...The Leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. Abstract The visionary leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. influenced a nation, and ultimately affected a dramatic change in the area of Civil Rights. The achievements he accomplished in the arena of Human rights still serve as a platform for social change today, even decades after his death. Martin is hailed as a classic Charismatic and Transformational Leader, whose masterful rhetorical skills and personalized leadership empowered many Americans to stand up and claim their rights as American citizens. This paper will provide an analysis of Martin Luther King’s leadership style, and speak briefly about its development. We will discuss his background and the factors that greatly influenced his success as a leader. We will also cover Martin’s application of influence tactics, such as rational persuasion and inspirational appeals, and reveal an almost textbook ideal of leader, follower and situation dynamics. In general, we will discuss his vision and finally pinpoint the factors that ultimately led to his rise in power. “Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.” Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President. Introduction Of all of the leadership styles that have been studied, observed and researched throughout the ages, Charismatic and Transformational Leadership, are cited as being the most powerful. Martin Luther King Jr. is definitely one of the most charismatic and transformational...
Words: 2262 - Pages: 10
...Martin Luther King Jr., Son of Michael King Sr. and Alberta Williams King and former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was born on January the 15th, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. Martin Luther King Jr. had a sister called Willie Christine King Farris and a brother called Alfred Daniel Williams King. In his childhood, Marthin Luther King Jr. was identified as Michael King Jr. but later change his name to Martin after his father adopted the name Martin in recognition of the Protestant leader Martin Luther. Martin Luther King Jr. was said to be extremely intelligent as he skipped both the ninth and eleventh grades, and started going to Morehouse College in Atlanta at the age of 15. He was quite popular in college, particularly with the female classmates. Although his family were highly religious and strongly associated with church and worship, Martin Luther King Jr. never really want to succeed his father footstep by joining the ministry and go against entering the ministry which causes his father a lot of stress at the time. But in junior year, everything changed as he took a Bible class and renewed his faith and began to aspire a career in the ministry. Marthin Luther King Jr study at Boston...
Words: 462 - Pages: 2
...and provoke less negative reaction in the British at that time. Like Mohatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr. was also an advocate and supporter of the same method of passive resistance, which he believed, was the better method at the time and situation. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in January 15, 1929 in Atlanta. He died due to assassination on a hotel balcony on April 4, 1968. Later on in his life, he became the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference which had a purpose to provide a new leadership to the movement of Civil Rights which ideology was based on Christianity, whereas the actions and procedures more based on Gandhi; Martin Luther King Jr. practiced Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence. Both Mahatma Gandhi’s and Martin Luther King Jr.’s core belief and the way to attain their goals were pretty similar in a way. Mahatma Gandhi believed that with nonviolent method of fighting with the political or social issues in his times was the best way. He did it through protests for example like the March that inaugurated the Civil Disobedience which he led to the sea in order to gather salt with his followers but after which he was unfortunately arrested for protesting against the high taxation on the salt and breaking certain laws. He felt like he had to do it. He considered that law unjust which had to be violated for the better. Like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. did many great things in his life by implementing the...
Words: 580 - Pages: 3
...April 28th, 2012 Prof. Leadership Leadership Project: Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African American Civil Rights Movement. He was born on January 15, 1929 and is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Gandhi. By doing this and leading many followers to fight for what they believe in King has become a national icon in the history of modern American liberalism. We choose to do our project on Martin Luther King Jr. for many reasons. The main and obvious reason was because we admire how he took on such a large task basically by himself, allowing anyone else who wanted to help the cause join him. We also chose King because of the way he went about accomplishing his goals. King chose to accomplish his goal by only using means of non violence. King did this by organizing peaceful protests, marches, and of course his famous speeches. King has many of the characteristics and traits that all leaders must have. King portrayed the ability to lead through his courage, personality, problem solving, creativity, the ability to keep calm and many more. However Kings most notable characteristic or trait was his vision. A good leader must have a vision, and Kings vision helped open America's eyes to one of its biggest problems civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr has many great qualities; courage...
Words: 393 - Pages: 2
...Courage and Moral Leadership Olivier Faye Dr. Mark Pantaleo PAD 515 Sunday, February 5, 2012 What comes to mind when you hear the word leader? Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, John F. Kennedy? According to Webster’s Dictionary, a leader is one who leads. As a leader, you can put ethical values into action and set the example you want followers to live by. You can resist pressures to act unethically just to avoid criticism or achieve short term gains. (Daft, page 167). Leadership is not merely a set of practice with no association with right or wrong. All leadership practice can be used for good or evil and thus have a moral dimension. Leaders choose whether to act form selfishness and greed to diminish others or to behave in ways that serve others and motivate people to expand their potential and as a human being. Moral leadership is about distinguishing right from wrong and doing right, seeking the just, the honest, the good and the right conduct to achieve goals and fulfilling purpose There are a select few individuals who have come variously to be called great or brilliant because they and their accomplishments have forever changed society and the world. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was on those individual. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968) would have been 83 on Jan. 15, 2012. Unfortunately his birthday has been turned into a three-day weekend by being recognized as a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January each year...
Words: 998 - Pages: 4
...Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - A Leadership Icon Annise Hawkins Strayer University PAD 515 Dr. Lisa Saye July 30, 2011 What comes to mind when you hear the terms courage, leadership courage, moral leadership and servant leadership? Do you think of an influential person (s) you know? Or do you think in terms of qualities that leaders need to possess in order to be effective? In order to answer those questions, one must understand the definitions of those terms. Courage is “the ability to step forward through fear. Courage doesn’t mean the absence of doubt or fear, but the ability to act in spite of them” (DAFT 2011, p. 181). Leadership courage requires a leader to “reach deep within themselves to find the strength and courage to resist temptations or to stand up for moral principles when others may ridicule them or when they may suffer financially or emotionally for their actions” (DAFT 2011, p. 180. Moral courage is about “distinguishing right from wrong and doing right, seeking the just, the honest, the good, and the right conduct in achieving goals and fulfilling purpose” (DAFT 2011, p. 172). Finally, servant leadership is when “leaders give up control and make a choice to serve employees” (DAFT 2011, p. 175). When I think of these terms, I immediately think of a prominent leader who possessed all these qualities, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was truly a leader in his time. According to Webster’s Dictionary, a leader is “one...
Words: 1711 - Pages: 7
...Accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not only a prominent American civil rights activist, but also a social reformer and an author. He is often referred to as the human rights icon since he called for equal rights for all without resorting to violence or aggression. Read on to know about the accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr. "Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them." Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta to Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. King's original name was Michael King, Jr. His name was later changed to Martin after the German protestant leader Martin Luther. Martin Luther attended Booker T. Washington High School in Georgia and graduated in sociology from Morehouse College in Atlanta. After studying theology at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, he pursued his doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston University. King was awarded the Doctor of philosophy on June 5, 1955. Achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. The greatest achievement of King was undoubtedly as a leader of the American Civil Rights Movement. He defended the Americans with African descent and fought for their rights. Martin Luther was greatly influenced by Howard Thurman, a civil rights leader, theologian and educator...
Words: 995 - Pages: 4
...Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership Model Leadership of Dr. Martin Luther king Introduction Dr, Martin Luther King was basically a religious man who a through his exceptional qualities as a model of moral values, ethics, charisma, trust, energy and devotion to his beliefs. Made is place in the history of one of the most honored and followed leaders in our history. He was the man of courage, honor and vision which he always had held above his Own life and stood fast during extremely difficult and threatening times. He is a perfect specimen to be chosen by anyone who wants to see, learn and feel, what a true “wholehearted” leader looks like and to be followed blindly. It will be wrong to say that Dr. Luther’s life as leader should be assessed on the basis of personality, though, he had traits which are beyond simple explanation. The best way to explore his unquestionable strengths as a leader has to be seen through the lens of “the five practices of the exemplary leadership model”. The first being the, “Model the way”, which explains how a leadership interacts with other people with a set of undeviating principals, by setting examples through his/her standards of behavior. Dr, Martin Luther King was a great transformational leader, whose set of actions were very clear and well understood . He set the examples of being stead fast to his ground without changing his behavior to gain short term success. He remained glued to his objectives and long term goals...
Words: 1095 - Pages: 5
...History Essence Harden 5/2/00 African-American Civil Rights “Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won. You earn it and win it in every generation.” –Coretta Scott King, page666 The 1960’s were a time of great turmoil in America and throughout the world. One of the main topics that arouse was black civil rights. In my essay I plan to compare the difference of opinion between these particular writers and directors, towards racism and the civil rights movement in the 1960’s The movement truly got underway with civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King jr. and Malcolm X in the early 1960’s. Students who wanted to bolt on the equality and protest bandwagon quickly followed. Most of the students went to the Southern states (Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, etc.), to stop the racism and hate crimes. The truth of the matter is that the violence and abhorrence would get worse before it got better. The Klan became stronger and more violent, committing many more lynching and gruesome murders. Bit by bit most of the Caucasian Americans came around to the idea of integration, and did not believe that the African Americans as a ‘threat’ anymore. The only reason that this great monumental change occurred was because of the great leadership of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King jr., and not to mention the thousands of other less famous civil rights leaders, that worked to change the views of their community. There also where lobbyist and protesters that risked there...
Words: 2640 - Pages: 11
...Martin Luther King, Jr.: His Life and Battle for Freedom Allan M. Ysunza Kaplan University SS310 Exploring the 1960s: An Interdisciplinary Approach Dr. Ronald K. Bolender March 09, 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr.: His Life and Battle for Freedom In my unit 5 project I will discuss the life of Martin Luther King Jr. I will define how his personal ideologies might have contributed to his assassination. I will discuss the implications of his assassinations from a sociological perspective. All through the discussions, I will explore his life and journey as freedom leader and his will to gain justice via nonviolent and peaceful protest against racial discrimination and oppressions. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was destined to be a preacher like his father and after seminary became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama at the age of 25. King believed that black and white people should resist laws that they thought unjust. If necessary, he thought, they should disobey such laws. But King also said that they should be ready to accept punishment for breaking such laws. In some cases, they should even go to jail. He had grown up with the injustices in the South, and it did not take him long to join in the fight. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 in response to Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her seat. He was arrested, but ultimately ended racial segregation on...
Words: 1468 - Pages: 6
...demanding freedom and equality. In the beginning of the movement, Martin Luther King Jr., leader of the SCLC, set the stage for spiritually aggressive non-violent protesting. Malcolm X, on the other side, preached the importance of defending themselves and breaking away from the oppressors denying them their freedoms. Malcolm X, member of the Nation of Islam, preached against the idea of integration and “[forcing themselves] on...
Words: 795 - Pages: 4
...Title: Outline Martin Luther King Jr. on NBC’s Meet the Press in 1965 Instructor: Eric Maass Course: PHI103: Informal Logic Author: Amanda Manley Date: 11/17/2014 I am doing my outline on Martin Luther King Jr. on NBC’s Meet the Press in 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr. is best known for his contribution to the African American civil rights movement in the United States. Born Michael King, Jr. on January 15, 1929, King was the son of a reverend and a former teacher. The future activist was skeptical about Christianity from an early age. Despite his doubts about his own faith, King went on to graduate from Crozer Theological Seminary and became a Baptist minister when he was twenty-five, practicing public speaking skills that would eventually make him one of America's greatest orators. By the same time, King was working as an executive committee member for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Having grown up in a segregated environment, King was already aware of the disparity in civil rights for African Americans. He took a stand against segregation in 1955, by leading the first nonviolent Negro demonstration - a bus boycott that resulted in a law that prevented segregation on public transportation. The next year, King was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and began to write and deliver speeches across the United States and the world. While he took the ideals for his organization and mission from...
Words: 368 - Pages: 2
...World leaders and United States leaders share the ambitions to achieve these descriptions. Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr. are two names nearly every American citizen knows and most likely respects today. To begin, Martin Luther served as a prominent world leader. Many years ago, in medieval Germany, Martin Luther changed the church forever. He lived as a man full of deep faith for God and was a strict Christian all of his life. Today he is known by numerous people as the most influential German monk who ever lived. Luther had a doctorate in Theology and craved for a reform. He had the biggest issue with parishioners buying indulgences, believing that this purchase would ensure their salvation. He fought for justice and equality, as many great leaders have. At one point he nearly brought down the entire Roman Catholic Church. After writing his famous 95 Theses, the Church was devastated. Even though Luther was hesitant to fight back about the indulgences, he found answers when he turned to the Bible and realized that it is not the Church that will guarantee salvation, it is your own personal faith. In his theses he criticized the Pope’s purpose in raising money and expressed a straightforward concern for the people of Rome. Due to the revolutionary machinery of printing, Luther’s 95 Theses spread throughout all of Europe within three months (“About Martin Luther”.) In 1521, Luther was forced to face Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms. Here, he was expected to retract...
Words: 748 - Pages: 3
...Courage and Moral Leadership 5/16/14 Dr. Alvin Lee Strayer University Analyze the qualities that mirror courage and moral leadership in the leader, and document those qualities (moral traits) as discussed by Daft (2010) (Chapter 6: Courage and Moral Leadership). Martin Luther King, Jr. was the mirror image of a moral and courageous leader. Dr. King upheld his morality principles as well as set examples for his followers. Dr. King had special virtues in which he lived and they was love, courage, hope amongst others. " Love, courage, hope, non conformity, and impatience were embodied in the sit-ins, boycotts, and marches, in which King himself was often a participant" (Rice 2004). Dr. King wanted his followers to be just and kind and to not use oppression as a crutch. Despite being spit on, sprayed with a hose and verbally assaulted he was able to manage frustration and anger and continue his peaceful rally. Dr. King was not one to hold his tongue especially about issues concerning his people. In one instance researchers say " King lamented Negroes' lack of "initiative," lambasted blacks for spending above their means, and expressed no patience with blacks who had "used their oppression as an excuse for mediocrity" (Rice 2004). King was well disciplined and courageous in his efforts. He spoke courage through to his followers to keep them encourage and give them strength. He believed “courage does not entail indifference to danger any more than it...
Words: 1727 - Pages: 7
...Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice is a threat to justice everywhere” (BrainyQuote). Martin Luther King Jr., born to Alberta and Martin King on January 15, 1929, lead the way for a more diverse america. King played a prominent role to civil rights by forming marches and delivering speeches during the 1960’s. During the Civil Rights Movement King was named president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). On August 28, 1963, King lead the March on Washington and carried out his I Have a Dream Speech, also in 1964 King became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Lastly, on April 4, 1968 King was assassinated by James Earl Ray while delivering a speech in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. King’s interest in equal rights created America’s diverse society. To begin, King led the March on Washington in order to help guarantee jobs and freedom for the colored. Playing an immense role in deciding the future of Civil Rights, “ ...The event (March on Washington) is widely regarded as a watershed moment in the history of the American Civil Rights movement and a factor in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964” (“Martin Luther King Jr.”). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 guaranteed that no one is to be discriminated against based on their skin color, sex, or ethnic background, meaning segregation was...
Words: 512 - Pages: 3
