Martin Luther King Jr. and the face of the Civil Rights Movement

African-American 20th Century Political History

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There is a point in African-American history where many of the various political groups worked together toward common goals. The 1960s was a time around the world where groups organized and united in the name of civil and human rights; African-Americans were very much an active part of this trend/group. For years late in the 20th century, the African-American struggle for civil rights and equal treatment under the law and in society at large was on an upswing. They had significant momentum. This period did not last; many key figures in the movement were assassinated by various U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies and many groups suffered from in-fighting as a result of various internal and external factors. This paper will focus on the political history of African-Americans, specifically in the mid -- late 20th century.

American, USA, 1960s, Civil Rights Movement, politics, activism, advocacy, human rights

African-American 20th Century Political History

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Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is often seen as the face of the Civil Rights Movement for several reasons. Dr. King was a very powerful and effective speaker. He was very comfortable speaking in front of crowds of various sizes. He was also a prominent member in the church. His father was a reverend as well. Religion and the church are integral pieces to the African-American identity; therefore involvement with the church, especially over more than one generation in a family gives one some credibility in the community. Dr. King also was a well educated man. Many people found him handsome. Thus, he was a handsome, educated, religious man who communicated very effectively. This made him a strong candidate to be the spokesperson for the Civil Rights Movement. As time progressed and his reputation grew, many of his speeches and pubic appearance were televised and/or broadcasted over the radio. There are man Americans that know his voice very well; it is very distinctive. This was the face of a part of the Civil Rights Movement: an educated, articulate, church-going, well spoken, handsome man. Even though the issue of civil rights was very sensitive during this period making it unsafe for any African-American to represent the movement, Dr. King was the type of African-American that white people and perhaps other non-white Americans perceived as "safe." This holds true in media and politics today -- this concept of the "safe" African-American. In this case, "safe" means little or no perceived threat by whites. These are reasons why Dr. King is often described as the face of the movement.