He was more than just a figurehead with tremendous oratory skills. As an advocate of non-violent protest he helped formulate, and implement, one of the most important strategies of the Civil Rights era. However, his most important contribution to the Movement was his ability to connect with a majority of Americans. His message concerning injustice and equality swept away divisions based on class or color because he reminded the nation that its very foundations were based on such ideals. Without King's message it is unlikely that history of the Civil Rights Movement would even be recognisable. Consequently, King's contribution to the Civil Rights Movement in America was undoubtable extremely significant.
Bibliography
Bryant, Nick (Autumn 2006). "Black Man Who Was Crazy Enough to Apply to Ole Miss." The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (53): 60 -- 71.
Clayborne Carson; Peter Holloran; Ralph Luker; Penny a. Russell. The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr.. University of California Press, 1992.
King, Martin Luther Jnr. "Letter From Birmingham Jail," 17 March 2010
Harris, Jessica Christina. "Revolutionary Black Nationalism: The Black Panther Party." Journal of Negro History, 85 (2000): 162-174
Marable, Manning; Leith Mullings, Let Nobody Turn Us Around: Voices of Resistance, Reform, and Renewal: an African-American Anthology. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000.
Lomax, Louis E. When the Word Is Given. Cleveland: World Publishing, 1963.
Williams, Juan. Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965. New York: Viking Penguin Inc., 1987
Wilson, Joseph; Manning Marable; Immanuel Ness (2006). Race and Labor Matters in the New U.S. Economy. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006.
Thurman, Howard. With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman. Harcourt. 1981
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now