith grew in the same proportion of the opposition he faced.
Until his tragic death, he remained fully persuaded that the avoidance of violence was not a choice, but
the only moral way to obtain equal rights and freedom. He understood that respect and dignity are not
attainable by using disrespect, or by seeing white people as unworthy. He believed that America, in
order to be a true great nation, needed to live out its credo of men’s and women’s equality. He
envisioned a just, equal society where the basis of judging a person would be based on the character,
instead of judging by the color of the skin.
King's legacy is very alive today. Legislation on racial issues that was won by the movement 40 years
ago has been reshaping the landscape of America. Much of his dream has become a reality to a great
extent, for many African-Americans, as well as for other ethnic groups in the U.S., within the context of
legal justice and rights.
Discrimination, though not legal, it is still real and very alive also. Hatred and prejudice are rooted in the
human heart, and no law can exterminate it. But King's work transformed the legal scenario and Blacks
now enjoy the fruits of his efforts.
We still "must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live
with its conscience. That will be the day not of the white man, not of the black man. That will be the day
of man as man."
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Albert, P.J. and Hoffman, Ronald, Editors (1990). We Shall Overcome, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Black Freedom
Struggle. Pantheon Books, New York.
Nash and Jeffrey (1994, 3rd. Edition). The American People, Creating a Nation and a Society.
HarperCollinsCollegePujblis-her, New York.
Nash and Jeffrey (1994, 3rd Edition). The American People, Creating-, a Nation and a Society.
HarperCollinsCollegePublisher, New York.
Albert, P.J. and Hoffman, Ronald, Editors (1990). We Shall Overcome, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Black Freedom
Struggle. Pantheon Books, New York.
Albert, P.J. and Hoffman, Ronald, Editors (1990). We Shall Overcome, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Black Freedom
Struggle. Pantheon Books, New York.
Washington, James M., Editor (1986). A Testament of Hope, The Essential Writings and speeches of Martin Luther
King, Jr. ("Letter from a Birmingham City Jail". King, 1963) . HarperSanFrancisco, New York.
Washington, James M., Editor (1986). A Testament of Hope, The Essential Speeches and Writings of Martin Luther
King, Jr. ("The Ethical Demands for Integration". King, 1963). HarperSanFrancisco, New York.
Washington, James M., Editor (1986). A Testament of Hope, The Essential Speeches and Writings of Martin Luther
King, Jr. ("Our God is Marching On!" Montgomery, Alabama speech. King, 1965). HarperSanFrancisco, New York.
Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
|
| HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE Grassroots Journalism |
Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
