...Stark Differences Throughout history there have been many great leaders who have made an immense impact. However, none of them can compare to the enormous amount of impact that Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had. Both men displayed a massive amount of courage while trying to put an end to racism when no one else dared to. They both stood up for what they believed in no matter how much they were ridiculed. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were two of the most recognized leaders in history who both had the same objective of putting a stop to racism but had several differences in their background, philosophy, and influences. Although they were alike in many aspects, the location and setting in which they were raised caused a distinction in the way they led. When Malcolm was six years old his father was killed by the Black Legionaries. This played an enormous role in his mother’s break down, which put her in a mental institution. Malcolm’s mother, Louise, could not handle raising eight children during the Great Depression, especially without their father. This is what led to six of the children becoming wards of the state. One of those children was Malcolm, who soon thereafter began to live a life of crime including drugs, con games, and thievery. Just before he turned twenty-one years old Malcolm was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison for burglary. In prison, Malcolm had to educate himself, and developed his debating skills, and pledged to replace black self-hate...
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...The Leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. Abstract The visionary leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. influenced a nation, and ultimately affected a dramatic change in the area of Civil Rights. The achievements he accomplished in the arena of Human rights still serve as a platform for social change today, even decades after his death. Martin is hailed as a classic Charismatic and Transformational Leader, whose masterful rhetorical skills and personalized leadership empowered many Americans to stand up and claim their rights as American citizens. This paper will provide an analysis of Martin Luther King’s leadership style, and speak briefly about its development. We will discuss his background and the factors that greatly influenced his success as a leader. We will also cover Martin’s application of influence tactics, such as rational persuasion and inspirational appeals, and reveal an almost textbook ideal of leader, follower and situation dynamics. In general, we will discuss his vision and finally pinpoint the factors that ultimately led to his rise in power. “Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.” Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President. Introduction Of all of the leadership styles that have been studied, observed and researched throughout the ages, Charismatic and Transformational Leadership, are cited as being the most powerful. Martin Luther King Jr. is definitely one of the most charismatic and transformational...
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...Autobiography and Martin Luther King “Letter from Birmingham Jail” influenced the African American through hatred, nonviolence and religion. Firstly, in Malcolm X Autobiography one can see the expression of hatred and violence that influenced the African American. Malcom X talked about White Americans in a negative light. Malcolm X referred to White American as being evil and the devil. Malcolm X says; “[…] which opened my eyes gradually, then wider and wider, to how the whole world’s white men had indeed acted like devils, pillaging and raping and bleeding and draining the whole world’s non-white people.” (579). Malcolm X also talks about how other countries hate white people. Malcolm X says; “’Kill the foreign white devils!’ was the 1901 Chinese war cry in the Boxer Rebellion.” (580). One can see that Malcolm X is showing that other countries even hate white people and that they are evil. One can see that Malcolm X is using appeal to emotion to help influence the African American....
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...Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968 Cynthia Clayton PSY/300 February 24, 2014 Geraldine Juchniewicz Martin Luther King, Jr. “Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. King, both a Baptist minister and civil-rights activist, had a seismic impact on race relations in the United States, beginning in the mid-1950s.”Martin Luther King (2014). Among many efforts, King headed the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. According to Martin Luther King Jr (2014), “Through his activism, he played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African-American citizens in the South and other areas of the nation, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.” According to Martin Luther King, Jr (2014), “King was the youngest to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors. King was assassinated in April 1968, and continues to be remembered as one of the most lauded African-American leaders in history, often referenced by his 1963 speech,” "I Have a Dream." In his young days Martin family grew up in a poor farming community, they grew up in a secured and loving environment where faith was an important part of their daily lives. His father tried to protect his children from racism but failed. Martin tried to follow in his father’s footsteps but often rebelled during his adolescence years, Martin questioned his faith and in his...
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...whether or not they are a leader. Martin Luther King Jr. was an excellent impactful leader during the civil rights movement. Odysseus is a Greek hero who also leads as discussed in The Odyssey. However, in The Odyssey, Homer has Odysseus leading people into disaster with his selfishness. While Odysseus and Martin Luther King Jr possess similar leadership skills to lead people, Martin Luther King Jr was an iconic civil rights leader because he proclaimed his thoughts with peace and loyalty, rather than letting his hubris side affect him like Odysseus did when he was on his journey. Odysseus had power from being the king of Ithaca and the ability to lead a large group to follow him, Martin Luther King Jr also had capability to lead people to change and turn their way of thinking. In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men were trapped with the...
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...Two Influential and Morally Different African Americans Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. are both household names of men who fought diligently for African American rights in the postmodernism 1960’s. The 1954 Supreme Court ruling favored that segregated educational structure left blacks at a disadvantage. This was the spark that triggered uprising in the following years. Malcolm X and King Jr’s emphasis on their beliefs is evident in the works and actions that they have done through their lives. Their philosophies do differ from one another, as we will see in “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” and with “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. Both men had different approaches and desires for the black community as well as different upbringings that influenced them. We will see how such differences are reflected throughout their work to get a better understanding on how they compare and contrast. Known as Malcolm Little, the Omaha-born future activist suffered an impoverished start in life due to his father’s early demise. Prior to his death, Malcolm’s father was a “follower of Marcus Garvey, who instilled racial pride among the masses of African Americans” (Lauter 3088). To make end’s meet, Malcolm became a drug dealer and thief while living in Harlem, which landed him time in jail. His experience in jail and childhood shaped him and encouraged him in to becoming the activists that he was known for. Malcolm “replaced his own last name with “X” which stands for the African name...
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...same time degraded for the violence he provoked as well as his black supremacy teachings. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the other hand, is recognized as the greatest influential character in the black Civil Rights Movement, with teachings of non-violent resistance and equal rights for blacks and whites. After spending several years in prison, Malcolm converted to the Muslim religion and utilized newspaper columns, radio, and television to convey the Nation of Islam's (NOI) message. King strived to gain credentials from his audiences by everything from his tone to quoting biblical figures. Malcolm X was not able to influence the black community as well as Martin Luther King, Jr. Due to their differences in childhood and religion, their philosophies differed, causing supporters to accord more with the statements of Martin Luther King, Jr. Born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, to Earl Little, a Baptist minister; and to Louise Norton Little, a housewife busy with the family's eight children. Earl Little was a supported of Marcus Garvey, the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). This prompted the Little family with death threats and by age four, Malcolm's Lansing, Michigan home was burned to the ground. Two years later, Earl Little was murdered by a white mob. Louise trying to keep the family in order, suffered an emotional breakdown and was committed to a mental institution. The family's eight children were split up amongst orphanages...
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...Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” Martin Luther King was a civil rights activist who wanted better treatment and opportunities for black people. Throughout his fight, the civil rights activist displayed characteristics and actions that made him the perfect person to guide the African American people towards equality. The leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was able to unite a divided nation at a time in which racial tension was at its peak. Through his words and actions, Martin Luther King was able to influence movements that derived long after his departure. One movement that was inspired by the actions of Martin Luther King is the anti-government...
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...Dr. Martin Luther king junior was a Baptist minister and social activist, who led the Civil Rights movement from the mid fifty's until his death by assassination. I will be talking about his family and how many children he has, his early life influences, education and job, interests, hobbies, and why I chose him. Dr. martin Luther king junior was born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia at his big family home. Martin Luther King Jr. was the middle child of Michael King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Martins father, grandfather, and martin were all ministers. But martin made the biggest impact of them all. Martin wanted to be able to do the same thing with as white people white people. Martin Luther king junior was married to Coretta king...
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...documents that hold the ability to place challenges on both viewpoints and supports a study of the texts themselves. In his book, Janz includes opinions explaining the significance of both Martin Luther and John Calvin. This paper is therefore, intended on highlighting the significance of these two individuals and contrasting the opinions contained in writings of each. The significance of Martin Luther Many people wonder why there exists a great fuss over martin Luther and the Protestant reformation. They also don’t understand how and why this German monk turned out to be a lightning rod for change in religion and community in Europe during the Renaissance. Many people also do not comprehend the significance of the circumstances and the importance Luther and his persuade on the Reformation and how it affects them in the present days. Back in 1520 Luther was thought of as an insightful church leader and other thought of him as an ecclesiastical terrorist. His thoughts transformed the universe essentially, and were the flashpoint where thoughts and tendencies, which had been blazing in Europe made people to begin talking, and they brought about bigger ideas. Martin Luther’s religious pilgrimage within the catholic framework has been considered to be the only framework that has ever been there. Luther pled for an ecumenical council of church leaders, and...
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...extent did the aims and methods of Martin Luther King differ from those of the Back Power Activists? Martin Luther King’s methods are in a stark contrast from that of the BPP and Malcom X. Where Martin Luther King had peacefull aims based on equality which was reflected thorough his choice of approach and response to scenarios. The BPP’s aims were based around their beliefs and as a result their actions reflected this, this difference in aims is what directed these different parties of MLK and the BPP. Martin Luther King’s aims were centred around the ideology of Ghandi and his peaceful approach, Ghandi’s influence was clear throughout MLK’s efforts, his views were based upon that of equality for all races and the progression of the removal of prejudices and a world where “they will not be judged by the colour of their skin”. Martin Luther King’s view of all races being equal is in complete contrast to that of to Malcom X and the BPP who’s beliefs stated that white people were the creation of an evil scientist and were “morally inferior”, this theology meant that Malcom X and the BPP who were a child party of his, viewed white people as below black people, this extremist view again was reflected though their extremist actions and the public gunfights and continued clashes with the police. The BPP’s exclusion of white members went against the efforts of Martin Luther King as it built tension and reinforced the segregation in societies that MLK was trying to combat and break down...
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...The Civil Rights Movement was a time of social change in America. Slavery had been abolished but African Americans still lacked rights. With all the injustices a change needed to happen, and for this, many brave people were needed. Brave people who wanted change and were willing to do whatever was necessary to get it, to fight for the belief that all men were created equal and that they should be treated that way. Some of these key figures in the Civil Rights Movement were Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr., and John F. Kennedy. Jackie Robinson helped shape and influence the Civil Rights Movement. In the 1940’s, baseball was considered America’s game, and baseball was right at the heart of all Americans. Baseball at this time had an...
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...the first Catholic president (John F. Kennedy) and the Anti-War Movement began. The Anti-War Movement was based on people mostly the youth of America protesting a war (Vietnam War) that they believed America could not win. At the same time people were protesting the war they were objecting to the social injustice surrounding minorities; thus began the Civil Rights Movement. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was instrumental in starting The Civil Rights Movement the yearlong battle for equal treatment on buses gave minorities the strength to fight for more equal treatment and gave rise to Martin Luther King Jr. who was elected by the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) to lead the boycott. During The Montgomery Bus Boycott whites tried to use the media to put out false stories by claiming the boycott have come to an end and that minorities settled for the same moderate desegregation plan that they received before the boycott. Public opion in Montgomery Alabama at first was against the boycott, but once the business community realized they were losing money because minorities were no longer shopping downtown their opion began to wane. Throughout the civil rights movement the media was a constant force some believe that without the media exposing the at times moving and often unsightly events of the movement that it would not advanced as much as it did. Some Southern bureaucrats who attempted to restrain some of the images printed and televised in the media, and therefore try to rid...
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...Prominent Leader Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more interconnected and consistent. Leaders carry out this process by applying their leadership attributes, such as beliefs, values, ethics, character, knowledge, and skills. The theory of leadership states that there are three basic ways to explain how people become leaders. These theories are; some personality traits may lead people naturally into leadership roles. This is the Trait Theory; a crisis or important event may cause a person to rise to the occasion, which brings out extraordinary leadership qualities in an ordinary person. This is the Great Events Theory; people can choose to become privilege leaders. People can learn leadership skills. The basis of good leadership is honorable character and selfless service to the organization. This is the Transformational Leadership Theory. It is the most widely customary theory today and the premise on which this assignment is based on. The purpose of this paper is to profile a prominent leader that I admire. I have chosen to observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; this man has shown such courageous leadership within his community and eventually went nationwide to make a difference for the people. The words that he has expressed through him leading this country has prepared us for the future and other great leaders. “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity...
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...Everyone knows the name Martin Luther King Jr. We even have a holiday for him. What everyone might not know is, there is more to him than speeches and nonviolent activism. There was FBI surveillance, discrediting, and being considered the “most dangerous” African American leader. He did a mass amount of traveling to spread the message he was conveying. He never let any interference stop him from what he wanted to do he always found away to pick himself up and prove what he came to prove to everyone. Not everyone takes a look behind the scenes so here is the actions of Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. might have been well known for his nonviolent protests and speeches but what, not even he knew was that the FBI had been...
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