Martin Luther King
One of the most visible advocates of nonviolence and direct action, as a method for social change is, Martin Luther King. From 1955-1968, King led a peaceful twentieth century American Revolution. ... Segregation had been a way of life for a large part of the nation but King and his disciples were on the verge of eliminating segregation. ... Although, this essay is going to present King as martyrdom, it is relevant to recognize the criticisms that were charged against him, such as, plagiarism and taking more credit than deserved. Through Martin Luther King’s nonviolent direct action method in the civil rights movement he was able to inspirer a nation in a time of need. Martin Luther King’s leadership towards this march for freedom began on December 5, 1955. ... As a result, local black leaders formed the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), in which they nominated King as president, a recently ordain Baptist minister, “who promoted his idea of nonviolent direct action.”1 In January 1956, when King was asked if he thought that they had a legitimate reason to protest he stated, “we have a legitimate protest, and we feel that one of the glories of the American democracy is that we have the right to protest for rights”2 The bus boycott was exactly that, they were protesting for their long denied rights. ... ”3 King knowing that the black community would not be able to afford this fee on a daily biases, took to the idea of organized car pools. ... Despite the hardships, such as the bombings, murders, and the jailing of King, the black communities determination only grew stronger. ... This was also a great victory for King and his nonviolent method, for he gained national prominence for his role in the campaign. This method of nonviolence that King adapted and preached was to be the method of resistance in future events such as the sit-ins and the freedom rides. Martin Luther King called for nonviolent direct action in the fifties, and his passive method stemmed over to the sixties, the sit-ins were the first example of this. ... King also praised the students for “taking the step he had been toying with for the past three years—of seeking out a nonviolent confrontation with the segregated laws.” The students admired King. ... ” King suggested that the students form a coordinating council. ... Once again King did not participate in the Freedom Rides though action, but did however, though speech. Once he saw the ugly scene replayed on the television, King decided to go and join the riders. That evening, King spoke at a massive meeting support of the freedom riders at Abernathy’s church. ... When the freedom rides were to continue, King would not ride for fear of being arrested. “King would not risk going to jail at this critical hour, not when so many groups and incarcerated blacks depended on him to raise them money.” This is were one of Kings major critisms comes into play, many of the students were disappointed and anger with King, they felt “he should feel morally obligated to [go] along with them.” Although many were disappointed with his decision not to participate in the ride, many understood, for when they were arrested King plunged into a fund-raising campaign to help cover their legal expenses, he also, helped the freedom ride Coordinating Committee line up scholarships foe student riders in need of finical assistance.