Martin Luther King Jr. :: essays research papers fc

The Most Influential Person of the 21st centuryThe Civil Rights Movement is one of the most grievous events of the history of the United States. Although many people contributed to this movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., is widely regarded as the leader of the movement for racial equality. Growing up in the Deep South, King axiom the injustices of segregation first hand. King&8217s studies of Mahatma Ghandi teachings influenced his views on beliefive ways of protesting and achieving equality. Martin Luther King&8217s view on nonviolence and equality and his enormous effect on the citizens of America makes him the most influential person of the twentieth century. King can be considered influential in his preaching of nonviolent protest during the accomplished rights movement. King quickly realized that there were two alternatives in the struggle against &8220the forces of injustice (Ansbro, 233) violence or nonviolence. He decided against violence forobvious reasons. During this time in America, the African American community represented only ten percent of the total population. King mat up that this made it impossible for African Americans who lack rile to weapons to successfully wage a violent revolution against the white majority. Any attacks by the civil rights workers or their followers would surely result in previse attacks bythe segregationists, resulting in the injury and deaths of many of King&8217s followers. With these points in mind, King came to the conclusion that the best strategy in gaining the rights of African American was the enforce of non-violent protest. He believed that violence only &8220intensifies evil,(Ansbro, 231) instead of promoting do it and violence among all races. King&8217s purpose in promoting nonviolence direct action was to score a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiations. He felt that practicing nonviolence would portray his followers as virtuous beings while making appare nt the brutality of the segregationists. King&8217s preaching of nonviolence was monumental in succeeding in demonstrations such as the capital of Alabama bus boycott and the desegregation of public schools. King&8217s reaching of nonviolent direct action furthers the arguments that King is the most influential person of the twentieth century.Not only did King feel it was necessary to preach nonviolence in order to achieve equality among all Americans, he also felt it was important for his message to appeal to all people regardless of race. Despite of the injustice being inflicted upon them by the segregationists, King felt it was important for African Americans to love and respect people of all races.