Subjects:
the segregation between blacks and whites. His peaceful approach to many of the
obstacles in the way of integration was the most successful during that time period. Other
more violent means of protest such as the efforts of Malcom X and whites protesting
integration were considered less seriously and seen as a greater threat to society.
Examples of King's peaceful protesting against segregation were during the 1955-
1956 Montgomery bus boycott. It begain when a 43 year old black woman, Rosa Parks,
refused to give up her seat to a white man. Dr. King was appalled when she was arrested
and urged the black population of Montgomery to join together and stand up to the
dehumanization of segregation. Together with local community leaders, King produced
and distributed nearly 7,000 leaflets persuading blacks to completely avoid riding to
buses work, town, school, or elsewhere. Instead, people should take cabs, carpool, or
walk. King was worried that the boycott was unethical, would turn violent, or would
intimidate blacks However the boycott was succsessful with nearly 100% participation
. . .
encouraged by the black and white anti-segregation population and on August 28,1963
over 200,000 supporters surrounded the reflecting pool to hear King, among others,
speak.
King's dream that "little black boys" and "little white boys" will be able to go to
school together.
All four of these goals have been accomplished in the past 32 years, bringing the blacks
to nearly equal society of the whites.
Sit-ins, passing legislation and use of the press and media were also effective ways of
protest.
On the opposite side of the this issue was Malcom X. City police attacked the peaceful demonstrators with police dogs and
high-powered fire hoses. African
Americans have gained some social equality, however; blacks have not been fully
recognized as an accepted group of people in the American society. Blacks were considered by whites to be less of a
person than a white was. Violence and hate were constantly expressed towards King and
his followers, but they rose above the madness in an effort to work for equality and unity
- peacefully. During the march, King gave his well-known, "I Have A Dream" speech.
The Selma to Montgomery march of 1965 also led by King furthered the passage
of the federal Voting Rights Act.
He stated to the people of the United States of America that there was a need to end all
forms of discrimination.
Martin Luther King, Jr's "Dream" has not yet become a total reality. Other unsucsessful demonstrations had been planned in the past but
failed due to the use of militant, more violent means of protest.
Essay's Topics
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