Essay on Martin Luther Kings Successful Philosophy

Nearly three centuries ago, black men and women from Africa were brought to America and put into slavery. They were treated more cruelly in the United States than in any other country that had practiced slavery. African Americans didn’t gain their freedom until after the Civil War, nearly one-hundred years later. Even though African Americans were freed and the constitution was amended to guarantee racial equality, they were still not treated the same as whites and were thought of as second class citizens. One man had the right idea on how to change America, Martin Luther King Jr. had the best philosophy for advancing civil rights, he preached nonviolence to express the need for change in America and he united both African Americans†¦show more content†¦In the fifties, segregation existed in every state, but it was strongest in the South where Public Schools, transportation, hotels, and restaurants were all segregated. King convinced thousands of African American s in Montgomery, Alabama to refuse to ride the city buses because they were segregated. For thirteen months African Americans in Montgomery walked to work instead of riding the segregated buses. Eventually, the loss of revenue and a decision by the Supreme Court forced the Montgomery Bus Company to accept integration. After his success in Montgomery, King organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which gave him a base to pursue further civil rights activities, first in the South and later nationwide. In 1960 King moved himself and his family to Montgomery to devote more of his effort towards the work of the SCLC. King traveled the country making speeches and inspiring people to become involved in the civil rights movement. King argued that as African Americans made up ten percent of the population, they had considerable economic power. By selective buying, they could reward companies that were sympathetic to the civil rights movement while punishing those who still s egregated their workforce. By boycotting, they were able to pressure the companies into hiring more African Americans. King wrote a book in 1958 entitled Stride TowardShow MoreRelatedEssay Philosophies and Tactics of Dr. King and Malcolm X1492 Words   |  6 Pagesother minorities. Among them, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had an everlasting effect on the treatment of minorities in the United States. Although their philosophies and tactics differed greatly, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X helped shape the Civil Rights Movement and make the United States a better place for people regardless of their race. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had different beliefs and goals for the Civil Rights Movement. 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