Martin Luther King Jr Role Model

Born in 1929 Georgia, Dr. King was exceptionally gifted. His intellect and strong academic performance allowed him to skip two grades of high school (MLK Timeline) and begin college at the age of 15. King graduated from Morehouse College and began studies at the Crozer Theological Seminary, becoming an ordained Baptist minister at the age of 19. Receiving his Doctorate in Philosophy and Systematic Theology from Boston University, Dr. King’s educational and spiritual background had well prepared him to become an exemplary transformational leader. In 1955, Dr. King was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955 n.d.). The MIA had been formed to provide direction and leadership for a year-long
He presented himself as a role model and expected his followers to turn the other cheek. Not everyone within the CRM believed this to be effective, however. After being told to enter a bus by the back door, a black Virginian man had, “picked up the driver with one hand and said bluntly: Know two things. I can break your neck and I ain’t one of Martin Luther King’s non-violent Negroes.” (Ling, 2003, p. 1) Dr. King had been told this anecdote during the 1960s, illustrating dissent within the movement. Black separatists had never adopted King as their leader and even those within Dr. Kings ranks were occasionally dissuaded by his actions and failures. In 1962 Georgia, Dr. King faced defeat of a local protest. Ling (2003) stated the organization of the protest was too quick and didn’t have clearly defined goals, which “damaged King’s credibility as a leader.” (p. 3) Fortunately, Dr. King had learned from this mistake and created simpler motives for his successful 1963 Birmingham campaign – a true credit of his leadership character to be knocked down and get back up. This is further exemplified, when we consider King’s biggest enemy: the