7b. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

I’m sure you all know something about Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968). Like Gandhi, he is often held up as one of the greatest peace leaders of modern history. Much of King’s legacy is related to his skill at oratory – giving powerful and inspiring speeches that drew people towards commitment and action in the cause of civil rights.

Here is a summary of major moments in King’s short life:

One of King’s most famous speeches was given in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1963. A quarter of a million people from all over the U.S. marched for Jobs and Freedom, the official theme of the gathering, but it was really about ending discrimination towards Blacks in America. The march, which included a meeting of civil rights leaders with President John F. Kennedy, was a catalyst to the passing of important civil and voter rights acts in the two years that followed.

Listen (and watch the wonderful animation) to King’s 1963 speech “I Have a Dream”: Freedom's Ring (~18 minutes). This speech points to the power of persuasive communication in the success of peace movements. 

While the civil rights movement is often commemorated for the dramatic and successful acts of nonviolent resistance that occurred, the strategies were certainly rooted in thoughtful principles and beliefs. What King brought to the movement was an ability to articulate and embed these beliefs – religious and philosophical – in the movement overall and thus motivate its actions.