Resources 2 3 Sitkoff Garrow Essays-Civ-Rights-Mvmt

8/8/2019 Resources 2 3 Sitkoff Garrow Essays-Civ-Rights-Mvmt

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3 5 8 /vtcito.' brobients t: Antertcar t' inton'

I f 'E S S A \ / SCne rniq'htwell ponderhoiaand whr,Amencans /olic Lr F /ilen hel' did to tire mpiicei-tionsof theu'natjon'soundrng rinciples Hrstoiians raveexamrned onditjonse.xtelnalto the SoLrth. Swell as he cirarisrlatrc eadersirip f sor-rthemersii ie Martin l-LitirerKing. Jr., who perse\/eredesprtehe ccnstant hreatof vrolence.Flart'ardSjtlioff ofCoiumbiaUnrversit . t rnphasizesxternal venls.ie arguesirer t conomic. oi i t ical.and deologicaj 'precondrt ions"set he stage oi- themo\/ement.ncludlng he adveniof televrsion.ireboomrng ostwaleconom\,. ecolonizationn Africa andAsia. zind heemer-gencef the UnrtedStates s eader- f tireFreeViorld. David Garrou,of Emon,Unii,ersit), focLrsesn th3 eadershrp f MartrnLuthel Krnq.Ji ' . n this select ion romhis PLriitzerPrtze-\^,rnn1n_srographi'.Gan-oraeveerls he depth of King'-s comnrrtmentto a role he did not ask or. King's sac rifice s made norepolgnantb), he fact tiratheknew fnll u,e1l irathe u'as nakingone.The u'iilinones.s f Krng. and nany others. o"bear hecross"Lestr f ieso the cr i i icalplaceof indi i ' rCualsn hrstol;, .

The Preconditions or Raciai ChaneeTJAR\ARDSITKOFF

Of the interr-elated ai lsesof progress n race reiatronssulce the start of the GreatDenressjon none was more jnrnoltant t ltarr ire ciranqesn t i le Air iel jcan ecot'tom\/." y , v r L q r r L L r l g r r rNo facet of the raceploblem \ ias untouched 1' he elepirantine rou'thof theGlossNat iona] rodr:ct . ,hic l i ose rom $206bi l l ion n 1940 o $500bi l l ion n1960. nd hen n t i re1960sncreased),an addr t jonal0 percent , v 1970. heeconorr lvoppedire r j l l jondol iernreul i . 'hjs j tectaculeu'r 'atef 'ecot-tomrcrou' thn'ndrrr-ednrr.e 5 r l i l l jon ue\A/obs n thecluerrtelf zicentur-r 'af ter\ /c l : - ld\ iar- I lr v v u \ r \ / j r jetnd :L jsede:L lwase earn jngs i ,er t eeLst0 l rercent . t nreLc ieoss ib le he incr "ezLs-i n g nco r r eo f b lac l t s ;h e j l e r ) t r ' 1 in t o ncJ r - r s t r i e l sn c l a b o i ' L r n i c i r r , \t i e v i o L r s l , r , c l o s e dto then t :-q i i i r i si l ' l t iac i t s n occ i r l t lL t i c i ru -L lt : i t L rs :n r lc le l lec ' lr shor '1 i l , 9c[ ' r , r , o r ' l t e lsth l t tnecess i t z r lec1i s l i t cken in -q1 ' r 'el l ' i c t i vel l l " ( ) l lo l jo i t t oJ ic ies nc l l r c rn t l ' oc lL rc t io r ro f ' s co r eso1 - gove r - nn t o l t tr r c ll t r i v z r t c rn c i L r s l r ' 1 ,l l r . c i l l ; ob r ' l r i r r i r r gl ] l ' o g l ' [ u l s' o i 'A l ' l ' t t - A t l e l i c a r . t s .i l r l s o t ca r t th a t h ecc r ono r r i c ro r r r ess l ' b l l c l i s ;l i c l r , r tl r v e 1 o


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L:lalcrn3iltt, Grcttl !>ccict-t,; n,il fii.oltts 359come at the expense()1' 'h i tes. thus undermining the most powerful source ofwhi te res is tanceo the aci 'ancementf 'bracks.The eff'ectof'economlc changeson racerelationsw,as articuiarl' marked n theSouth'The rapici nclustrrahzat ion1'thesouth since lgl( )encJed he ciominance fthe cotton culture' with its clernise ent the neecl br zr ,astunclerclassi 'unski l led,subjugated aborers'Power shified from rural area.so the cities. ancl i-om tradition-oriented landecl amilies to the neu' officers anclprol'essi'nal w'rkers in absentee-ou'ned corporatiOns. The Iatter iracl neither the histoncal allegiances nor thenonrationalattitchment o racial nrores o r-iskeconomic growth fbr- he sa1e f tracli-t ion' The old systemof race relat ionshad no place n the ne\^ economic: rcler. imeand again n the I950s ancl1960s. he rndust r ia l nc ibus iness l i te ook the Ieac lnaccomnlodat inghe Sor-rtho the changes oughtb.r,the i ' i l r ig ir tsmovement.The exis tence f an "af f luent soc ietv"boostec lhe f i r r tunes f the c i ' i l r ightsmovement tse l f n count lessw'avs.N4ost bv ious l l , . r enerb lec l i l i ions of dol larsin contr ibut ions }orn wealthv iberalsand philanthiopic organizat ions . pour intothe coffers of 'the NAACP Urban l,earsue. outhernchr isr ian Leadershipconfer-ence 'and count less ther c iv i l r ights sroups.wi thour those unds i t i s c i i f f icLr l tocomprehendhou' the movemeni could have accomplisheclhose asksso e.ssent ialt t l i ts success:egislat ive obb-vingand court l i t igat ion. nat ionwide speali ing oursand the dail l ' mail inss of press t 'eleases l l over the countrr,: he orga' izat ion ofmass marches, dernonstrations. ncl ral l ies. constant.rapid coff rmunicat ionandtravel ing o\/er ong distances.ancl he convocat ionof innumerablepLrbl icconier-encesand prir, 'ate trategvsession.s.Prosper it l ' a lso increitsed he leisure t ime of manv Americans and enabledthem to react immedizr ter l ' . the changing t imes. Th; .nn, and daughtersof thenewJyaff lr-rentncreasingl l went to col lege.B,v j970.f i 'e t ime, u, -on' studentswere n col legeas n 1940.what ther' learnedheiped ead o pronouncedchanges nu'hite at t i tudes oward racial discr- iminat ion nd segregat ion. ther whites learnedfrom the TV sets n their homes. B)'the time t-yn,ton Johnson signecl he VbtingRights Act of 1965' some 95 percent of al l American famil ies owned at leasronetelevision'The race problem entered heir l iv ing rooms. Tens .f mil l ions night l_vwatched the drama of the Negro Re'orut ion. The growine major i t i , of Americansfavoring racial equal i t l ' and ustice had thosesenr imenrseinforcedbi, Ti; ' ; ; ; ; isnar l ingpol ice dogsat tack ingblack demonst rators .ou,d) ,whi te hoodsmolest ineyoLlngblackspat ient lvwait ing to be servedat a lunch counter.and hate-f l l lecl ,hitefaces n a frenzy becauseof the effi'onterv of little black children enterins a pre'i-ous ly a l l -whi te schoolBlacks vieu'ed he samescenes n their TV sets.a'd the rzrge hesescenes n--Qenderedelped ransfot 't t l solateciratt]es nto a nat ionalcanrp' ign. concurr.enth,.thc cc lnspicuousl isp la, r 'Ofvhi tea l ' f lLrencen Tv viv id l ) ,awl i l tc . t , t l lacks o a, - ,eu, ,sL- l lsc 1'their elat iveclep' i t ' l i t i ' t t . l 'hat ,t .r" 'r .Lrsed triack argcr-.A'c l ,()\ \ , sorrc-t l l ing coLrld rc lot lc tbclutt ' The g.or.r, ' inglack nr ic lc i le lrc l ,or- l


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F ., :E - r t .3 l!L :[:i; fH . ,I i:': .lF rir ; i; i iI .S1.L,{;ti r-.il i i , , ,!'' i'cii:.Ii ir : l l!,-i.i,, iqi i,f ii ti', :,-t ,',tt\ 1 t . .i:f: a ,: qn s ,:t h.:rb.1 t.,,r|

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)6 0decencies nddigni t - i her bel i l ,ec l he ir r i l l pa_r , 'checkromiser i . ast i r . nar ion l i , ic lI l rosper i i l c:otttr ibLrtedo I lore blaci,senterinscol le_se.. l ,hich t imulatedhi-eher x_pectat ior . ) . \nc i he ightened onl idence hatAnrer ican oc iet ) 'need or be stat ic .Mos t impor tan t i , t ' .ha r lsesn the econor -n \ad ica l lva f fec ted lack n t ig r .a t i . nCoi lon t -nechaniz-at ionushecir lacksofJ ' the 'arms. i lc l he Iureof ' obs pr - r l lec lhemto t i - te 'r t ies . n 1930. hree-c lLrar tersf ' the.Al l -o-Anrer icar - rsived n or near he rura lb lack Lre l t .B, r ' 1L)13. ver hal l ' the b lacks ivec iouts ide he South.and nat ional lynear l r '8( )percel t t es ic ledn urban r reas.ndeed. n the nvo c lec l rdesr ior to 1910.the biack popLr lat ionn rretropolita nureLlsosr _r role than seven nil l ior l_- irnun-r-ber grca te r ha t t he o ta l n tn t ig ra t ion _r n r s ing ienu t iona l i t v roup n, {mer icanh is to r l . SLrch- i ] . ] i . r ssn iSru t io t r .n con . jLnrc t ic ln' r thprospcr i t r ' . ' undamenta l l l ' a lterec l he lvhole cot t f g t - t t ' i i l ion1 ' the ace p loble r i .F i rs t . he issueol ' r "ace ecarnenat ic t t ta ll t sco; re. o longei-c i ic it a f fectonlr onc r -e 'g ior . r .nc ino lon, 'e l 'co l l lc tt belc f t in thc i tandso1 Soir thern vhi tes.Second. t nroc l i fed the ob. ject ive oncl i t ionsot ' l i fe lo t 'b iac l ' ,slnc l hungecii rc i l percept ion 1 'u ' i ra t vas ight and how' to get t .For the f i l 's t in tc in Anrer icanhis ton the great -nass i 'b lacks wel 'e l 'eec l l -c tmhecclt ' t i ' ines1' l i ig ic lcaste tn-rcture. ou, sut-r jecto ner,r 'orrnative xper ic l tces. lacl isder , 'e lopc 'c lreu 'noi 'n tsLrnd ei ie l 's . n t i re re lat iveanonvnt i t r and lreeckrmof theNor th and hebig c i t r ' .aggress ion ( )L l lc le turnec l gainst ne s oppressor rathefhanagainst ne s self : ' t- tot 'educat ional nci nrpr lovnrel l l)pportunit iesouiclbe secured:andpol i t ica lpowercould be rnobi l izec-1.i rn i lar l r .as expectat ions f rac ia lec lual i t l ,increasecl ' i th the sizeo1'blacknr igrat ion l 'om he rural South.so t ire el igious aiththat l - rad 'or o lot tg s t - ts tarnedf ro- ,Anrer icuns ,ork inq on plantat ionsc lec l ined.The promise of 'a bel ter wor ld in the next ( )necoLl ld rot s l r f f ice.The urban blackwould not u 'a i t or h is reu 'ards ut t i l he a l rer l i fe .

Becauseblac l . .s ould \ /o te n t i re Nor th. thev s toppedbel ie i ' ing hev r. l r - r ldhave o u 'a i t .E,nf ranchisernenfronr ised l l rn th is i f 'e hat re l ig ion did in t i renext .The heaven l l c i t i ' . o p l l t t n i i ld l i . \ ' { t s to t ach ie i 'ed : ru i i t a l lee is la t ive nd 1e- ta laccompl ishntents id f lou ' f l 'orn he grcu ' ing black vote. Without the presence fb lack pol i t ica l po\ \ ,e l ' in he Nor th. t l ie c lenronst rat ionsn the South u ' iu lcJnot ha\ /eled o thec t r i i r iqh ts au 'sandpres ic len t ia lc t ions ecess iu - ) ' t oea l ize he ob jec t iveso{ ' t hosepr -o tcs t inega ins t in r Crou ' i n N4r )n tgomen ' . reensboro . i rn t ingham.Jxc l ' . son .nc lSe l r ra .A l thoLrehhe c la in ro f b lac l ipLrh l ic is t si ra t he concent ra t iono1'Nol ' thern-rlack cltcs n the industr iulc i t ies nracle ircAfro-.{nre.r ' icr.urlecrclrare"b l t l l t nceo1 ' l t ou 'e t " ' inu t t iona l o l i t i csu 'asncve t 'u l ro l l vucceptec l- r r ,e i ther a . jo rpa t - t \ ' .hc des i t 'e l ' c r c r \ p rcs ic ien t ' r 'on rru r r r l , . i inooserc l t o Lvnc lon lohnsgr . rou ' i t l a l i d ho ld the - r luc l ' ,c l t eLrecunrc fac to r n dete r "n t in ing1- rL r i r l i co l i c r . Anc lasthe Den loc t - l t t i c1 - r i t t ' t recu t t teessc lcper t r l cn t1 - lon or r the ln lec to r l l yo tes .apc llessab le ( ) s lu -nc t ' t l t en t .l i r ac l o chanr l ' r io r riv i l r ig l t t sn t ( ) r ' cr . r r c lc - r ' t o , , i l t hepop l . l lo t t st l i t es 1 ' t l i cNor t l t t nc l \ { i c ln , cs t' l t c rc l l cks ue l 'L ' ipc ;eus ipg ly- lcegpr ipuI t t t tc ls l tcn l r [ r lc on l) ( )ncr ] t ' l t r - rcru eoal t on- [ 'hcp t 'o t t r i t t cnccl ' t he - ln i t c r l t l t csas r \ ( ) r ' l t l o r i ' e r 'L r r ther 'p r r shcc lo l i t i c rapsi l t t o t l i l l ' i l l g' i t c cc l l t t i o l t si l t u t t c l o l ' r ur t i o r u r lo n e c l ' n .) u l - i n gW i t l l t lW a r I r n i l l i o n s0 l ' A t l l c t ' i c i t l l sc c l t l t l ct \ \ i . t l ' ci r r t l i c I ' i l s t i n r co l ' l l r c r l ungc r l ' r ' l r esn t o n l i l i o n l r ls c c t l I i t r " .- l 1 ce ( ) : ' l s l ' l ' i r c i s n ri ' c n tcvcn r i r hc r c l r r r i ngl r c ( - o l t l W i r r .Th c S o r , ' i c tL l t l i o r t o l l l i t l t t o L t s l r , ' t t t t t l c t ' c L t tn t c t ' i e ; u rl l l ) c l l s o t l r cn l t t i ons l ' ; \ l r i c ; r r n t lA s i a t 1 ,

l t r r b l i c i z i n gr n r ' rc r r n l l - t r ca t n t c l t tl ' i r l u c l i s .\ s l t cc r ) l l l p c r i t i o nr c l u , c c l rl r cL _ ] n i t c i


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] 6 1States nd ntet 'nat ional otlt t tLttt isnrntensi{ lecl.'oreiqr i-pol icvmakerscame g rec-ognize acismas ircAntertcatts own \\/orst ltem,\,. residentHarr ' \ , ruman ust i f ieclh is ask ingCongressor c iv i l r ights egis la t ion quare lv n the q,gr jd-w, ic lempl ica-t ions o1'American ace 'clat ions.Rarelr in the next twentv _vears icta plea for cir , , i lr ights before he SLrprenle ourt . on the f loor of 'Consress.anclemanat ing r-om he\ l/hite House. 'ai l o emphasize hat point . In short. 'ear orced the nat ion o hastenthe redef lr r ingo1'the black stat lrs.The nrore involvecl n ,uvorlclaffairs the UniteclStates ecaine. he tnore mpelat ivesrev\ he rasl ioi 'set t ing ts r lc ial l f fairs in order.The rapic l ror , l ' th 1 'nat ional is t icnc lepenclenceo\ /emenrs mong he wclr lc l 'sc t l lo t 'ec leoples ad specia l ign i f icance 'ur f l 'c i -Anter icans.n 1960alone.s ix tecnAl l ' ican nat ionsel l le l 'gec ll -omunderwhi te colonia ln- r le . ach pr ( )c lantat ion f in-dependencen par t sh lmed blac l is n the Uni tec iStates o intens i fv 6eir s t ru_{g leibr ecluai i t l 'and. iust ice.tt tcin part causecli sLlrqe f raci l l p l ' ic ien Alr '6-Anter icans.an af l j r tnat ion o1'blaci i t te.ss.he expcr ienceof Air ican independence 1;vecl hefeasibi l i tv of changeanci he t 'Lt lnerabi l itv 1- ,hite sLrpremzrc_r'.hi le at the sarnet in le a id ine Af ro-Arner ic i tns o see thernselves s menlberso1 'a wgr lc l major i tyrather han as- jus l thope ess lvont r rumbered mer ican minor i t \ ' .The decl ine n ir l tei lectualespectabi l in, f ideasuseclo-jr-rst i i 'r /esresAt ion nddiscr iminat ionsirni iar lvprovidedAfro-Anrericans l ' i th new weerpops nd shields.The excesses f Nazis t r tand the c lec l ine 1 'Western mper ia l ismcor-nbined , i thinternaldevelopmentsn the academicdiscipl inesof anthropologv. iologi, .historr,.psycholog-r".nd sociologl ' ctdiscreditnot ionsof inherent acialdifTelences r pre-disposit ions. irst in the 1930s. hen u,ith accelerat ingapici i tydur ine WorlciS/ar-IIand ever ) ' ) /ear hereaf ter . ooks anclessal 's t tack ing acia l n just iceand nec lual-i t1 ' 'u1t-ooff the presses. s ear ly 'as 1914. Gunnar M_r 'rc ler ln his rr lonur lental 4,Anteric:ctnDilutttlto Lerffted he pronoLlnced hange n schoiarship aboLrt ace "the

nlost mpt lr tantof al l social rends n the f leld of interracial elat ions."This conciu-sion ot'erstated he pou,erct l ' theu,ord. but undoubtedl l , he mountain of neq,data"theort '-and exposit ionat leasthelped o erode he pseudo-scient i f lc'at ional izat ionsonce popular lv accepted s he basis1'orwhite sl lpremacv.In suchan atmosphere.'oLlnsblackscoulclntature vithout "the ma;k of oppres-sion." Blacks coLr ld a1-elvbanclonhe "niqger ' role. To the extent hat textbooks.sermons.declarat ic ins \ gtn'et 'nmental f f ic ials. advert is ing.ernclmovies and TVaf l lrnled the need o lralts l 'or t .nelat ionships etu,een he racesancl o sl lppon blackc lemands'or 'u l l c i t izenship. iackscor - r ldonf lc lent lv nclopenlr , rebeJiqainst i reinequi t ies hel ' r ' ieu 'edas t l ie sc)L l rces1 ' the i t ' ppressron. her coLr ic l Lrb l ic ly t -press he r i lge heir" at 'ents aclbeen orced o rnternahz,e:hev cituld batt le or u,hattheYdeenled heir b i l ' thr ight athef hern\ ' i lsew'arasainst hemselves. hus. n con-l t t t lc t iOt l " i th he nt ig t 'a t iono cr t ies. l iese 1o\1, 'gs l lura ll t rocesseselpec lo pr -odLrcet l re 'NetvNegt 'o " 'ha i lec lr , 'ess i t v is t svers incc heN4r tn t -9o l . l t c r - \ , bus9 \ , c9 t tp 195( ri l t i t t - tg t - t t 'a tec lt n lorcuggrcss i rc t l rgen theA1t -o- , . \n ter - ic iu , )c lLrcrs tor .ec;Lra l i tv .I t l s t t l ' t r . h l t t tgest l thc Antc t ' icunec( )nontv l ' ter ' 9-+0sct in l t ro t ion r hosf o1 't leve lOpt t re l t l s'h ich t rac lcl )oss i l t le t ruurs l 'o r rna t igpl r r l ce ;c l l r t ieps . ' hc i l c l . eus-i r lg l l co l l l e t t t t l t L t l l l l l e t 'o l ' . jo t r si , a i lab leo [ r luchs nc l ,h i t cs " l t c l l ; Lck t ig t .u t ionI t t ldsOct i t l t lo l l i l i t y . t l i r l cscc t lt , i t l tcon \ / c rg ins renc lsn po l i t i cs . e ;e ig l t l l ' l ' i r l r - s .I t r rd hc l l l a ss t lcc l ia t l c : t t c l t t r t ' l l r oser r t cn t l t in t l l ' ( ) \ / i l ' t grcc c lu t ionsn , i t h bo ththe resou l ' ccstnc l o r rsc io r - r sncss. lcccssur -1 ,ocha l lengc he s ta tL rsLro .O[ l . j c t .1 i r ,e


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condi t ior rshut h i - rdi t t le to {11 , i t i i ' l - rccn r Pr iu t l r - - \ j l t se huscreated i context nr, 'u'hrclrl"galtr, t t t ions tncl eude s coLrldpless SLrce.:s l - r l lv irr r iLcialc i- rapgesThr,sis I t o t to sL lgg-s t ha t nd iv idu iL ls o no t n ta t te i ' r nh is to r r o r t i r : r t hc c iv iJ r igh tsI l lo \ 'e l l len t i i c l o t n iakean nd i \pensa i - l ieon t r ibu t iono l r r r ) s l ' c \ sr . r' i r eec la t ic tns .I t is .h( t t l ,e ' t 'e l ' .o etnphasizehepreconcl i t ions'or r rch n endea\ ,or to revai l .Desir -ear ld r i ' i l l a re t io t enoLrg i ' r .ign i f i can tanc i ong- las t ins l te ra t ionsl r soc ie t_ r , '1 lour le i ther '1 l 'o l ll t e r ; r r t ' e i 1 'L l Lmn( ) r ' ln lm nc i r v ic iL ra lonrc rs ions . \4ass lLu 'ches .del t . t t l l t s t t ' l - t t io t ts .nc l -hc ' tor ict lo l te iu l to t t loc l i l ' r e r t le l tchcc lrehav iot ' Lnc lu iLres.Funclat t te l l ta loc ia l c i ra l tge s ucconrp l ishec ln l_ru ' i ren nc l iv ic l r -uL isc i . r -e .l tc ; r . rs-t l len t o n tob i i i , r ehe l t t e r t t o \ \ ' c l nheren t n i in ns t i t r - r i ionu lt ruc tu rcn 1 ' lux .Begint t ins i t t i tc 193( )s .- l luc l is .r i onger ' f 'ac insi nronol i t i r ic ' i r i tepo\ , \ /ert r l lc tLr rL.so l ic l l - r t - t ' l lvcc lgt t ins t hcr t t .c ier ru- rnc lec li t i t nLunhcls nc lu Lrn i f t i t l r thac l tc \ /ere r is tec l e lo t ' c i t e o ta l e l in r ina t ion l ' r i r c iu l nccyLur l i t _ rn . {n tc t ' i cun i i ' c .Fo r th r -eedecacles.i tc i tc t ics .urd oaiso1 ' t l ie ro\cnrent tcudi l rgr r 'u l t lore l i l i tant as l rcor--s i . t t l iz i . t t ion.1- l t 'o tests .tnc l ( ) \ \ /er "1 ' [ r iac l ' ,s . jLrnt ; lec lrponcnt iu l l r .Euc irsr la l l t l iLrptphhelc l t t l l r t p t ' ( ) t t t ise1 ' l ] rcate l 'o l lc . c ig i r tenrng rncct l - r i ionsLnr l ar rs ins] luc i is obecot le Lr\ f n' lot-enxi i t r - rsbr lut hc i- lLrcel l 1"lrt)gt 't 'ss.The l irst stasecenterecl n sccr-u' inrhe cnlol i :el l r .nt o1'theFoLtrtecnth itc l - . - i1 '-teet t thAntet tc in tents . r " rppor tec lur in i - i ' r r u 'h i tc i ibera isunc iLrppet ' - l ' l t idc l le-c lasb lacks . hec i r i l r - ig l i t s ro \ /enren in the lL )3 ( )snc l i l 40s rc l iec l n pub i ic i t r ' . g i t a -t i c ' r t t .i t i sa t io r t n t l ie cour t s . nd o l rbv ing n the hu i lso f po i i t i ca li ro \ \e r o ga in i - ]e1 'Lr l ll t c i t ts i i l l t 1-b lac i ' ,sn Anrer icun i fe . AcJv i-urcesLunc n the egal lnc l c t lnonr ics tatus 1 'b lacks. nc l n the r r inor soc ia l .po i i t ica l .anc i u l rura lconcess ions 1i 'orc le


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i r , ia l i t t t3 l l tc Grcai. ! ' r r , '7 .,1. i .. ' i t , i i Ri q t ts 1 / 1) o )lncreas ing irmness. ibera l pol i t ic ianspressec lor c iv i l r ights ies is la t ionanclerx-phasized hat the pJ'act ices f i , l 'h i te upr.rnocv brought into cl isrepute merica'sstated 'u l ' t t rims 'Min in la l ga ins o be sLlre" Lrt he.^p. . , " , igns thei 'aroused et hestage1br he sreateraclvancesn tirepostw'ar er iocl.B),. L)15.A11-.-Americ 'nshercJbenef l ted nough ionl t l ie expansion n nbs and nc6pre. eryice ' the armecJorcesand he nlass ivemisrat ion ctNor thernc i t ies o knou'bet teru, i - ra thel 'no\ / u ,antec l :and t i re t 'haddevelopeci noughpol i t ica l nf luence.u,h i tea l l iances. nd orsaniza-t ton iL l l i i l is o knou ho\* , c ige aboutget t ing i - le i r .c iv i lights .EqualiVVital. he SuprenleCourt began o ci isrnunt lehe separ.ate-but-ecluaioc-t r ine n 1938'That ) 'eal ' .he r ighcol lr t rulecl harN4issour i oulclnoi exclucle rNegro1l 'onl ts stateutlir , 'et 'sit-ruu school u,hen ts onlv alternat ive \,asa scirolarship clan out-of-state nstitut i.n. other Suprene court clecis ions nor- o wbr lc l \ \ /ar IIu 'h i t t lec i u 'avat d iscr in l inat ion n inters tateravel . n ernpl( ) \ ,ment .n. lLrc l ic ia inc lpol icepract ices. t lc n t i rcexc lus ion 1-b lacksronr . jun,sen, ice. Lr r i 'g he u,au. .heCourt out lawed he u'hircpritrt : . t t 'r .oiding t irat irenominat ingpr-()ce,ss1a pr i i t icalpart-\r onstitLlted state action." iti other clecisions ancleddovl,ncJuring he Trurnarnpresidenct ' 'he SuprenleCttLrrtmoved vigorouslvagainstal l 1brnrs 1'r .gr"gu, i 'n ininterst i l te ommerce.clecic lecihat states ncl ire{ 'ederal overnmentcannotenl 'orcerestr jct irzeaci i t lcovel lantstn hoLrsing. ncl o er lpl iasized he rnportance f .. inta.-gible f-actors"'n cluet i i t leclucat ionhat the ciemiseo1-egal lv segresated cho. l insf o r s t r - r den t sa t a l l l e r , e i sbeca l I l l eanea r ce r t a in t \

Meanw'h i le . he 'urnan adrn in is t rat ion nrer -9edsan al l t 'o1the caLrsef c i ' i lr i-ehts'Responding o the grou,th of the blacl, . ,ote. he need tci blunt the So' iet[Jnion's exploitat ionof' t lre race ssue.and the f lrmly orgernized arnpaign or theadvancement f blacks.Harr,\ 'Truman actedu'hereRoosevelthacl ear-edo. ]n late1916' he Presidentappointeda Commit tee on Civi l Rights to recorrmend specif icmeasures o safe*uard he civ i l r ights of minor i t ies .This vvas ire f l rs t suc i i com-mit tee n Atttericanhistor t ' -ancl ts lg-4i r"eport. t Secrtt-c l te.saRiglt ts, loquent ly,pointed out a l l the inec lu i t ies f l i fe in J im Crow Amer ica 3nd spel led o ' t themoral ' economic.and nterr lat ionai easons clr goi,ernmentact ion. t cal ied for theend of segregi l t ion t ld d jscr in- r inat ionn pLrb l icec luczr t ion.mplsyment .housing.the arnled orces.pLrbl icaccontntocJations.nd nterstate ransportat ion. ther.corr-missionsappointedb1'Trutrarnstressed he need for racial ecl,ai i t ' in the armedserYices nd he - ie ld f ec lucat ion. ar11, ' in9: t8 .Trurnansent he . i rs t res ident ia ll ressaseon civ i l r ig i l ts t l Col tgress. ongressai lec l o pass1pr of . themeasures eproposed'but Tr l t rn i tn atet ' issued xecut iv 'e rdersencJ ins egr-egat ionn t l ie rn i i i -tan 'etnd barr ing discr in l i l ta t io t t n l 'ec lera l mplovnrentanc l n u, . r i , c loneuncler .governmentcot r t ract . n ac ld i t ic ln . is Jr - rs t iceepar ' lnrenl reparec l tp t i .Lr ,st ,^ i r tebr ie fs o gain f i rv t l rab le ( )L l l ' rlec i .s ionsn c iv i l r ight .s ases. nc lTr -Lpp1n's-6c- tor ici r r bc l ra l l '01 ' -ac ia l. i t rs t ice c lpcc l cf t i n t iz .e oals o l ' the c i r i l r - ig l r is r ( ) \ ,e 'ent .Hot l ' c t 'e-s t l l l t l l he t lc i t t l ins f l r l ccor r r ; r l i shnrcn tenra inec l .he c le t i l i ca t i . , . l ' t heSup l ' c t t le t lu t ' t t t l c l hc Pt 'es ic le l t c t 'u , i t hl re 'causel ' r 'ac ia l qLr i r l i t , r ,, L r r - t l r e r - .u - .usec ltheexpec ta t iOns l 'b lacks l i a t hc1 , i , 1 ,u lc loonshu l . cn theAnrc r . i cu ' )1 .c , ' r .No s i l l g l ceve l l t i c l l l o l ' e o c lL t ic l ' , cnlac l , opes han hc ce t rp lc er - i i ceo seg-regl i tec l dt tc l t t ic l t tlc - l iVet "cc l- lvu Lur iur inrousuprcnr t : 'our - tl r rMav 17.195-1. -hcBr r t v ' t t L r l ine h i t lscP l t l t t e t l r r c l l ion : r lac i l i t ies ar -ci r rhe-cp t l1 ,r cc ;L ra l ' "t r . ucktthc Ve l ' v e i t t ' t l l ' u 'h i t c su l t t ' cn r : r c - \ 'r r he SoLr lh . vc i r r a te r . .hc ( ' r ) r r - lcu l l cd f , c l r .


7/15

con lp l iancer , l i t i ta i l c le l iheru tepeed. " randat inghc ouc i - l . cdc ra lour t s o req i r i i "ci ' ro t t t ocal sc i too l - roat 'dsa pr 'onrpt nc l c 'Lrsoni tb le : t i -u ' tou 'arc i u l l conrp l i iLnce. "The end o l ' I eg iL l l r n tandated esregut ionn ec lL rc r . r t iontu r t cc l cha in le 'ue t iu r . ru , i r ic i t ec l he Sutpt 'enret iur te \er . l Lr r - t i rerc lou 'nhe r -oac lor , 'ar -c lhe ota le l i in ina i igno f a l l r i t c ia ld rs t inc t ionsn the lau . For a l l p rac t ica lpLu ' i rose \ .he lesa l qLres i o r .ec lua l i t rhac lsucceec led :he emphas is ) r . rega l isn r ac luccon lp l i shed ts goa ls .Cons t i t L r t iona l I : .I acks ad - rec r l rnei r s t - c iass i t i zens .

But n thec lccu t i r 'a f t c r theJ i r , , i l r i lec rs ion .hepronr isc 1 'c i rangearor - r l ranhereal i t_r 'o ft . \ \ 'h i le inc l i r c iua l lac l iso l ta lentc lcsegre latec lnostpro l 'ess ions.i - rc'e-cess iot ts l ' t l rc 'F i f iescuLrscc l' l luc l ' ' nenrp lovnrenl()s( )Lu 'anc lhc gapbet r , r , 'eeniac i ,a l t c l 'h i t e1 'an t i l rl t conrL ' t ( )' ide r r . . {nc liesp i tehe -u l in rs i ' t l i cSuprenre ou i ' r rnc ithc nob leges tL l lcs tnc l peechesi f 'po i i t i c iuns . r i - r \ s i recs is i l inceo c icsegrcg l r t io ; rt l t rc tushot t theSoLr th rovec lhenr ie .This \ \ ' t rshe conter i for t l te seconcl tuge i thec iv i l r ig l " ] t slovL l l t c l t t . \ ' hen hc n l i t ion 's t ten tp t o lo res ia l ! n tegru t ionrnr i 'ae la lec lL r i i l t t vo l l i c l ec !' i t i rbo th heAl l 'o - .Arner ica l t s 'eapurg - ) , l l cc tL r t ionsnc l her i ' c i i s -s l , t t i s ft c t io t t , i t h he speec l l ' ch tnse . b l l r c l i s oo l . . o the s t lce ts n r - r ; - r re i ' non-v i t t len t . i rec t -uc t io l . tu 'o t cs ts, r r r - r ins t\ c r ' \ uspec t l ' r ' l c isn r t i l l hL rn r i l ia t rngi r cn t

A LeaCer or His T ime: Mar t in Luther K ing, Jr .l )A \ / tD. i .L ,ARR( ) \ \ '

Thursdztv adbeel tbusr anc l i r inq 'or ' l \4rs . avn. ror . rd. Pl i r l , .s . {er ' - jobs a ta i lor "sI tss is t t t t t tt the N, lontgonrer ' \a i r c lepar tnrenttore rac l e t ' the l neck ancls l rou ic ler 'par t i c l l la r l rso re .and r 'henshe e f t u 'o rk a t 5 :30 r , . l r . l ia l Decentber . 1955.s i teu 'e l l t across he s t reet o u drugstore n searchof a i te i i t in t pac l .N.4rs . ar l isd idn ' tf ind one. bLr t hepurchased I 'e i . r ther ar t ic lesbel 'ore ecross ing he st l 'eet o hert - tsual Lts topon Cour t Squure. he i - ruses\e l 'eespeeia i l rcnrut led th is co ld. c lar l . ,evet t ing. tnc l 'het tshe - loardec ilne1 'or er Clevelanc l renLre -oLl te .)n lv or ie rou 'of -seats- the rou intnrec l ia te ly e i r ind he f i rs t ten seuts hat a l \ \Lr \ js\ 'e t 'eescr - r 'ec iI 'o t ' 'h i tesonl l ' - i tad an\ ' 'uc l rnc ies. i re ook un ais leseat . i th lLb lack ntanon her 'r ight t text o the r t indor i . anc l r , rob lac l . ,\ ( )n ten n t i tc par -u l le i c l t tact 'osshe uur ' .

, {s t lore passenget 'soarc lcc lt eacho1' t l re uo ner t s to l ls . hc- - r lacksnoveclothe 'e i t t - .he t 'e l t e r s tooc l . n r l he u 'h i tes ccLrp iedl re i r c . r c lus i re ezr t st t he 1 ' r 'on to1 ' thebLrs . ,A tl re h i r c ls to l ' r . ro repassengerso1on. unc l )ne . u l i r t e rna le . \ ' i r sle1 ' t t and i t . t gl ' t c - r ' t hcna l ' r 'on t e : - r ti l L s u l ' . c r ' ) .he bLrsl l i r c r ' . . 1 . . B lake . oo l .e i lback L r t c la l lec l L t t o \ ' 1 r ' s . u r "ks nd I re r l t ree o l leugLrcs ..A l l r - igh t 'ou lo l l . , : .u l t l t l fh t lsc t l i t sc l - t ls . " 4( ) r ' t lg( )nrcr ' - \cLrs t ( )nt l l ' \I r l i te t ie 'ct l nrc ' i l r l rc l 'erencel t -I t la l i c lcc lha ta l l l r rL r t ' i - l luc l . , s\ ( )L r lc lr l i c to s tan t l n o l ' c lc ro u l lou ' ( )nc \ l t i t c n lu t t os i t .s i t t c c t t t r l l r c l . ,\ i t S l l o u c r l o s i t I ) l u ' L t l l e I' i t l r i u h i t c . N o o l t c n l o \ c c l t I ' i r s1 .B I a l . . c : ' i r o l ' . et r t t g l t i t t : \ ' o u l L l l c t t c ln r i l i c t l i g h r ) n o L l l ' s c l r c sn t l c l n . r cu r r ct hoscsc l t t s . " \ t l h l i t . l t c \ \ ) \ ( ) n r cn c r o s s ' r ' o r n l l ' s . ) l rl ' . s' ( ) \ c r n t l r r o r r l t ot h c t ' c l t t ' :h c t t t i t l t c s i r l c c t ' r ' o s c l s o . t n r l h c l l o \ e ( l r c r c s s o l r l l o u h i n r l r r ti t l t t t l t c t i s l c . h c c l n i r i n c c li l c n t " r r r t h i l ' l c r lo t h c u i n t l o r is i t l e l ' l l r cs c i r t .

1 / A) (-)r+

l ) r r r i r l . 1 . i r r r r o n i i ' t u ' i t t r ,l t r , ( i ) \ \ . ' l t r t t i r t . t r t l t t , t( ' o t t f i ' t r ' r i t' { N c r i \ i l ' l ' . \ ' i l r t l u c . ( ) S l l ) .P P . I I 1 l . l .l l t ' l l r r t t l r ' r l) ) ' P e ' t l i s s i o i t l ' l l l r i ' P c i ( ' o l l i n s) r r l r l i s i t r ' l : . .

A i r r , q ,l ' . , t r t t l , , \ t , t r l r t ' r t ( . r / t t r t ' L r L l t '' s l t r1 t, i l 5 S . 7 l . ( ' , r 1 r r r i s l r t, l ( J S ( rr . , ) r i r t l . l . i l u r o u .I t t r ' . . l t t t r l\ r l l r . i n t l o r r o u


8/15

TI{ ) 6 5Blake c:oLt id ee hat . \4r : ' . rar l .shad not lu ' isen. i -oo l , . w'c lnr .ur .to lc l _r ,ouwanted he seat.Are vclugr i ing o stitncl rp'r" t that. RosaL-eeMcCauie_r ar l isurt-teredher f l rs t \ \ /ord o h in l : "No." Blu l re 'esponcled.l i ' rou c lon ' t tanc l rp.' r l uo ingto have /oltarrested.' ' rs. Pzrrlisolc lhint to so r ight aheacl.hat sheu,asnpi gging 9move. Bia l


9/15

) 6 6to\ \ 'arc l ack Lrnt i l l l seais \et 'e aken. : ( ) that no one \ ,oLt lc l avc o stando\er i - rvacantseat .bLr i g i - t ini tc ot f tc ia ls \ 'c reLl l . l l 'e \ l l ( ) l ls i r.

Then. on IVlur j . 19- i j l . he U.S. SLtp l ' r rn teoi t r t handeddou' t t ts u, ide l l her -a lc led chool c ieseuregat ionec is ion n IJntv ' r / . Bour t l r i E, r lucut ior tt . f [opaku,v r , 'h ichrp l ic i t l r he id tha t he segfesa t ion is toc t r ineo1 ' "sep iu 'a teLr l qua l ' 'u 'asrupcgns t i t L r t iona l .e t ' s l t i r i t si f t ec i .v4 rs . o i r insonour days l t t e t ' sc t t tt i r n t c lec la -ra t io l t 1o Montgo l le r \ I \ iuyor W. A. C ' : r v le . . Other A labar l lac i t ies . s l l ch asN4obi le . 'ereus ing i te ' i l 'o l t t - to- t racknc lh: - rc l ' , - to- f t 'c tn teal i r rg ; ro l ic t , i , ' i th t tL t t :ur rp rob le l l s . N4r 's . i lL r i l t soner t r indec l uv lc . \ t r 'h t ' co i t l c l t o t N4ot t tgo t l le rvo thesr .unc ' lP leuseconsic icr h is p ieu. " s i revvt 'o tc in t . " l lnd i1 'pos: ; ib lc .tc t 1 ' l tvo l 'a t ' l l rL lpo l t t . 1 'o t -e\ ,o l tou 1- l i l tnsr -e e ing nradc o I ' idc ess.ot ' I ' to t l t t l l . o t t o t t r b t tses,We c lo . tc l l 'a t r t h is . "

Robi l ts ( )n 's in ts a i ' lor - r tt bovcot twele nol sLtppor tec lr l t t t , r r t l i l ' iec lc l l t i t l lcntin the blac l . , o l ln tLtn i t t .Onc nr ic l -9-5-+reet in t : 1 'co l t ln tLrn i t reac let 'sac l o i t t tc i in ta jo r i t i opposcc io t rn r hovco t ta t t h l t t in te .Thc s tu lc l la teco t l t i t t uednto eat ' l t '195-5 s Nrxon l . rnc ihe \ \ 'PC pr ivate lvc l iscr - rsscc lhe poss ib i l i t r o f ' t t - to t t t t t i t tg- t egalchal lenge o Mor . r tgonten 'srusscr r t inS r ' ; . te t iccs.l - ren. t t V{ l t t 'c i r. 195- i . t t l r rc i -dent occur red thut gulvanizcc l he long-sr t - to lc lcr - ing- r lack cnt i t l lc l l ts .A f f teen-) ,ear r -o lc ligh schools tuc ient . laudet teC-oiv i r t .e lL tsec l c i r i i 'e t "sle t r t l t t tc ll - r l t t heg ive up he l 'busseat . \ / e l l ou 'a rc lhe rearo l - thc reh ic le . o a l l ou t te r , i , ' l t '" r c la t -d ingu,hites tct s i t c lou'n.Pol icer len dr lrggeciColvin l't 'ottt he irt ts. altc l u 'ot 'c lspreaclcpr ic l i l r ' . r s . Rob inson nd Ni ron thoLrgh thevnr igh thavean c lea lega l es tcase .Col i ' in had beenact ive n t l reN.AACPYouthCounci l .unc l he st 'o t - tp 'sc i i ' isot ' "\4rs .Rctsl- rarks.alongu i th her r iend Virginra )urr ' .bcglr t t ol ic i t i r t rcontt ' iblt t iottsou'ardthe legai ees. Alntost mrnecl ia te l r ' .ou,et 'er ' .rob lentsc leveloped. i rs t . Colv i t t 'sres is tanceo the an 'esting f f icers hac l "esul tec in her Lre ing l- rat -gec l' i th ass lnt l tanc lbat terv ls i i ,e l l i ls v io la t i t jg Ci tYand st l te srgregat i r ' rn t r r tu tes. econd.bothRob i l t so r . ]nd Nixon learnec ln independcn ln te rv ieu 's i th Co lv i t t t nc l re r 'an t i i t ,that the \1oLtr-)g-rnntarried 'crman \ 'assereral r-t-tonthsregtutnt.Both ieaderscolt -c l r - rdedhat Colv in u 'oLr lc l e nei theran ic lea l anc l idateor svntbol iz ing l te abt tseheapedLlp( ) l t r luc l . ,l lssengel 'sto l 'a goocl i t rgant 'o t ' r - tcs t s t t i tce l 'L ; - t i r to gel- }et -ategreatpressLlrest tc i - lLr [ - r l ic i t r .. .\ \ 'hen l\ ' l r -s.Robins() l t eanred o1't i rc-Rosa Plu' i . .s 's l u 'r 'estatc that ThLu'sdit rn ight 1 l 'or l Fr -ec l rur . shc in tnrediate l rphoneclNi \on. r , rhohud. justgot tenhol t tcf ront N' I rs . ur l is 's touse Toset i ter her lLsrc-c t ihat h is \ \ i rs . jLrs t'hut hcr hat l bect tu 'a i t ing 1 'or ' .We had pl lu l tcd t l re protcst or rg bc1 'or r - 4r 's . at ' I . .s\L isan 'cstec l . "Mrs. Robins( )n nt ; lhus izer lears lu ter ' . Thc ' r 'ehac lbcen s( ) n lu t - \ t l - ) ingsl rat h l t ; r -penecl .hat l tc bl l rck \ontc l i hud beenenrb l rn 'usscc lrcr ' . - tn t lhcr \ \c t 'c 'c l ,L t l ro c t -p loc le. " lso. "N' l r 's .Pur l ' .s l r r l hc cul i l rc ro l .char - r - rc lcr ' \ \ 'ctccr lcc lo !c t the c i t t toru l l - t , L reh i r rdrs . "lo l - r insono l t l N i ron t lu r t hcun t i i c t ' \ \ ' l )C 'o l leugLrcs\oLr l t l- r cg i t t1 l 'odLrc ingo t ' co t t c l r l ' l c t snu i te t l ia t c l r ' .r n t l l t c uo l ig r ' cc r llu t t he ' l - \ c l ' s\ 'o t r l t l a l lon a l l b luck [ )eop lc o s tuvo l ' l ' t hebLrscsn N ionr la r ' .hc t lu_r '1 'N l t ' s . l l l ' l ' . s ' sr i l l .' l ' l t cva lso agrcc t l l l r t lhc l r l l t c l \ ( )nunLut r t_ rt : l r r l c rs l r i i rl t o t t l r lt ssc t t th lct t t ; t ' i t l l t r ' .N i r o n \ \ " ( ) u l c li l g u n i z cl u r l n c r ' l i l t g .' h i l c i o b i r r s o n\ o r . r l r lc , , :o t hc c l r l ' l c t t i r r g .

I l o b i n : , o nr l c r t c r l c rc r r r l l ' h c r ' \ \ , ' i ' ( ' t ' o l l c u g t t c s .h c r t l t t l o u t l u t t lc l n i l ' t c t lt h c l c a l ' l e r t .l r r r l l l l c t l r l ' r ' i c r r t l h o h l c l r e e r ' s so , \ l l l l t t n l tS t l t t c " s n i l t t c ( ) ! t . i 1 t hl ' o o n l . l n r l l t c t ' ' c n c l c / . \i i s t ' r l r t l t c c o l l c u c r r r t l e u l u l u r r r t i ng l ' l ' l t o u s l t t i r l s1 'e o l t i c s .l ' h c r r\ r , o r l ' . c t ll l r r i g l r t .L l r r l ' l t e r n ( ) l ' n i l l t' l r r n e\ \ i ' ( ' t ncn t bc t ' s .c l p e r d


10/15

)67b1 'sc in ie f Ro l r inson 's . s tL iden ts .re !an i i s t r ibLr t rn lhe ar . ] r . roLrnce i len tso ever \b l a c k n e r g h b o r h o oc ln Mon t gon r e r ' , \ . . . .T h e l o n s - c l r s c Ll s s e c lr c i v co t t ' a s b o u lto ge t under \ 'a ) .

Af ter a f i t f 'Lr l rght .E. D. Niron Lr r 'osear ivFr ida, r ,r ( )nr ing o beginassenrb l insthe b lack eadershipNixon i ineu that r nrass ovcot to1 Montsomer \ ' 's uses our idnot be accompl ishec linrp l r Lr r hc \ \ /PC ancl he f 'eu, egula l act i r is tssuc i" rLs i rn-se l l ' .A l thoLrsh he \ \ /or renhaclLrcenhe c i r iv ing 'orcebehir rc l l l o1 ' theblack com-mun i t ) 'e f f 'o r t s 1 ' t l t e as t feu ) rcars . - i r i l ss r -o tes t\ ( )L r ic lucceec l n l v i1 ' t he- r 'cou ld ob ta in he en thusras t rcLr l lpor t l 'N4ontgon ' le r \ , ' ' siuc l . .min is te ls .Wi th tha tin r l ind. Nixon madc h is f i rs t ca i l to one o i t i ' rc ,oL insest : , rnc lros lor "r tspol ien1 ' thcc i t l ' ' s pas to rs . a lphD. .Abcrna th r .

Abernath- t .he secretar -_\ 'l the Buptis tsL lp l tor the e lJ i r r t . . . ,Abernat i rv iso at l rbest r - iends.hc Reverenc l 4 . - . Kinq. . f ' . .and ask 1 ' the neet ing ould he re lc l herc .c ( ) n t ; i e t i r t qt hc rn i i r r i s t c t ' : .

l r 4 in is te rs ' ,A l l iance .o lc lN ixon he wou idisec lNiron to p i - rone ne o1 'Abc ' rnathr ' 'spastor l l 'DexterAvenircBapt is tChLrrch.ln thc- leunt i rne. Abernathr ou ld begin

Nixon cpr ick l i ' ecur"ec iPres ic ient 1 ' he Bapt is t N4nis ters ' { i i i r . rnce everenc lF{ .H. lHLrbbard 's pproval .He thencal lec lKing. Nixor r e la tec lhe events - r1 ' there-v ious eve i r - rg .o ic lKi r rg o1 ' theenier t ing c( )nsensLrso hegina bovcot ton N4oncla l ' .artdasked f the \ /oLurg astorwoLr lc l. io in n support ing he efl 'or-r. inq hesitr. rtecl.ehad a newbornc laLrshter ' .ess han one lnont l i o ld . anc l rear ' \ 'esponsib i i i t iest h ischurch.Onlv a 1 'ew'u 'eeksar l ier re had c lu-c l inedo be cons ideredor pres ident fthe local NAACP chapterbecuLrsef theseother demandson his t inre.He u 'asn ' tsure he coLr ld anc l le nv ac lc l i t ionalesponsi [ r i l i t ies .'Bnr therNixon. " he sa id. le trne h ink about t au,h i le . nd ca l l me bacl i . "Nixon to ld King that he andAbernathr 'ah 'eadl 'were el i ingpeople o mcet at King 's church hatevening. That 'sal l r ight . "King repl ied.

' l. just ,1 ' 'anto think about t and henvou cal l rnebucl.. ." ixon asreed.K ing hadn ' t had long to n iu l l over N ixon s rec lues t e fo reAberna thvca l l ed .

Abernath-v ad hear-drom Niron abouth is f r ienc l 's esr tat ion. nd u 'antec io st ressto King the oppor tLr r r i tvi ra t he Parksar rest epresentec l .ing ac l inou ' ledgedhatAbernatht ,u 'accor rect :he hac ln() F lun 'e l i th the bot ,cot tp lan. So lons i rshe d iCnot have o do the orgar tizat ional 'ork .he u 'oulc l e - rappv()sLrppor the e1 '1 'or tndhos t he even ingnree t ine t Dex te i - church

E,ar lY r ic la l ' t 'er t ing. s \ ' l rs .Rohins( )n 'seal- lc ' ts: i rc r - r la tec li r roughout 4ont -g( )nrer ' \ ' ' .ome serent r b lack leuc lerslsser lb lcc l r r the- ascnr r ' l r t tect ing oom o1-Dex te rAvenue apt is tChLr rc i r . .A l ' ie rb r ic l p ru t - \ ' c l ' t i ubb i r r c l .Rc- re renc l. Ro l ' ]Bennet t ook the 1 - loor nc i o lc l he n l - lL rcn t iu lr 'o l r l lha t i e d ic lno t see ruch needlo t ' l t nv ex tenc lec ll i sc 'uss ionecur - rscrc . Bcn l re t t . n r 'u 1 'L r l l c l l hou to o rgun iz -ca bc lvcot t .

Be l tne t t cc tL t t ' cc lt t As t l r c n t in t t t cs r r sscc l .ro rc inc in r ( ) r ' cl co l l l cb r -e : - t r .ncl l ' us t t 'a tedtnc i ngr ' \ ' . cs l r i t c cpcu tec lcc lucs ts .lc r tnc tLc l ' r - r scc lo v ic l t l t he ' loor ' .W hen Be t t ne t t ' sn o n r r l o g u cc u c h e dh c r a l l - h o u r u r r k . on r cP e o l l l r ' b c g l r r ra l l , , i n gt tL t t . l l t ong t l t osc o lc l r t ' c l ' as , t \ la l 'u r r r i lt a t c ) r 'o1 'cssor ' . l l r n t csr . l ) i c l ' cc . nc o f 'N i x o r t ' s l oscs t l l i c s . I ' r l r r l i c ll u r t u _ \ ' l ) i c r e cl i r l r i c t l o t l i s s L u r c l ci s l ' i c n c l' r ' o l nt l t e - l o y ' c o t tl i t no n t h cg r o t r r r c l sh l r lnnu r \ / l a c l t i t i z c n s ] r i r i i lno t supPor l t . ' l ' l t i ss e s s i t l l tl l t t lo t ' t l y t t ' c t l g t l l c r t cd) i e l ' e c ' si oL r [ r t st l t o t t t l t c c l ' f i r r t .u t t l t i s c l u ' t l u t tt t uu t y r t c l i v i r l L r a lc i t d c t ' s .i l < c l cnnc t t . , r , o r r i t lc L r nu l r l co p r r t r s i t l cl t c i l ' r ' i r r r l r i c sl i dc l c s i t ' e si t " s c l l - i r c l \ l a n c c n t c n to r t g n ( ) L r g l ro i l g r c c ) n r r r i i i l i c r l ( ) t ' n n t L u t i l t , c l ' f o r l .


11/15

)68Heaclin-uLlt he door-Piercepausedandout . 'm going. "King i ' r 'as nhappr oo '

wlrispereclo King- This s going o ftzzleancloldPierce.i u'ould i l te o go oo"bl t t

i t ' s n mr church" ' 1 - : . - - - - . - . - ^ ,Finar l i . RalphAr-rernathv tooci p ancl ook over the meet ing |om Bennett" n-sist ing hat al l of the ru,errt) ' r so peciplewho remainedbe giVenan opportunit l ' tospeak. . Ann Rorrins(),scc.nciecrAber 'ath)", cremand- 'c l pr.posed that ai l pres-ent encl. rse 5e N4.ndarbovcgtt. Amassmeet ingwoLr ic i e cal lecl or N4ondaY ightat the largeHolt StreetBapt ist ChLrrcho cleternr ine hether eOr 'unrunit r ent imentwor_r lc ll lppor t x tencr i 'g he b.r co i l beY.nc lM,ndar . A neu'vers ionof Robinson'sleaf letu, .uic lbe prcpared. crdir ighe ne\\ ']s lro.tt he massmeet ing'Someministers 'hesita ' t aboure\ e, u .ne-cir,^ ' .vcott. went iLl.ngs. that sol l leunit ' u 'ould emergedespiteBennett 'spcr l 'Or-milnce.t u,asag|eeclhat thoseu'ho remainedwor-r ld leetag i r inMt lnc l i t l . . i . lg l . p t l t ) t l . a f te rN4rs .Par l i s . s t r ia l . l i - i l . l i i i t l t he t l t assn lee t ing .

Abernat ir r anciKing staYrrci t Dexter churcir unt i l a imosl nidnight ' tnimeo-graphing he rieu leaf lets. ui ' i1 Satr-r lc lavhe cl ist r ibut ion egan. 'r ' i thwcrhuudredor more r r . lunteersgi i ' ing or , r the i ranc lb i l lsn c ioor - t . -doorVis i ts 'Meanr l 'h i le"zrtax i comnr i t teeheaclec i1,Rer . ' . J . po lve l l u 'as r , r ' i [ in ins sreen- ]entrom al l theblack ca b f,irms tc ) can-r, iclers 0n Mondarr'1'(,r'Onlr the stanclardbus fare of tencents .T i ren. S. t r , r r -cJ i 'e r i 'g . King. Abernathr ' . nc lothers ' is i ted ' ightc l r - rbs tc lspread ur ther he neu'sot ' the upcomtngbovcot t ' ' n the Sat -The f irst pubi ic u'grclof 't lre mpencl ingboycott appeared' olt 'et 'er 'urday afternocln dit ion of Montgoner) , 's s*ai ler paper. he Alttbantu .Tournal ' tquoted the bus corxpi. '\ , 's Baglel-as si. r ' inghe *as "so'r ' ) ' that the coiored peopleblame us for .an\ ; s tateof cr ty ord inancewhich we cl ic ln ' thave passed."and re-portecl t l-rathe haci discussed he ne\\,s *, ith cor-rpan'attor ' i le) 'Jack Crenshaw'Montgomer \ c i t l L ines. Bagler ,s t ressed.

er t r r hac ino choice n the mat ter ' "wehave o ober al l lau's

Althougirhapp1, i th the pubiic coveraee.he black readers iscussed ennett 'sdisastrousperfo'r.rarce and the need to r'o'e tire protest ou t fi'om under tire 'rantleof his lnterclenornirrar ional4inister ial l l iance.Therewere eu' opt ions'The leader-shipof the fo, . 'en s pol i t icarcounci l knelv hat anr pLrbl ic'evelat ion { ' theircentralrole wor- i lc l ost urar.]\ f thenl their obs at publ ic iv cot l t rol ledAlabar la State' Nootherexist ingorganiz, t io ' . incr 'ding rhe xircp chapter. ad s'ft lcicnt breadthofmembership . represental l those u'ho alreadvhacJ:r l iena hatrcl n organizing thebovcott.A new ot 'gatr izat iot l-' i th f reshly citoseti eaclet 's ''c luic l alte o be fornled'

Abernath l ,andKrpg lgreec l hat e leat inga nL- \ \ ' ( ) rg l . t t l izat i0nl 'ou ldbe the bestr \ , i i ' to . r - rs1 enret t u , i th . r - r tpenr r , nsul t inghim. Aberr l i th ' thor ' rehthat Nixonu,ouldbe the .b ' ic l r " rs hoice 'orpres ic lent 1 ' thene\ \ 's ror - rp. ut King haclc loubts 'arg ' ing that R. f 'Lrs-e* , isu,oulc l e t - le t terL l i tec lor the. i t lb ' ) r l l l 'o l ' len ' )o l l th ar l ierKing hacl r iec l ( ) )cr -suut i i :bc ' r 'nathvo ta l ie he NAA( 'P l l res ic lcnc)" r ' r t ' rehac lsa ic l . , o . - l eu ,us h i ' l i i n s o l - r 'e tu rn ingo gnrc lua tc c l too l .Abc | r ta thyknew tha tK ing a lsohac l lcc l ine t ll t cNAACP pos t '

I ' ^dc l i t i . , t . I i ins l inc lA t lcn ra th t , . Ru l 'L t s. c tV is t t r i lo t te Ol ' l r i s c l t l ses tr , r . ie rc ls .. E . c . r r le r , .s l ) c . t hc u ,cc l i c r rdr iscLrss i l lg' l ' r t t he 'c .u lc l c lo .

f l i e ya lsowar tcd l . t re r - i r l l 'Bcnr rc t t . anr l Lcu , is ' c l t l r u t hc t r t l scho t l l c t l i x t l t r wo l l l d becc1r , * r l l ) , , , , , i . rccc l ) t l ib lc .n ic lca l i rnd ic la tci ' l io shor - t l t le l tcce l l t : ' rb lct l ^ l l the c l i [ -| ' c t . c t t t g l . ( ) t l l ) S . I - c r v i s t t l i i i ( ' . . r l t l c l , . t l , l t sh i s t l r v t t l l l . t s t t l t . . ! 1c . . ' c t . c r r c lK i r r g . . I . r


12/15

\ l a , : i t t , 1 t c ( , r c a i . \ t r , ' i a l r ' ., l t ' t i R tq t t s ) ( t 9conceded. i ie u 'ent \ -s i r - r ,ear r -o lding d ic l ook "nrorel ike i r bo l than a nran. "b l l ti re was ext remelvu 'e l l educated: rnd n ar t ic r - r la tepeaker . i rosec luai i t ies ,ouldappeals t rongir to the weai th ier .pro l 'ess ional egmentof the black cornn ' rLrn i t r .peopie a 'ho theru ' ise risht be anrb iva lent Lrout ondi t iouson publ ic buses hatthe l ' ra re l l , pa t ron ized ., i keu ' ise . he fac t tha t K ing was a min is te r . nd a Bapt is tmin is ter .shc lu lc l e lp tcrdrau the more conser \ 'u t i r relergt ' in to what had be-eun si i secular lv ed ef1 'or t , . . K ing. he to id Conler ' "would be an idealchoice:both mena-ureed() put hinr 1-oru,arclt t i re Mondav nreet ing.

Ear l r Mondar n lon. ) ing i re at tent rono1' he b lack leadership h i l ' ted o thequestionof hou' successfr-r lhe -rovcott ould L"re.ixon. Robinson.Kins. and othersar"ose arlv to begin t i rs i r or , l 'n nd ivrdLra l L l r \ ievs f bLrs ic lersh ip. ing u 'a tchedsevera l ear ivempt \ buses lrsshis SoLr th ac l 'sonStreethoureand hen setout bvcar o obsen 'eo thers . n one rour 'swor t i ro1 'd r iv ing .K ing sp iedon lv e igh l b lackr iders.Hr-rndredsf otherscould be seenheadecloi l 'arcl heir ' . jobs n firot. or-gather-ing 1 'or ides w' i th l ' ienc ls nc lacquaintances.he hlack leaderswere pleased: hef irst hours o1't l"reovcott r"epresentedgrand success

That afternoon. L ' \ /eru lozen b lack leadersassemblec l t ReverendBennet t 'sMt. ZronAME Church.Bennet t mnrediate l l ' took l - rau 'ge.We arenot going o haveany talk ing. I al l nc) tgoirtr to let anvbodt ' alk: we carnehere tr-r ,ork ancl o t-rt-t t-l ine our program." 'AsRaiphAbernathv ecal led he scene. l t r ied to get the f loor .br-r t e said. Well . Ab. althoueh /olr 'remv good f l ' iend. 'm not going to el 'en e1 outalk-so sit dou,n. '" At thatpoint . an obiect ion \ ' i ls aised hat s()me stool pigeons"represent ing i tv of t lc i i t ls misht be present . nd that a smal lersroLl l lshould neetin pr ivate o rnap heir courseof acticln.That idea u'as adopted.and a comnit tee ofe ighteen ersons 'ers hosen o n leet n the pastor 's tudr . . . .

T'hegroup also acceptedAbernathr ' 's reconlmendat iono1' ' 'Mont,gomerYrn-provementAssoci lr t ion" as a name for the ner,rorganiz-at ion. hen Bennett cal ledfor nclminat ions or of f icers.be-r inningu' i th president. \ ' i thol l t a moment s pal lse.Rufus Lewis's voice rans clr-rt .Mr-.Chairnlan. I wor-r ld ike to nominale ReverendM. L. King 1 'or res ident . "P. E. Conle l ' .Leu ' is 's l - iend. mmediate l t 'seconded t.No other candidateswer-e Lrt1'orwerrd.nd Kins \ \ 'asasked f'he u,ouid accept heposit ion.Aben-rath1,.eated esidehirn. r-r l11'xpectedKing to decl ine. nstead.aftera pal lse.King to id h is col leagues. Wel l . i f vou th ink I cern endersonreserv ice.u ' i l l . " and accepted he pres idencl , . . .

The neu' l t 'chc lsen res ident eturnec l or le less han an hour before he r leet -ing at u 'h ich he u or- r ld e l i r t - - r 'he rnajor - peech. . .

As 7:00 r , .N4.ppfoachecl .l ie areaaround Hol t St reetBapt is tChr , r rch ecameinc reas ing l l , n ru ,ded i th ca ls and peop le .Thousands f N4ontgc ln re r ' \ ' ' slackc i t i zenswere n ten lL lp ( ) r . rt t enc l in_ehc nr rssnree t ing . '1 -heu i l d ing tse l l ' u 'as u l lto caparc i t l ,ong [ - le1 'orccren. but ILcvcrenc l\ / i lson c ;Lr ick ly n 'ungecli r r lo t t r ] -speaker "so bc se t up o l r t s ic le . ing anc lAbern i i lhyhuc l o n i : l kc l ie i r ' \ \ ' i . r \ /lou ' l ) ,t h ro r - rghhe gn l r , v ' ingnr r i , d . ,h ichu ,asso len tnLrnc l l i s .n i l . i cc lln ros l o the 'po in to1 'cornp lc tc i l cncc . hoLrgh c rhups urwic lc l1 , .he nurn t - le rl 'PcoPlc \ 'us ru t i l ' 1 , -i ng to thc lcac lc rs . nd uns \ \ / c lc r lhc r l r . r cs t ionh l r t hac lbccn l c l ' to ; ren h l i t a l . t c r - -n o o n .A s K i n g l r L r tt . " n r t , t l o r r b t sc ( ) l t ce t ' r r i ngl r ccon t i nL r c r lr r c ccssl ' ( ) Lu " \ cn t L t t ' c "\ \ , ' c r e l i s p c l l e d y t h e r r u rs su l n o l r t . l ' l r e ' c p r c s t i o nl ' c a l l i n go l ' l ' t h cp r o t cs t v usno\ \ /acac lcnr ic . "


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37 )\ \ ' hen t i t c 1- r r r )g t 'an to t L l l t ( i e r - \ \ , l t \ .r rc thoLt : i l l t dpco; l i c \ \ c l . c ns ic ie i t c c i tL r i . c i ta t t c l .O l t r h t l i t sa t t c l\ c rc s i - t t i - )e rec lu ts ide or a t iea : ; tu b loc l , i n cver r c l i rec t ion . , . r r -

l l ' a l ' \ t t l E . i ) . N i ro t t ' s des i t -c .no s1- rc i - r l . . c r "s\ , c re rn l ro t luec. i i . l n i l l ' i t eas o l rc p l r : i t o rlec la p l ' i l \ / e l ' anc lt seeonc l 'euc l se lcc t ion r i t 'Scr ip tL r re . hen Kin- r s tep l tec lc l ruar -c lr rte i l t he ; leop lc r i ' i t r i t t t c l ou ther n tL rs t r 'o tes t i re ar les i anc lco l t v i c t i sp 61 'Mrs . Pur - I . , sanc l the co l t t i t t L t i t t g nc l ign i t ies h l t hunc i rec is l ' t hcr l l ' cgL t i l L r i r L r f l ' e ;ec ln , \4ent -gon le l ' \ ' ' sb l t ses.Krng ga\ /e a le t t s ih i t cs t in ron ia l to N4r ' . - . u l l i s ' s cha lac ter . u lc l r -c -r l i i nc lec l i s i i s te r te l ' sha t s i te . t t t c i i t c t . sL t f le rec li resc nsLr i t s n l r o l - laccoLrn t l ' t l t c i r -l ' acc . Fr |s t l r t l t l o t ' c l l l os t \ c t - t l ' c , { tner - i cani t i zens. " hc cont inued. "Wc i -u 'uto t i - re r . rI t c lVt l c l . t t i l l gio le t t c t . [ ' ' c ha t ' r - ) \ ' e l ' c ( ) t ' nehl t t T l re on i r \ \ rc l r l l o r . iha t l i , c l t l r , , c . . .i s t hc we i . l po l t i ' p r r ) t c \ t . ; , u t d t l i c g ; ea t l l g r ' r 91 ' . Ap t c ; i cu l t i cp ] oc l ' acys t hc r - i gh ttO p t -o t es t t l t ' I ' i gh t . " Hc I ' r - l ' e r rec lv i cc t o t he con t n r l nc i s9 i t l r e L i . S . Cgps t i t u r i 6p .I t t l c l l t - t c : e( ) t hc Sup t ' e t ' t l c ' gL r ; t ' s f i o i ' \ ' i i r c l i cu t i gn 9 i ' i - r i i r c l , . s ' c l cp r l nc l si r r . t t " L r j 'ec lu r l t i i g i l t s . FJLr i ' l t ' o t cs t r l c i ega i c i t - : tnar rc ls'e re or r i r l l t r r t 91 '11 'h1 t\ ' r rs 'e r lL r i ; cc l .K ing \ \ ' e l l t l n . "V\ ' c l . I )L ls liecp f io t i i n the lo re i ' r ' on t . c l i us l rc f i i i ' i s t iup 1 l i l l e l ' e r - r r -i t c t i o t t I { i s i ng t o t hc i i ' . c ' c t .hc peo l t i e i pp l uu t l cc i can i i r .

K in l ' s l t , l lA co l l c lgLrc _rnc lL rhrec lL lcn ir iogr -apher - ._ D. [ {e t i c i i ck . a te i -o [ - rsc i - r ,_ .c lt ha t " c l L t l ' i l l gt h i s ca r l r pe t ' i od .K ing ' s ph i l oso l - rh_ r1 ' l t onv i o l c ' r - r l' c s i s t a l t cc \ ' 1se r r l - rg rac lua l l r tak i t t s l ' o f tn . \ ' he l t l t e n rac leh is c le [ - ru t. rs res ic i c l t to j ' t h t . N, l iA a t t l ie i1 i -t i a l t l l : . t ssl lee l i l l g . )ece tnbc l '5 . hc c l i c l o t n re l t t i r i n iu r rc l i t io l ' up- \ th i r rsc l i r "ec t l_ r' c l l i i -i n - t t O t he N4aha i l i t l t ' sheo t ' r ( ) l ' p l ' r - r c t i ce1 ' soc i a l changc . H i s spccch uus . j L t s t )p r1 .l l l o l ' e : rppea l o pr i r l c i ; r l es l i 'Ch l ' i s t i i u t i t i ' : . u td lcn tocntc \ . o i : , i i ;p ia r u l t c l 1 l rppuss i , . r r . r1 -or hose in the ( )pp( ) \ i t c - unrp . " Br Cl i r - i s t r . r -u rs .ouerc- r - . rn enrcr .g inuenrphus is0nl lo l ' ) \ ' i o le l l ceu 'as c ic l - i r . i t e s ta te l t ten lo1 ' the N, { i , { pos i t ion . se t 1 'o r th n t l i c n r ip1ct , -t raphec l l - r t ' c l ch l t t ' e .bse t ' r ' ec li ra t " th is i s a r - r ' royenrentf pass i \e rds is tunee. lenenc l -ins o t t n ' to l -u l nc ls | i l i t i u r l 1 'o t ' ces . ' e . i t e oppressec l . a r ,eno i ' u l te n out -heur . t sor .t i re oppresso l ' s . - rL t t, i ' e t ' e . . l ever the less"e tern t inec l o res is tun t i l t he c l l se 91 ' . jgsr i cet r i un l phs . " T l i ough " T r r l , r . l i i ' r ' t ' e s i s t a r t ce "\ , i - l s - r r i snon re r ' .he copSC igus l es i l e 9cot t lb ine Gal l c lh ian p l 'ecepts u i t l t Chr rs t jan pr" inc i l t l es \L ts g l - ( )u ng i i t l - r t t t hKipgand the l\41.A

\ \ ' i t h i l t t i r e p l ' t r l t c r ' r , L t nc i l s 1 ' t he N, ' l l A . he re \ \ ' i r sg r ' ( ) \ rng i i pp l ec i u r i r l pL re t hf o r K ins s ab i l i t r i i s t i l e bo . r ' co t t ' s r i nc i pa l p r - r l r l i c 1 - rokcs l n l i nnd lo r h i s . sk r l i l u ll e a c l e r s h i p 1 ' t h ee r e c L r t i \ e o a r d . " K i n r l i n e u I l o u t o g c t u l o n g u ' i t h a l l t r , P e s n c lc l l t ssesc l1 ' ; re t l l l l u ' .u ' l t l so pe l ' sLurc lcdhenr to gr '11 l1 rngur th cuch gther ' . "N{ l .A h is lp -t - i l t t l l t t \ ' e l l ccRc t l c l i ck l t i c t ' ' e cu i l ec l . i ng ' s " c l en roc t ' a l i e. p l t i cn t unc lop t i r l i s r i elu1- r1- r lo l reto ih i r rgs i l l ' l J l l ' csscc lr c r - r nc . . . .. . . On l \ 4o t l c l a r ' .l . l l t r l L r i i t ' r3 . 1956 N ' l u ro t ' ( l u - i c l i n r ) ( )L l r ccc ll i l i t t 5c e t - r r i us

a c l o ; l t i n g , r t c \ . t o u r h c r ' \ t a n c c . C a l l i n g t h c \ 1 1 , A a S r - o l r p l N c g l - ( ) - a r l i c u l sh r rI t l t vesp l i t l t sL t l t c l c l ' t l t r ' l ' i l t e' c l u t i o r t s l t i ps " e t ucc l t 1 \ l on t g ( ) l nc l ' \ ' s l ac l . . sr r r r l , h i t cs .CaV le c i c ' c l l t l ' c t ll t t t l t i t t h l t t c i l L l ssv l ' oo t cc lu ' oL rn t l, r r l t i s - l o - ree i t1 l pgc . l r p1 -1g11 . "9I ' t u ' t h c t ' n e g o t i a t i o n s\ ( ) L r l t l l r l ' . cl - r l u c c l r i l c t l r c i l r r ; t g 5 { ' c n u r i n c t lr r l i r r - c c . . ' L i n t i lt h c t ' l t l ' e ' c i t t l Yo c l l t l i t . t h c t ' c ' i l l b c n ( ) l t o r c d i s e r r s s i o n s . "\ ' l t i t c l t c o p l c . i a v l cc r t l P l l l t s i z c t l .l l L l s t ' c l r l i z . el u t t l ' a t ' t n t t r cu ' l t s r t s t l r l . . ct t l t c N l l , \ ' s c l c n u r n r l sh l i r rl l l t l l ' c l l ' t h c l t t c s l i o t l l ' s c l r t i r t gl t n t c l i c e s . \ l l l r t t l t c r l l c l l . l c ; i s t l r c l e ' s t t ' r r c l i p r rl '( ) Lu ' oc i a l i ' l r b l i c . "' l ' l t c t l t c l t t t i t l g l t l t c t t c r t ' c i i - 1 ' 1 ; o l i c v l L r i c l ' . 1 _ r ,r c c ; u l r c l c l r r ' . . . i c l l c ; s 1 r " t l e r . c r ll t t t l i c c t t t c n o t l t s l ) r ' l ' \ c! l ' o p l P s l ' l t l l r c l r s \ , , l l i t i r r g' r i 1 .. 1 u - l l o ( ) l. i t l c s l r s t r . c c t o r . n c l . s .I t l l c l i i t , \ ' l cl l s l , . c t l l t i t r - ' t o t t s c t t t c s [ o s t ( ) l ) i t , i n l r i t l c s t o t l t c r r l r l l t c l , l g r p c s t i c '


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37 ]\ ^1ol-ke l -s .iv ing lL i l ' t t r ) ur \ l r l l ic l ' . c r 'son 'oLr ic l rcrc l r a ic i " thc Negro r - l rd ic i t isu 'ho lead the bo1 i )1 i . " ' i r _ r1 - ro i r celso began u i l ing dr i , , e rs l ' on r he N4 l .A ar 'poo l . ssu i t t s i c l i c t s o l t r i i i l - L i r 'n ( ) r l cx is ten ira f l ' i c ' io la t ic lns .h r ro f f i c ia l ta rass -ntel ' l tntacie on. le r"otestLr l lp() i ' te l-slr l lse. The lolLrr-rtLrr '_r ';xci. ,-Llps1'51sr-ntegan oweaken." o l te N4l ,A cur icr rcnor tcc l .unc l "1oi ' i t n- ronrenthe l r ro testnt ( ) \ ,e lnentseemeclo l reu 'aver i t rg . "

One o1 ' thc r s tn ro to r - is t so i a l l v ic t in r ( ) l t i sneu po l ic r o l t r -a l t ' i cn l i r r cen ten tu ' l ls King l i i l t rse l l ' . n - l ' i rLr rsc iar . .J lLnr -uLr - r16. Kinc ic f t [ )c- r ter -c i rurchn nt ic la f ter -l toon.acconrpr . tn iedr oneol 'h i : bes l . r ' icnc ls .o[ - rer t\ ' i l l ianrs . nc l r ischurc l isec l 'e-t i . r r \ ' " 4r 's . i l i ic J ' i ' tonr - rs .lc iorc heacl ing ronrc.i ing s topl ' rec it thc N4lA's ent ra lt ruurs1 ' lo t - t r , l t io t i- ro in to s i rc th lce other lersonsa l i l t . \ [ rhen Kir ' ] ! p l r l lcc lou i . t rvot ' t - tc l to t 'c t 'c le1 l ' ieersegan a i l ins hinr .Al tcr screrur l - r loc i is .ing sto l - rncc io ch 'o l t f l 'th , - :' iders . hc o l l lcers1- t r l ier irp rcs ic lc im und o i t i h inr he u 'usuncie i 'Lu ' r ' ' . lS[ .. .

K ing u 'asp iaccc l n u i ' r l t i r rs r -oLrpe l i l , r ih \ lL l ioLrs lac i ' , i " in r in r - r i s .evera irn inutes uter i re r , r ' l ,Lsal , ,c l t u t l ind l - rnger l - l r inrcd.t r r , 'ashe 1- i rs tin te King hac lbeen o c l i e c ln a . j a i l . n c l i rc ' i r s t i n r ch c h ; r c l c cn nue r p r - i n t ec l . . . .

N4eat r r , r 'h i le ., io l 'd 1 'KinS s an 'esthad s ; l reuc iapic l l r hrougir he b lack cor l -nr l tni t_t ' ' .t ,en belirre Abcrnatir-\ 'etLln')ecl.evcrai loz-en1[11g1'1-r]re'r[rtrs 1'Derter.N4lAcol leagLtes.nc l l ' ienc ls-beglLnr r iv ingat thr ' . fa i l . he g1' l r r i inSr ' ( ru 'c l,or r iec ithe u,h i te . ja i lers ..urc l, r i r i lehe - ingerpr - in t ingnl . . , r 'ast i l l be ingu, iped r 'or r King 'shunds . he ch ie l ' la i le r ' lo lcJr i r r i re n 'as l 'ec o lcaveLrpon is ou 'n s rgna tu re . i st r ia l u ,ou ldbe Saturda i ' r lo r -n ing .n hard l \ a nr ( ) r 'nen t ' si rne .K ins \ \ ras scor tedor - r t nc ldr iven back o 1ou'n.

The emot iona l r -u r - rn ra1 ' thean 'es t e ig i r tenec lhe grou ing per ' \ on l r lens ionsKing n 'as eel inq.He hac lnot uantcc l o be t l tc f r tc t t l o in t o1 ' thepr ' ( ) tL-s tn the f rs tp lace.anc lhe had errc lneoLls l rssunrec lhal r negot ia tec l et t len ' lcnt\ 'oLr lc le ob-ta ined n. jLrs t fer . ru , 'eeksinre. L ' i th no end in s ight .and r -nore t ter l t io l r on ' r inghis w'at ' .K inq u,onc iered 'hethelhe u 'asLrp o the r igors o1 ' the job.He st ressedcre \ re rvonehat he as an ind iv ic luu l 'as . ro t ruc ia l o the pro tes t . ha t 1 'sonre t i i inghappenedo h i l "u . r shoulc l e s tepasic le .he r rovenrent \ ,oLr lc lo on. "11 ' \4 .L. Kinghad nere t 'beenbonr th is nro ienrer - r t\ ' ( )L r lc lave akenp lace . " he r ,o r - r l rgr in is te r 'to ld one ntassn ' ]eet ing.l . jLrs tra; lpeneclo ' [ - le ere. 'oLrknou t i rerccon]esa t i r t rcu 'hen i t le i t se l f s reac i r o l chunge. ha t in rehascorne n Nlor . r tg ( )n rc r \ . l r ndhudnoth ing o c lou , i t h t . "

. . . That n ig i i t . i r r the ls t t inrc n h is r1 'e . ing 1 'e l t . . r .urx1- rcr - iece u ' i t i rCioc l las resot - tg i i t( )cseal le i rc1- l rcssr - r rc-shu 'N' l l ,A rcs idcnc- r 'hadlucec l rp( ) l rt inr .He t i t ought no t 'ei i rou t 1o \ \n rL i [ r le -1 ' r ' cci s l i l ' ehuc l - reen rn t i l hc n to ren ten tbegan

Ar rd l r cn \c s t i i r t c t lL r l t l ' ugs lcogc t l r c r ' .h ings c rc ro ins \c l i i r r hc rs t ' cu lu rsl t L r t l t c t i . t l t o t t t c t t o t ' l ' i l i c c n c l l t - r ' sl l , ' i ' . r l ' t c r h e , . rl i i t c P e o p l c i r r N I ( ) n l S ( ) n t c l ' \. . l t c \ \t l ' u l t i ' c l ' l t c l u t t t t s i r t e s s . l t c i s t l l t c r l r l r i i n c \ ( ) l l t c n l l s t r ' { l t i n g s . - l ' l t c i s l l r r t e r l n l r l . , i n SI u t s t v c l c p h o n c l r l l s . r r r t l1e n r c 1 o h c p o i r r t l u r ls o r i r c l l r r l l ( ) l ' c h l r r r i r l t r t c l c p h o r r cc l L l l s t t L t l r l o t n c i n . t l r r c l r t c r . r i r r sr , t ' i l ' c . h e l i l ' co 1 ' r r r r ' l r r n i l r .l r c i l c o l ' n l \ c l r i l r l .t o o l i i l l i r l ' r u ' l t i l c . r r t s t l ' ( ) n t l t i u l t r ' r ' .B L r l l t a t t i g l t t . t r l r l r l r ' t o c r l ) cucc i ' i t h r i r r r s c l l .. , i ng ' ca r c r l c e o r r l t la l ' . ctI t o I t ) l t g c t ' .t u ' l t s l t e t i t o s t t r p o i ' t l r n t i g l t t l l ' l r i s i l c . t h c o l r c r t ' ; r l \ \ l r v s , l , o L r l t l

t h in l . ,l t c l t lo i t t I ' t t t r t r cc lu ' s i ' l r c r rl t c ) i ' r ' . \ su l ' cs- r t l r i i t cc r r re t lr l l c to t ) ' l ' ( - ] i r t .


15/15

' ;72 M aj ot' Pt'ob etns tt't Atl;errc (tl't ii l's|or,'\' ' i t u 'asalound midn;ght, ' 'he said. hini: ing Dackon it. " ]bu can have scme

strangeexperrences i midnight . ' ' The threateningcal iel had la|ted him deepjl , ."Nigger. we are l-ed of vou an d voul mes.!nt)\\. .And f vor-raren' oui of tiris to\A/rljn threeda1,s . e j 'egorn! to b lo\ l ivour - ia insoul . and b lou 'L lp12s11, -house. "I sar hereand hor,rghrbout bear,riifr-rltrleciaughter,hohad 1usteenborn. . . Sheu'as iredarirn-t f mr, rfe. 'd conren nightaf tei 'n ight nclseeitai i t t legent le rni ie.An d I saiai that abie hinliingabor-riirarhttlegirl and hini;rng bor-riire act ha l shecoulObe Lar i ,enwa\ i ' rorn nean\ nln l l le .

-And riiscoi,ered he n that reiigion hzLclcrbrecotne-eal O re . and I i iad to l i i tou'Gocl or-nr1,5r1t .nd J bou,eddou,noi,el thal iLt troi coffee - lneve;u' i11crrget t . . . ipr-avecii Jlrzl.\/er.nd plai-r,ed ut louC ir;rtnrsirt. : iaid. "l-clrci. 'm clora,ntere t '-r' ' i t-tgc,do ra,heLt 's- icht . t i r inl i 'ni r igirt . t i t rni , he c:L l rs: i ta i r , r re'eJl resenls r- igi t i .Bui Lord.i r lulsi confess i rat 'm weal ,nov, . 'm falLei ing 'nr losing n' l --\ rol l l ' l iee. ncl J cai l l ' l e lt irs peopie see nte ji ire lit is becaLtsef't ire-r se: nre lr, '-i. i l , .Ln d osittc l l l \ cc)Lliage"he rra,i l lbegrn o g3 t ureal'."

Then i t hapnened:And ii seemecl t thal morueni that I cotrldLLrt i rei . taucl rpor r ighteor-rsness.tandupbe r.r,rth oll. evenundl t ire en d of ti ie u,or-id.to f i-rht on . He ploiltseci ne\/el-to eetve te.No nerrer lone. le pr omtsednevei' c ieave

That exper- ienceaveKing a ne\ / s t rength nd courage."Alruostat oncem1' fea lsbe-9ano go. Mr unceltaini i ,disappeareci. "e uzent ack to bed no longer u,oit iedabout he threatsof bombings. . .

Kin_Q's enseof iristor-), nd the bloadel meaning of tire ptolest ra'as tiiliin-q."srhetirer' /e urant o be or not. we are caugilt in a gleat momettt of history.'' Kingto ld onemassmeer ins " l t is b igger t i ranN4ontsomel-_\ .. The vaslmator t f ) o f thepeople of the lvorid are coioled. . . . Up Lrntil oul or fti,e )/ears Lgo"most of tirernl '* . , ' " exnloirecl v rhe emniresof the u;est Todav manY ale f i-ee. . . And thev L , t u u n P l L , f , l L L / L J L ' - \ L r J \ - \ - r r r P . t l L - J L . f L r r L - vr u . r L !rest are on tire road. . . . We are part of that gr-eaimo\/ement."The tat'getwas lzu-gerthan ust sesr-egatioit .\ \ ie must opl losealJ exploiter t ion, . . Vv;e 'etntno classesand castes. . . ! \ ie u'ant o seeeveri,body l-ee."

heal an inner voice sa,vtus t] t le. "N{alt ittfol. jLrstice SLancl p foi trr-rth. .nd o J u'i l l

I i reard he t,otceof Je ussa\/111ot ' i -l to\ /er cr eziveme alone.No net,et- lone.

me. ne\/el o iearreme alone

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Resources 2 3 Sitkoff Garrow Essays-Civ-Rights-Mvmt