MLK Jr
Martin Luther King Junior- Thoughts and Politics
King was a deeply spiritual man. Much, if not most, of the theory behind his activism emanated from his religious beliefs. Christianity, to King, is “a spirit of brotherhood made manifest in social ethics.” In essence, we are all equal and we all deserve equally. According to King, all people are strung together in a network of life–race, religion, gender, etc. simply do not matter. Our societies need to reflect equality for all of us to prosper:
“Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. ”
Politics of the King
Many of us are aware of King’s political contributions. He is widely considered the father of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, paving the way for racial and ethnic equality in the law and in the attitudes of Americans–a much more difficult task.
King drew heavily from the philosophy of social change of Gandhi, that said that changement must be facilitated non-violently. Through tireless effort and charismatic speeches, King was able to mobilize countless people from across the political, racial, and religious spectrum to his cause. He always knew he must be accepting to be accepted.
Martin Luther King, Jr., made history, but he was also transformed by his deep family roots in the African-American Baptist church, his formative experiences in his hometown of Atlanta, his theological studies, his varied models of religious and political leadership, and his extensive network of contacts in the peace and social justice movements of his time. Although King was only thirty-nine at the time of his death, his life was remarkable for the ways it reflected and inspired so many of the twentieth century’s major intellectual, cultural, and political developments.
Vision and Motivation
For decades, civil rights activists had been fighting these laws and social customs to secure equality for all Americans. It was in this environment, seeing the possibility of an America where
King was a deeply spiritual man. Much, if not most, of the theory behind his activism emanated from his religious beliefs. Christianity, to King, is “a spirit of brotherhood made manifest in social ethics.” In essence, we are all equal and we all deserve equally. According to King, all people are strung together in a network of life–race, religion, gender, etc. simply do not matter. Our societies need to reflect equality for all of us to prosper:
“Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. ”
Politics of the King
Many of us are aware of King’s political contributions. He is widely considered the father of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, paving the way for racial and ethnic equality in the law and in the attitudes of Americans–a much more difficult task.
King drew heavily from the philosophy of social change of Gandhi, that said that changement must be facilitated non-violently. Through tireless effort and charismatic speeches, King was able to mobilize countless people from across the political, racial, and religious spectrum to his cause. He always knew he must be accepting to be accepted.
Martin Luther King, Jr., made history, but he was also transformed by his deep family roots in the African-American Baptist church, his formative experiences in his hometown of Atlanta, his theological studies, his varied models of religious and political leadership, and his extensive network of contacts in the peace and social justice movements of his time. Although King was only thirty-nine at the time of his death, his life was remarkable for the ways it reflected and inspired so many of the twentieth century’s major intellectual, cultural, and political developments.
Vision and Motivation
For decades, civil rights activists had been fighting these laws and social customs to secure equality for all Americans. It was in this environment, seeing the possibility of an America where