Please click on me for a link to an intro video…

1. Please click on me for a link to an intro video…

2. Martin Luther King, Jr. “A Modern-day Author of American Civil Rights”

3. Background • Born Michael Luther King in 1929 in Atlanta, GA • 1935- Name changed to Martin Luther • Religious ties in background • Grandfather and father both preachers

4. Education • 1947- Ordained as a minister • 1948- B.A. in Sociology- Morehouse College • 1951- B. of Divinity- Crozer Theological Seminary • 1955- Doctorate in Systematic Theology- Boston University

5. The U.S. in the 1960s • John F. Kennedy was president • Cuban missile crisis • Distinction in America- North and South • Inequality rampant • Racial segregation and prejudice • Segregated lunch tables, drinking fountains • Rosa Parks protest over segregation on Montgomery bus system • The rise of revolutionary groups • Freedom Riders, Ku Klux Clan, Black Panthers

6. Internal U.S. Turmoil Racial segregation Frequent civilian beatings CRISIS Public dissatisfaction Unnecessary use of violence Corruption in officials

7. The U.S. was primed for the arrival of a leader to facilitate change in during a time of crisis…

8. Beginnings of a Leader • Strong moral foundation • Ease in public speaking • As a reverend, he was accustomed to giving weekly sermons • Conventional sources of influence • Deeply rooted religious beliefs • Radical sources of influence • Gandhi and Henry David Thoreau • Ideas of civil disobedience • Internal Locust of Control • Knew had power to change the system

9. Expert Power • During this time, it was uncommon to have highly educated African Americans • Dr. Rev. King not only had an advanced degree but was also well versed in religion • Recipient of various prestigious accolades • Nobel Peace Prize, Spingarn Medal, Time Magazine’sMan of the Year

10. Reward Power • Could reward his subordinates with a changed future for themselves and their children • Could reward all Americans with a more equal America • Following the dreams set forth by Pres. Lincoln hundreds of years before

11. Proactive Influence • His speeches conveyed emotional messages • Apprising, rational persuasion, inspirational and personal appeals, exchange • Sought coalition and group unity • Collaboration and coalition tactics

12. Charismatic Leadership • High self-confidence • Willingness to question systems that had been set forth long ago • Eloquent speaker • Articulation of an appealing vision • Using strong, expressive forms of communication • Chastising violence as a means for catharsis under oppression • Communicating high expectations of followers • Strong beliefs in followers

13. Charismatic Leadership • Moral and upstanding citizen • Leader having exceptional qualities • Rose in a time of crisis • Envisioned an America that had never been seen before (Racial Equality) • “Radical vision”

14. Transformational Leadership • Combated the current American culture and government • Moved masses towards radical change • Sought to change institutions • Enlightened public about the injustices • Raised consciousness of ethical issues • Engaged moral values of followers • Found what could be done to correct them • Mobilized energy and resources to change institutions • Engaged follower action

15. Transformational Leadership • Provided innovative means for achieving goals • Civil disobedience, peaceful protesting • Moved followers to transcend their own self-interest for the Civil Rights Movement • Beatings, verbal abuse, harassment, etc. • Made his own sacrifices for the sake of the movement • Numerous arrests, stoning, and death

16. Turning Points • Presidential recognition • Growing numbers of Caucasian followers • Branching out to Hispanic communities and low income areas King with President Eisenhower

17. Key Achievements • Civil Rights Act • “An Act To enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the ‘Civil Rights Act of 1964’.” U.S. Constitution

18. Key Achievements • Voting Rights Act • Ensuring voting rights for all citizens • “All citizens of the United States who are otherwise qualified by law to vote at any election by the people in any State, Territory, district, county, city, parish, township, school district, municipality, or other territorial subdivision, shall be entitled and allowed to vote at all such elections, without distinction of race, color, or previous condition of servitude; any constitution, law, custom, usage, or regulation of any State or Territory, or by or under its authority, to the contrary notwithstanding.” U.S. Constitution

19. An Amazing Orator Without a doubt, King was a master orator. In his most famous speech, the “I Have A Dream Speech,” hundreds of thousands of people were in attendance at the Washington Mall.

20. Aerial view of the Washington Mall during his “I Have a Dream” speech given on August 28, 1963. Click icon to hear speech.

21. A Simple Man King enjoying a game of pool King with wife Coretta Scott

22. A Tragic End • April 4, 1968- the day following King’s famous “Mountaintop” speech • Assassination in Memphis, Tennessee

23. Thousands of mourners gather to pay tribute to the fallen leader. Newspapers documenting the assassination

24. PAYING RESPECTS– More than 100,000 people followed the 3.5 mile coffin procession given to King in Atlanta, Georgia.

25. Ironic End to a Peaceful Man • Despite his firm belief and promotion of peaceful behavior, following his murder racial violence erupted in more than 125 cities around 28 states • Perhaps indicates the last cry out against injustice…

26. Future as a Leader • His message was so powerful that even post mortem his vision still continued • Although dead, King still continues with his message and provides inspiration for other revolutionaries who would follow • Dalai Lama, Caesar Chavez • Memorialized as a great civil rights leader • History books, textbooks • Memorial and Museum in Atlanta, Georgia • Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project at Stanford University, California

27. Personal Takeaways • Learned more about American heritage • Inspired to follow dreams • Discovered more about injustices abroad • i.e. socially and politically accepted discrimination

28. “I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight, that we as a people will get to the Promised Land!” Listen to this speech!