August Meier wrote an essay that posed an answer to the question of whether or not Martin Luther King, Jr’s leadership was truly essential to the success of the civil rights movement. In this essay, Meier advocated strongly that yes, Martin Luther King was indeed essential to the success of the movement, as he possessed strong leadership abilities that ultimately allowed the movement to gain a broad audience. It is Meier’s claim, that King was best able to express the feelings of the African-American population to a white audience, in such a way that didn’t intimidate them and hinder the success of the movement. Meier, however, believes that it isn’t necessarily King’s leadership in the movement directly, but rather his influence with organizations that assisted in the movement (including the Congress of Racial Equality, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference). Meier suggests that Martin Luther King was the “nearest thing to a charismatic leader that the civil rights movement ever had”, thus Meier is suggesting that there wasn’t a real definitive leader in the movement, but that King would be most-identified with this role, if there was one. Through King’s tremendous passion for racial equality and civil rights, he was an effective orator who was able to unite both blacks and whites alike. In essence, King bridged the gap between the races, while still subtly allowing white people to feel guilt and regret for their past actions. King was clever, in the fact that while he placed the blame on white people for the racial indifferences, he also conveys his faith in their salvation. As a moderate leader and a willingness to compromise, King was able to effectively gain civil rights, through the help of his followers. Dr. King, as Meier suggested, made the nonviolent direct action movement respectable, not cowardly. King is also credited with founding the Southern Leadership Conference, which also played a vital role in the success of the movement.
Clayborne Carson, to the contrary of August Meier, suggests that while Martin Luther King played an important role in the success of the civil rights movement, the movement would have proceeded whether or not Martin Luther King were there. Carson believes that the attainment of civil rights cannot be attributed to a national movement, but rather a collective series of regional (particularly Southern) campaigns led by local leaders. As proof of this, Carson points to the numerous protests that occurred in the South throughout the 1960s, in which Martin Luther King wasn’t either involved or present for. The reason for King being nationally prominent during the campaign, is because activists saw him as the most charismatic among other leaders and strategists. Carson also states that King’s inept orating abilities were not unique within the South at the time, as many (if not most) Southern Baptist ministers were able to lecture with as much passion. Thus, it is Carson’s belief that such ministers would be able to fill the void of Martin Luther King. Carson suggests that Martin Luther King would have preferred for the civil rights movement to be remembered as a collaboration of local efforts, rather than the success being attributed solely to him.
Martin Luther King played an important role in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. Dr. King was able to effectively communicate his cause to a wide audience of both blacks and whites, which allowed the movement to become nationally prominent with strong media attention. King possessed strong leadership abilities that encouraged his followers to persevere and strive for equality, through a moral and pacifist manner. Unlike many other civil rights leaders, King was widely-respected by white people and many politicians, which afforded him room to compromise and promote his cause. However, the success of the civil rights movement was a collaboration of independent local leaders and campaigns that allowed the movement to gain popularity through the South and the rest of the United States. During the 1960’s other groups and leaders took different approaches to strive for racial equality, at times more radical approaches. Though the success of the movement may not be ultimately attributed to militant acts of violence, such methods still contributed to the success of the movement rather than detracted from it. Martin Luther King should rightfully be commemorated as a significant leader in the civil rights campaign, but future generations should not dismiss the importance of other leaders such as: Booker T. Washington, Randolph, Rosa Parks, Du Bois, as well as the blacks and whites who advocated for equality.
