358 /vtcito.'.

brobients it: Antertcar t'inton'

If'E S S A \/ S

Cne rniq'htwell ponderhoia and whr,Amencans\ /olic LrF\ /ilenthel' did to tire impiicei-
tions of theu'natjon'sfoundrngprinciples Hrstoiiansiraveexamrnedconditjonse.xtelnal
to the SoLrth.aSwell as the cirarisrlatrcleadersiripof sor-rthemers iiiie Martin l-Litirer
King. Jr., who perse\/ered desprtethe ccnstantthreat of vrolence.Flart'ardSjtlioff of
CoiumbiaUnrversit.ternphasizes externalevenls.lie arguestirerteconomic.poiitical.
''precondrtions"
and ideologicaj set the stagefoi-the mo\/ement.includlng the adveni
of televrsion.tireboomrngpostwal econom\,.decolonizationrn Africa andAsia. zindthe
emer-gence of the Unrted Statesas leader-of tire Free Viorld. David Garrou,of Emon,
Unii,ersit),focLrses on th3 leadershrpof Martrn Luthel Krnq. Ji'.In this selectionfrom
his PLriitzerPrtze-\^,rnn1n_sbrographi'.Gan-oraleveerlsthe depth of King'-s comnrrtment
to a role he did not askfor. King's sacrificejs made inore polgnant b), the fact tirat he
knew fnll u,e1ltirathe u'as rnaking one. The u'iilinones.sof Krng. and inany others.to
"bear the cross"Lestrfies to the criiical place of indii'rCualsrn hrstol;,.

The Preconditionsfor Raciai Chanee

TJAR\ARDSITKOFF

Of the interr-elatedcailsesof progress in race reiatrons sulce the start of the Great
Denressjon none was more jnrnoltant tltarrtire ciranqesln tile Airieljcan ecot'tom\/.
" "y, vr LqrrL Lrlgrrr

No facet of the raceploblem \ i as untouchedb1' the elepirantinegrou'th of the

GlossNationa]Prodr:ct.u,hiclirosefrom $206 billion in 1940io $500 billion in
1 9 6 0 .a n d t h e ni n t i r e 1 9 6 0 si n c r e a s ebd) , a n a d d r t j o n a6l 0 p e r c e n tB, v 1 9 7 0 .t h e
econorrlv toppedtiretrjlljondoliernreuli. T'hjssjtectaculeu'r'ate of'ecot-tomrc grou'th
n'ndrrr-ed cnrr.e15 rlilljon ue\A/
r r v v u \ r \ / j r j
tobsin the cluerrtel of zicentur-r'after \\iar-Il
\\/cl:-ld
e t n dr : L j s e dr e : L lw a s e e a r n j n g sb i , e r t l e e L s5t 0 l r e r c e n t .1 t n r e L c p i eo s s i b l et h e i n c r " e z L s -
i n g i n c o r r eo f b l a c l t st;h e j l e r ) t r ' i1ni t o i n c J r - r s t rai e n lcsl a b o i ' L r n i c i Jr rt ,i \e v i o L r s l , r , c l o s e d
t o t h e n t :- q i i i r i fsi l ' l t i a c i t s i n o c c i r l t l L t i c i rsut-:Li tl L r sa:n r l c l e l l e c 'llr s h o r ' 1 i l , o 9 [c' r , r , o r ' l t e l s
t h l t tn e c e s s i t z r l ei ics1l i t c k e n i n -oq1 ' r 'sel l ' i c t i v el l l " ( ) l l o l j o i itt o J i c i e su n c lt l r c ri n t l ' o c l L r c t i o r r
o f ' s c o r e so 1 - g o v e r - n n t oal rt tr c ll t r i v z r t ci nr c i L r s l rs' 1 l l ,r . c i l l. ; o b I r ' l r i r r i r rl ]gl ' o g l ' [ u l sI ' o i '
A l ' l ' t t - A t l e l i c a r . It isl.r l s on t c a r ttth a t l h e c c r o n o r r i p c ro r r r e s o s l ' b l l c l i sr; l i c ln r , rltl r v e 1 o
 L:lalcrn3itltt, Grcttl !>ccict-t,;
Cn,il fii.oltts 359
come at the expense ()1'u'hites. thus
undermining the most powerful source
w h i t e r e s i s t a n c et o t h e a c i ' a n c e m e n t of
'f'bracks.
The eff'ectof'economlc changeson race
relations w,asparticuiarl' marked in the
South' The rapiciinclustrrahzation o1'the south since lgl()encJedthe ciominance
the cotton culture' with its clernisewent of
the neeclfbr zr\,astunclerclass 'i'unskilled,
subjugatedlaborers' Power shified from
rural area.sto the cities. anclfi-om tradition-
oriented landeclfamilies to the neu' officers
ancl prol'essi'nal w'rkers in absentee-
ou'ned corporatiOns. The Iatter iracl
neither the histoncal allegiances nor
nonrational attitchmentto racial nrores the
to r-iskeconomic growth fbr-the sa1e.f
tion' The old systemof race relations tracli-
had no place in the ne\^ economic:orcler.
a n d a g a i n i n t h e I 9 5 0 s a n c l 1 9 6 0 s .t h e Time
r n d u s t r i a la n c ib u s i n e s se l i t e t o o k t h e I e a c l
accomnlodatingthe Sor-rth in
to the changessoughtb.r,theci'il rigirts
movement.
T h e e x i s t e n c eo f a n " a f f l u e n t s o c i e t v "
b o o s t e c tl h e f i r r t u n e s. f t h e c i ' i l r i g h t s
m o v e m e n t i t s e l f i n c o u n t l e s sw ' a v s .N 4 o s t
o b v i o u s l l , .i r e n e r b l e cml i l i i o n s o f d o l l a r s
in contributionsf}orn wealthv liberals
and philanthiopic organizationsr. pour
the coffers of'the NAACP Urban l,earsue. into
Southern chrisrian Leadership confer-
e n c e ' a n d c o u n t l e s so t h e r c i v i l r i g h t s
s r o u p s .w i t h o u r t h o s ef u n d s i t i s c i i f f i c L r l t
comprehend hou' the movemeni could to
have accomplisheclthose tasks so e.ssential
ttl its success:legislative lobb-vingand
court litigation. nationwide spealiing tours
and the daill' mailinss of press t'eleases
all over the countrr,: the orga'ization
mass marches, dernonstrations.ancl of
rallies. constant. rapid coffrmunication
traveling o\/er long distances.ancl the and
convocation of innumerable pLrblicconier-
encesand prir,'atestrategvsession.s.
Prosperitl' also increitsed the leisure
time of manv Americans and enabled
them to react immedizrterl't. the changing
times. Th; .nn, and daughters of the
newJy afflr-rentincreasingll went to college.
B,v j970.fi'e time, u, -on' students
were in college as in 1940.what ther'learned
heiped lead to pronouncedchangesin
u'hite attitudestoward racial discr-imination
and segregation.other whites learned
from the TV sets in their homes. B)'the
time t-yn,ton Johnson signeclthe Vbting
Rights Act of 1965' some 95 percent
of all American families owned at leasr
television' The race problem entered one
their living rooms. Tens .f millions nightl_v
watched the drama of the Negro Re'orution.
The growine majoriti, of Americans
favoring racial equalitl' and justice had
those senrimenrsreinforced bi, Ti;';;;;i
s n a r l i n g p o l i c e d o g s a t t a c k i n gb l a c k
d e m o n s t r a t o r sr.o u , d ) ,w h i t e h o o d s m o l e s t i n e
yoLlngblacks patientlv waiting to be
servedat a lunch counter.and hate-fllleclq,hite
faces in a frenzy becauseof the effi'onterv
of little black children enterins a pre'i-
ously all-white school
Blacks vieu'ed the same sceneson their
TV sets.a'd the rzrgethese scenesen-
-Qendered helped transfot'ttlisolatecilratt]esinto
a national canrp'ign. concurr.enth,.
t h c c c l n s p i c u o ucsl i s p l a , r ' Or fv h i t ea l ' f l L r e n c e
o n T v v i v i d l ) , a w l i l t c . t , t lb l a c k st o a , - , e u , ,
sL-llsco1'their relative clep'it'liti'tt. 'l'hat,
t.r" 'r.Lrsed triack argcr-.A'cl ,()\\, sorrc-
tlling coLrldLrcclotlcttbclutit' The g.or.r,'ing
black nriclcile alrclu,or-l<ing classespLrtt5cir.
l l l o l l e y a ' d b o d i e so l l t l r e l i r r e 'I r l a c l c l i t i . ' .
l r e c a i r s c1 h ec o r s L r r c r . c c o r - r o ' yc l e p e ' d c r c l
o r l c o n s L t l l l epr L r | c l t a s i n gb.l a c k t l c t t i l t t t c l s
h a c l1 o b c t a k e n s e r i o u s l r ,l.J , r ,i g l 0 . l - r l a c l ,
b t r y i n gp o w e r " t ' P p e c$l 2 5 b i l l i o r t .a l a r g e
e r r . ' s h s r r r . r c ln r r k e t l i c t h r - e aot f ' b o y , c . r l s
a t l e l ' f e c t i ' eu ' e a P o l l i l t ' s . c i l t l c h a t t g e.
A 1 ' r ' o - A r r r e r i cel rcr o r o r r i c . r l \ / ' n c e ) sa l s .
b l i t c l < lse s sl l a t i e t t ti r t c l e n l l t t t c l i nr gL l t r : r - z r t i o n s ,r,rlc
i n t h c i r s o c i a ls t a t u s .i h c ' c l e s i r . ca, cl llt h c
 )60

d e c e n c i e sa n d d i g n i t - it h e r b e l i l , e c l t h e i r f r i l l p a _ r , ' c h epcrko m i s e r i L
. astir. narionli,icle
Ilrosperiil c:otttribLrted to Ilore blaci,senterins colle_se. i.l,hichstimulatedhi-eherex_
p e c t a t i o r .a
) .n\ c ia h e i g h t e n e dc o n l i d e n c et h a t A n r e r i c a ns o c i e t ) ' n e e dn o r b e s t a t i c .
M o s t i m p o r t a n t i , tc' .h a r l s e si n t h e e c o n o r - nr\ a d i c a l l va f f e c t e db l a c k n t i g r . a t i . n .
C o i l o n t - n e c h a n i z - a t ipouns h e ci r l a c k so f J ' t h ei ' a r m s .a i l c lt h e I u r e o f 'j o b s p r - r l l e ct hl e m
t o t i - t ec'r t i e s .I n 1 9 3 0 .t h r e e - c l L r a r t eorfs' t h e . A l l - o - A n r e r i c a rl-i rvse d i n o r n e a r t h e r u r a l
b l a c k L r e l t .B , r ' 1 L ) 1 3o. v e r h a l l ' t h e b l a c k s l i v e c io u t s i d e t h e S o u t h . a n d n a t i o n a l l y .
n e a r l r ' 8 ( )p e r c e l t tr e s i c l e di n u r b a n i r r e a s .l n d e e d .i n t h e n v o c l e c l r d eps r i o r t o 1 9 1 0 .
the biack popLrlationin rretropolitanureLlsros€rb_rnrole than sevenrnilliorl_-ir nun-r-
b e r g r c a t e rt h a t tt h e i o t a l i n t n t i g r a t i o nh _ ra n r s i n g i e n u t i o n a l i t vu r o u p i n , { m e r i c a n
h i s t o r l . S L r c hi - ir ] . ] i . r rsnsi S r u t i o t ri .n c o n . j L n r c t i cul 'nr t h p r o s p c r i t r ' J. ' u n d a m e n t a l l l ' a l -
t e r e c lt h e l v h o l e c o t t fi g t - t t ' i i l i oon1 ' t h er a c e p l o b l er r i . F i r s t . t h e i s s u eo l ' r " a c eb e c a r n e
n a t i c t t t aill t s c o ; r e N . o l o n g e i - c i i ci ti a f f e c t o n l r o n c r - e ' g i o ra. rn.c in o l o n , ' e l ' c o l l l c it t b e
F .,:
E
3
-rt.
l! l c f t i n t h c i t a n d so 1 S o i r t h e r nr v h i t e s .S e c o n d .i t n r o c l iife d t h e o b . j e c t i v ec o n c l i t i o n s
L:

o t ' l i f e l o t ' b i a c l ' , sl l n c lc h u n g e ctii r c i l p e r c e p t i o no 1 ' u ' i r a tv v a sr i g h t a n d h o w ' t o g e t i t .

[:i
F;f
F o r t h e f i l ' s t t i n t c i n A n r e r i c a nh i s t o n t h e g r e a tl - n a s so i ' b l a c k s w e l ' ef l ' e e c fl l - c t mt h e
H .,
I i:': .
cclt'ti'ines o1'lirigicl castestn-rcture. Nou, sut-rject to ner,rI'orrnativeexpericltces.blaclis
lF lri
r;i
;ii
d e r , ' e l o p c 'Icr le u ' n o i ' n t sL r n db e i i e l ' s .l n t i r e r e l a t i v e a n o n v n t i t r a n d l r e e c k r mo f t h e
I
L,{;
.S1.
N o r t h a n d t h e b i g c i t r ' .a g g r e s s i o nc ( ) L l l cble t u r n e cal g a i n s to n e s o p p r e s s o r r a t h etfh a n
ti r-.i
lii,,, 's
!'' ti' againstone self: t't-tot'e educationalancienrprlovnrelll ()pportunitiescouiclbe secured:
cii:.
Iii
a n d p o l i t i c a l p o w e r c o u l d b e r n o b i l i z e c -S1i.r n i l a r l r .a s e x p e c t a t i o n so f r a c i a l e c l u a l i t l ,
r:ll
!,-i.i
,, :i
increaseclu'ith the size o1'blacknrigrationfl'om the rural South. so tire religious faith
qii t h a t l - r a d1 ' o rs o l o t t g s t - t s t a r n eAdf r o - , A n r e r i c u n su , o r k i n q o n p l a n t a t i o n sc l e c l i n e d .
,fi.
i ti' T h e p r o m i s e o f ' a b e l t e r w o r l d i n t h e n e x t ( ) n e c o L l l dr r o t s l r f f i c e .T h e u r b a n b l a c k
, :,-t ,

\1
',tt
t..
w o u l d n o t u ' a i t f o r h i s r e u ' a r d sL u t t i lt h e a l r e r l i f e .
i:f
:a,
:q
B e c a u s eb l a c l . . sc o u l d \ / o t e i n t i r e N o r t h . t h e v s t o p p e d b e l i e i ' i n g t h e v r . lo r - r l d
ns,
:th h a v et o u ' a i t . E , n f r a n c h i s e r n ep n rf o n r i s e da l l r n t h i s i i f ' et h a t r e l i g i o n d i d i n t i r e n e x t .
.:rb
T h e h e a v e n l l c i t i ' . t o p l l t i t n i i l d l i . \ ' { t s l t o t a c h i e i ' e d L: r u ir i t a l l e e i s l a t i v ea n d 1 e - t a l
.1t
.,,r|
a c c o m p l i s h n t e n t sd i d f l o u ' f l ' o r n t h e g r c u ' i n g b l a c k v o t e . W i t h o u t t h e p r e s e n c eo f
n#r
Y\, b l a c k p o l i t i c a l p o \ \ , e l ' i nt h e N o r t h . t l i e c l e n r o n s t r a t i o ni n s t h e S o u t h u ' i u l c Jn o t h a \ / e
{lo
l e d t o t h e c t r i i r i q h t sl a u ' sa n d p r e s i c l e n t i a lc t i o n sn e c e s s i u - ) ' lt eo a l i z et h e o b j e c t i v e s
h;
fur o { ' t h o s ep r - o t c s t i na e g a i n s tJ i n r C r o u ' i n N 4 r ) n t g o m e nG '.reensboroB . irntingham.

ffi rlri
J x c l ' . s o na. n c lS e l r r a .A l t h o L r e ht h e c l a i n r o f b l a c l i p L r h l i c i s t tsi r a tt h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n
o1'Nol'thernl-rlackvcltcstn the industriul cities nracletirc Afro-.{nre.r'icr.ur
" b l t l l t n c eo 1 ' l t o u ' e t " ' i nt u t t i o n a p
elecrclrare
l o l i t i c su ' a s n c v e t ' u l r o l l vu c c e p t e cl -l r r , e i t h em
a
r a.jor
p a t - t \ 't.h c d e s i t ' eo l ' c r c r \ p r c s i c i e n1t ' r ' o nFr r u r r r l , . iRi no o s e r c l tt o L v n c l o n. l o h n s g rt.or
u ' i t l a l i d h o l d t h e l - r l u c lr'c, l t e L r e c u n rac f a c t o r i n d e t e r " n t i n i n1g- r L r i r pl ioc l i c r . A n c l a s
t h e D e n l o c t - l t t i 1c - r i t t 'bt re c u t t t el e s s c l c p e r t r l c nut1 - l o n S o r r t h e l nc l e c t o r l l y o t e s .a p c l
l e s s a b l e l ( ) s l u - n c t ' t l t e n ti l. i r a c lt o c h a n r l ' r i o cr ri v i l r i g l t t s n t ( ) r ' ci r . ro r c l c - r ' t u o,,ilt he
p o p l . l l o t tsst l i t e so 1 ' t l i cN o r t l t l t n c l \ { i c l n , c sut' l t c r cb l l c k s u e l ' L ' i p c ; e u s i p g l y- l c e g p r i p u
I t t t i t t cils l t c ns l r [ r l cc o nrl ) ( ) n c r ]ot l ' t l t r -l i l r c r ul e o a li t i o n
-['hc
p t ' o t t r i t t c n cocl ' t h e [ - l n i t c rSl t l t c s a s i r \ \ ( ) r ' l tpl o r i ' e rf ' L r r t h e r ' p r r s hp cocl ilt i c r a p s
i l t t ol t l i l l ' i l l gl ' i t c ct c l l t t i o l tlsi l l t u t t c l o l ' r u r t i o r cuor ln e c l ' nI .) u l - i n gW i t l l t lW a r I I r n i l l i o n s
0 l ' A t l l c t ' i c i t l lbsc c l t l t l cl t \ \ i . t l 'lci r r t l i c I ' i l s tt i n r c o l ' l l r c r l u n g c ro l ' r ' l r ies n t t o n l i l i o n l r l
s c c t l I i t r "l -. l 1 ce ( ) : ' l so l ' l ' i r c i s nrri ' c n tc v c n l r i r h c r c l r r r i n gt l r c ( - o l t l W i r r .T h c S o r , ' i c t
L l t l i o rct o l l l i t l t t o L t s l r , ' t t t t t l cAtn' ct cLtt'ti e ; uarl l l ) c l l st o t l r c n l t t i o n so l ' ; \ l r i c ; rl r n t lA s i a [ t 1 ,
l t r r b l i c i z i nAgr n r ' irc r r ni l l - t r c a t n t c lot tl ' i r l u c l i sr .\ s l l t c c r ) l l l p c r i t i olnr c l u , c c lt rl r c L _ ] n i t c i l
 ]61

Statesand intet'nationalCotltttLtttisnrintensi{lecl.f'oreiqri-policvmakerscame tg rec-

ognize racism as tirc Antertcatts own \\/orsteltem,\,. PresidentHarr'\,Truman lustifiecl
h i s a s k i n g C o n g r e s sl o r c i v i l r i g h t s i e g i s l a t i o ns q u a r e l vo n t h e q , g r j d - w , i c liem p l i c a -
tions o1'Americanrace t'clations.Rarelr in the next twentv dict a plea for cir,,il
_vears
rights before the SLrprenleCourt. on the floor of'Consress.anclemanatingfr-omthe
\l/hite House. f'ail to emphasizethat point. In short. f'earforced the nation to hasten
the redeflrringo1'the black statlrs.The nrore involveclin ,uvorlcl affairs the Unitecl
Statesbecaine.the tnore impelative srev\ the rasli oi'setting its rlcial lffairs in order.
T h e r a p i c lg r o r , l ' t ho 1 ' n a t i o n a l i s t i icn c l e p e n c l e n cmeo \ / e m e n r sa m o n g t h e w c l r l c l ' s
c t l l o t ' e cple o p l e sh a d s p e c i a ls i g n i f i c a n c e1 ' u rA f l ' c i - A n t e r i c a n si n. 1 9 6 0a l o n e .s i x t e c n
A l l ' i c a n n a t i o n s e l l l e l ' g e ct l - o m u n d e r w h i t e c o l o n i a l n - r l e .E a c h p r ( ) c l a n t a t i o no f i n -
d e p e n d e n c ei n p a r t s h l m e d b l a c l i s i n t h e U n i t e c iS t a t e st o i n t e n s i f v t 6 e i r s t r u _ { g l e
ibr ecluaiitl'and.iustice. itttciin part causeclii sLlrqeof racill pl'iciein Alr'6-Antericans.
an afljrtnation o1'blaciitte.ss. The expcrience of Airican independencep1;vecl the
feasibilitv of change ancithe t'Ltlnerabilitvo1-u,hite sLrpremzrc_r'. while at the sarne
t i n l e a i d i n e A f r o - A r n e r i c i t n st o s e e t h e r n s e l v e sa s m e n l b e r s o 1 ' a w g r l c l m a j o r i t y
r a t h e rt h a n a s- j u s lz th o p ei e s s l vo n t r r u m b e r e dA m e r i c a n m i n o r i t \ ' .
The decline in irlteilectuallespectabilin,of ideasuseclto-jr-rstii'r/ sesresAtionand
discrimination sirniiarlv provided Afro-Anrericans ll'ith new weerpops1nd shields.
T h e e x c e s s e so f N a z i s t r ta n d t h e c l e c l i n eo 1 ' W e s t e r ni m p e r i a l i s m c o r - n b i n e du , i t h
internal developmentsin the academicdisciplinesof anthropologv.biologi,. historr,.
psycholog-r". and sociologl' tctdiscredit notions of inherent racial difTelencesor pre-
dispositions.First in the 1930s.then u,ith acceleratingrapiciity durine Worlci S/ar-II
a n d e v e r ) ' ) / e a rt h e r e a f t e r b . o o k s a n c le s s a l ' sa t t a c k i n gr a c i a l i n j u s t i c e a n d i n e c l u a l -
it1' r'u1t-ooff the presses.As early' as 1 914. Gunnar M_r'rclerl in his rrlonurlental ,4,
Anteric:ctnDilutttlto Lerfftedthe pronoLlncedchange in schoiarship aboLrtrace "the
nlost imptlrtant of all social trends in the fleld of interracialrelations."This conciu-
sion ot'erstatedthe pou,er ctl'the u,ord. but undoubtedll,the mountain of neq, data"
theort'-and exposition at least helped to erode the pseudo-scientiflct'ationalizations
once popularlv acceptedas the basis 1'orwhite sllpremacv.
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sion." Blacks coLrldsa1-elv abanclonthe "niqger' role. To the extent that textbooks.
sermons.declaraticinsb\ gtn'et'nmentalofficials. advertising. ernclmovies and TV
afllrnled the need to lraltsl'ort.n relationshipsbetu,eenthe races anclto sllppon black
c l e m a n d sI ' o r f ' u l l c i t i z e n s h i p .b i a c k s c o r - r l dc o n f l c l e n t l va n c lo p e n l r , r e b e Ji i q a i n s tt i r e
i n e q u i t i e st h e l ' r ' i e u ' e da s t l i e s c ) L l r c eos1 ' t h e i t o' p p r e s s r o nT. h e r c o L r i cpl L r b l i c l ye t -
pressthe rilge their"pat'entshaclbeen forced to rnternahz,e:thev cituld battle for u,hat
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l t t t l c t i O tul " i t h t h e n t i g t ' a t i o nt o c r t i e s .t l i e s et 1 o \ 1 , ' g s l l u rl a t rlo c e s s e h s e l p e ctl o p r - o d L r c e
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i r l g i l l c o l l l el t t t t lt t L t l l l l l e t ' o l ' . j oat ri ,sa i l a b l et o [ r l u c h sa n c lu , h i t c s "a l t c b l l ; L c kn t i g t . u t i o n
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a r l d r i ' i l l a r e t i o t e n o L r g i 'S r .i g n i f i c a n ta n c i I o n g - l a s t i n sa l t e r a t i o n si l r s o c i e t _ r , ' 1 l o u ,
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t l l e n tt o n t o b i i i , r et h e l l t t e r t p t o \ \ ' c li n h e r e n ti n i i n i n s t i t r - r i i o n sutl r u c t u r ci n 1 ' l u x .

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becotle Lr\ef n'lot-e anxiitr-rs abrlutihc i-lLrce ill 1"lrt)gt't'ss.
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b l a c k s .t h e c i r i l r - i g l i t sn r o \ / e n r e ni ni t h e l L ) 3 ( ) a s n c ll i l 4 0 s r c l i e c lo n p u b i i c i t r ' .a g i t a -
t i c ' r t ti i. t i s a t i o r ti n t l i e c o u r t s .a n d l o l r b v i n gi n t h e h u i l s o f p o i i t i c a li r o \ \ e rt o g a i n t i - ] e
1 ' L r il l t c i t t s i i l l to 1 - b l a c i ' ,i sn A n r e r i c u nl i f e . A c J v i - u r c ceLs u n ci n t h e l e g a l : l n c lc c t l n o n r i c
s t a t u so 1 ' b l a c k su. n c li n t h e r r i n o r s o c i a l .p o i i t i c a l .a n c ic u l r u r a lc o n c e s s i o n sa 1 i ' o r c l e < J
. A 1 l ' o - A I t t e t - i c ai n l t st h e N o r t h . b L r tt h e u l l - o p 1 - r r c t s i rsei s t e i t - o r 1 ' J i n t C r - o r ,i n t h e
S o u t hr " e n r a i ncei v i r t u a l l r i n t a c t .
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e r r l r l l e r lct i t t t s i s t e l t t l li t t t h e d i r e c t i o no f r t , u l r a c t a le c l r - u i i i t Ir i.t t h e i 9 i ( ) s . t h e b l a c k
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l t ' n c h i r t gl u r ^ , . " - L , Li l1t c l i dn r l L n a gteo ! e t F r l n k l i n D . R o o s e v e l ta n d e t h e l p r e p t b e r s
0 1 ' h i so f i c i a l l ' l L t t t i ltrc i s p e a ko n b e h a i l - o 1 ' r ' a c.i jaul s t i c et.o i n c l e u s et f u ep g p t b c r s9 f '
b i a e k si t t g o t ' e r t t t t t e ntto. c s t a t r l i s h a C i r i l R i g h t sS e c t i o ni n t h e . l L l s t i cD e eplr'rptept.
I t n dt 0 e l l s L t l 'ie- l l l t c l .r. .sts h l t r eo 1 ' t l r el ' c l i e l ' a n dl eeo \ et ' - \u \ \ i s t l - u - ) C C .
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t h e t a k e - o 1 ' l ' ot hl e c i v i l r i g h t sn l ( ) \ r . r r e nct l L r r i n\g\ o i ' l r l \ \ h r I L T l r e i c l c o l o g i r . xclh u r ' -
I t c t e t ' 0 1t h c u l t t " l t l t dt h c g o v e r n n r e r . l n t ' cs c d l o r t l r c l o v l r l t \ a l t c l n a n p ( ) \ \ c o l 1'lrll
, A I t t c t ' i c i - lsl ltsi l l l l t l l L t c [c"lr l u c l .l .os c l l t c c l u l r c t t c rt l c a l 1 ' r ' o nt tl t c g o \ c r n n r c r r t t: h i s l c c lt o
I t t t l i l i t l t l l c l l . l c \ c l ' l ' r e f ' t tS t ' te- - cinl t l r l l r e kc o l l n t L l n i l i c s .h 4 c r n b c r s l r i il n t 1 h eN , \ A ( ' P
t l l t t l t i l l l r c tl lt t l l l l ' l -t \c l t t i l t t t t s l: l t e ( ' o n g l ' e\ . \ o l ' I { a c ' i a il : t ; L r l l i t r o
. r g u p i z c cilp l 9 l l .
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e h a l l c l l s cs c r : r ' c g i t t i oltttn: t lr \ . P h i l i p I t t r n r l o l p lut t t c n r l t t c t lo b L r i l t l i i s N { l r p c l t - o p -
W l i s h i l t g t o (t 'l o t t l l t l i l t c ri nc t o l u t l t l l - [ r l l r cnl i] l r s sp r o t c s ln t ( ) \ c l n c l t tl .l t l 9 - l l . h i s t h ; c u t
t l f i t t l t l t t ' c ol lt t \ \ ' l t s h i t t g t t )cl to. t n l r i t t c u
d i t l r t l l c g l ' ( ) \ \ t lot l ' t i t c h l a e l \\ ( ) f c l r r r tlll r c c r i -
g e l l c i c so l ' l t l i r | c i g r il i l r c l t lI t rr \ t t t e t ' i c r st tot c i c t , il'o. t ' c c tIl { o o s t ' r c l tl 9 i s s r r cl , . r . r c r r t i r c
O | c l c l ' , \ E O( tl l t cI ' i l ' ssl t t c l or r r i c rt l e a l i n lu i l l t n r c cs i r r c cl { c c o n s t r r r e t i o cl ts) l. l r b l i s h i n l
l h e rl ' i t ' slt) t ' c s i t l r ' t t t( ' sr ) l t u n i t t c co n l r l r i rl t r r p l o l , ' r ' l l cIl )t rl ' l e l i c e (sl ' r F - l r ( 'r)\.r r r l .u , i t l r
 i r , i a l i t t t 3 lt l t c G r c a i . ! ' r r , ' 7 . , 1 .ti..' i t , i i R i q l t t s 1/1
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f o r c i v i l r i g h t s i e s i s l a t i o na n c le r x -
S phasized that the pJ'acticesof i,l'hite,upr.rnocv
brought into clisreputeAmerica's
S s t a t e d ' u l ' tat ri m s ' M i n i n l a l g a i n s t o b e s L l r eb" L r t
h e . ^ p . . , " , i g n s t h e i ' a r o u s e ds e t t h e
stage1br the sreater aclvancesin tire postw'arperiocl.
B),. I L)15.A11-.-Americ'nshercJ
benefltedenoughfionl tlie expansionin jnbs and
inc6pre.seryicei' the armecJforces
l' a n d t h e n l a s s i v em i s r a t i o n t c tN o r t h e r n c i t i e s t o
k n o u ' b e t t e r u , i - r atth e l ' n o \ / u , a n t e c l :
a n d t i r e t ' h a d d e v e l o p e cei n o u g h p o l i t i c a l i n f l u e n c e .
u , h i t e a l l i a n c e s .a n d o r s a n i z a -
t t o n i L ls l i i l i s t o k n o u h o \ * ,t c ig e a b o u t g e t t i n g t i - l e i r . c i v i l
rights.
EqualiV Vital.the SuprenleCourt beganto ciisrnuntle
the separ.ate-but-ecluai doc-
trine in 1938'That )'eal'.the irigh collrt ruleclthar
N4issouricoulclnoi exclucleerNegro
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clecisionspnor- to wbrlcl \\/ar II
u ' h i t t l e c ia u ' a v a t d i s c r i n l i n a t i o ni n i n t e r s t a t et r a v e l .
i n e r n p l ( ) \ , m e n ti .n . l L r c l i c i aai n c l
p o l i c e p r a c t i c e sa. t l c i n t i r c e x c l u s i o no 1 - b l a c k fsr o n r . j u n , s e n , i c e .
D L r r i ' g t h e u , a ut.h. e
Court outlawed the u'hirc pritrt:.tt'r. hoiding tirat tire nominating pr-()ce,ss o1 a priitical
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the need tci blunt the So'iet
[Jnion's exploitation of' tlre race issue. and the flrmly
orgernizedcarnpaignfor the
advancementof blacks. Harr,\'Truman acted u'here
Roosevelt haclfear-edto. ]n late
1916' the Presidentappointed a Committee on
Civil Rights to recorrmend specific
m e a s u r e st o s a f e * u a r dt h e c i v i l r i g h t s o f m i n o r i t i e s .
T h i s v v a st i r e f l r s t s u c i i c o m -
mittee in Attterican histort'-anclits lg-4i r"eport.
kt Secrtt-cTlte.saRigltts,eloquently,
p o i n t e d o u t a l l t h e i n e c l u i t i e so f l i f e i n J i m
Crow America 3nd spelled o't the
moral' economic. and interrlationaireasonsfclr goi,ernment
action. It calied for the
e n d o f s e g r e g i l t i o na t l d d j s c r i n - r i n a t i o inn p L r b l i c
e c l u c z r t i o ne.m p l s y m e n t .h o u s i n g .
the arnled forces.pLrblicaccontntocJations. and interstatetransportation.other.corr-
missions appointed b1' Trutrarn stressedthe need
for racial ecl,aiit' in the armed
s e r Y i c e sa n d t h e f - i e l do f e c l u c a t i o nE. a r 1 1 , ' i nl 9 : t 8 .
T r u r n a ns e n t t h e f . i r s tp r e s i d e n t i a l
l r e s s a s eo n c i v i l r i g i l t s t t l C o l t g r e s s C . o n g r e s sf a i l e c lt o p a s s1 p r o f . t h e m e a s u r e s
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p r o p o s e d 'b u t T r l t r n i t nl a t e t ' i s s u e de x e c u t i v ' e
o r d e r se n c J i n ss e g r - e g a t i oin t l i e r n i i i -
t a n ' e t n d b a r r i n g d i s c r i n l i l t a t i o t ti n l ' e c l e r ael m p l o v n r e n t
a n c l i n u , . r i , c l o n eu n c l e r .
g o v e r n m e n tc o t r t r a c t .I n a c l d i t i c l n .
h i s J r - r s t i cD e e p a r ' l n r e npl r e p a r e ccl t p t i . L r ,. st , ^ i r t e
b r i e f s t o g a i n f i r v t l r a b l ec ( ) L l l 'crl e c i . s i o nisn c i v i l
r i g h t . sc a s e s .a n c lT r - L p p 1 n 'rs- 6 c - t o r i c
i r r b c l r a l l '0 1 'l - a c i a l. i t r s t i c eh c l p c c l I c f i t i n t i z . e
g o a l s o l ' t h e c i r i l r - i g l r i s, r ( ) \ , e ' e n t .
Hotl'ct'e t -s t l l l t l lt h e t t l c i t t l i n s f l ral c c o r r r ; r l i s h n r crnetn r a i n e c l .
t h e i c l ep t i l i c a t i . , . l ' t h e
Supl'cttle C t l u t ' ti t t l c tl h c P t ' e s i c l e l t c t ' u , ittl hr e ' c a u s o e l ' r ' a c i ael q L r i r l i tl,,rL, r r - t l r e r - . u - . u s e c l
t h e e x p e c t a t i O nOs l ' b l a c k st l i a t t h c 1 ,1 i , 1 , u lscol o n
s h u l . ci n t h e A n r c r . i c u 'I ) 1 . c , ' r .
N o s i l l g l ce v e l l td i c ll l l o l ' et o c l L t i c l ' , cbnl a c l ,h o p e s
t h a n t h c c e t r pt l c e r - i i c e to seg-
r e g l i t e cel d t t c l t t i c l tctl c - l i V e t "lc- cl vlu L u r i u r i n r o u s
S u p r c n r t :C ' o u r -rtl r rM a v 1 7 . 1 9 5 - 1J. - h c
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o f a l l r i t c i a l d r s t i n c t i o n si n t h e l a u . F o r a l l p r a c t i c a lp L u ' i r o s et\h. e l e s a l q L r e s1i o r .
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Rctsl-r Parks.along u ith her frie nd Virginral)urr'.bcglrttsolicitirtr contt'iblttiotts tou'ard
t h e l e g a i f e e s . , A l n t o s ti m r n e c l i a t e l r h' .o u , e t ' e rp' .r o b l e n t sc l e v e l o p e dF. i r s t . C o l v i t t ' s
r e s i s t a n c et o t h e a n ' e s t i n go f f i c e r s h a c lr " e s u l t e ci ni h e r L r e i n gc l - r a t - g euc' il t h a s s l n t l t
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R o b i l t s o r a. ]n d N i x o n l e a r n e ci ln i n d e p e n d c niln t e r v i e u ' su i t h C o l v i t t i t n c il r e r f ' a n t i i t ,
that the \1oLtr-)g r-rnntarried u'crman\\'as sereral r-t-tonths pregtutnt.Both ieaders colt-
clr-rded t h a t C o l v i n u ' o L r l cbl e n e i t h e r a n i c l e a lc a n c l i d a t ef o r s v n t b o l i z i n gt l t e a b t t s e
h e a p e dL l p ( ) lLt r l u c l p. ,l l s s e n g e l 'lst o l ' a g o o c ll i t r g a n t{ ' o t ' r -t tc s t s t t i t c e l ' L ; - tti ort gel-}et-ate
g r e a t p r e s s L l r east t c i1 - l L r [ - r l i c.i t.r ..
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u ' a i t i n g 1 ' o r '".W e h a d p l l u l t c d t l r e p r o t c s t i o r r g b c 1 ' o r rN - 4 r ' sP . a t ' I . .\s\ L i s a n ' c s t e c l . "
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. T h c ' r ' e
h a c l b c e n s ( ) n l u t - \ t l - ) i n g st l r a t h l t ; r -
p e n e c lt.h a t t l t c b l l r c k\ \ o n t c l i h u d b e e ne n r b l r n ' u s s cocrlc r ' .r - t n ttlh c r \ \ c t ' c t ' c l , L t tl ro c t -
p l o c l e . "A l s o . " N ' l r ' sP . u r l ' . sh l r r lt h c c u l i l r c ro l . c h a r - r - r c l c r ' \t\t'c c r l c ctlo ! c t t h e c i t t t o
r u l l - t , L r e h i rLrrds . i"l o l - r i n s otno l t l N i r o n t l u r ts h c u n t il i c t ' \ \ ' l ) Ct ' o l l e u g L r c\ \so L r l ttl - r c g i t t
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b 1 ' s c i n i eo f R o l r i n s o n ' s . s t L i d e n L t sr .e ! a nc i i s t r i b L r t r nt h l e a r . ] r . r o L r n c e i l et no tes v e r \

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to g e t u n d e r\ \ ' a ) .
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t h e b l a c k l e a d e r s h i pN i x o n i i n e u t h a t l r n r a s sb o v c o t t o 1 M o n t s o m e r \ ' ' sb u s e sc o u r i d
n o t b e a c c o m p l i s h e csl i n r p l r L r r t h c \ \ / P C a n c lt h e f ' e u ,r e g u l a l a c t i r i s t s s u c i "irL sh i r n -
s e l l ' .A l t h o L r s ht h e \ \ / o r r e nh a c lL r c e nt h e c i r i v i n gl ' o r c eb e h i r r cal l l o 1 ' t h eb l a c k c o m -
m u n i t ) ' e f f ' o r t so 1 ' t l t e l a s t f e u ) r c a r s .r - in r i l s sp r - o t e s\t\ ( ) L r i csl u c c e e col n l v i 1 ' t h e - r '
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citl''spastorsR . a l p hD . . A b c r n a t h r .
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b e s t f r - i e n d st.h c R e v e r e n cNl 4 .l - . K i n q . . fr ' . .p a s t o rc l l 'D e x t e rA v e n i r cB a p t i s tC h L r r c h .
a n d a s k i 1 ' t h er n e e t i n gc o u l d h e i r e l c lt h e r c . l n t h c -r l e u n t i r n e . A b e r n a t h rw o u l d b e g i n
c()nt;ietir0 t qt h c r n i i r r i s t c t ' : .
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F { . H . l H L r b b a r d ' sa p p r o v a l .H e t h e n c a l l e c lK i n g . N i x o r r r e l a t e ctlh e e v e n t sr - r 1 ' t hper e -
v i o u s e v en i r - r gt.o i c l K i r r g o 1 ' t h ee n i e r t i n g c ( ) n s e n s Ltros h e g i n a b o v c o t t o n N 4 o n c l a l ' .
artd askedif the \/oLurgpastor woLrlcl .ioin in supportingthe efl'or-r. Kinq hesitr.rtecl. He
h a d a n e w b o r n c l a L r s h t elre' .s s t h a n o n e l n o n t l i o l d . a n c li r e a r ' \ r ' e s p o n s i b i i i t i east h i s
c h u r c h . O n l v a 1 ' e w ' u ' e e kesa r l i e ri r e h a d c l u - c l i n etdo b e c o n s i d e r e df o r p r e s i d e n to f
t h e l o c a l N A A C P c h a p t e rb e c u L r s oe f t h e s eo t h e r d e m a n d so n h i s t i n r e . H e u ' a s n ' t
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s u r e h e c o L r l dh a n c l l ea n v a c l c l i t i o n arle s p o n s i [ r i l i t i e s . N i x o n . " h e s a i d ." l e t
r n e t h i n k a b o u t i t a u , h i l e .a n d c a l l m e b a c l i . "N i x o n t o l d K i n g t h a t h e a n d A b e r n a t h r '
a h ' e a d lw ' e r e t e l i i n g p e o p l et o m c e t a t K i n g ' s c h u r c h t h a t e v e n i n g ." T h a t ' s a l l r i g h t . "
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A b e r n a t h - vh a d h e a r - di r o m N i r o n a b o u t h i s f r i e n c l ' sh e s r t a t i o n a. n d u ' a n t e ctio s t r e s s
t o K i n g t h e o p p o r t L r r r i ttvi r a t t h e P a r k s a r r e s tr e p r e s e n t e cK l . i n g a c l i n o u ' l e d g e dt h a t
A b e r n a t h t ,u ' a c c o r r e c t :h e h a c ln ( ) r F l u n ' e lu i t h t h e b o t , c o t tp l a n . S o l o n s i r s h e d i C
n o t h a v e t o d o t h e o r g a r t i z a t i o n aul ' o r k . h e u ' o u l c lb e l - r a p p vt ( ) s L r p p o rtth e e 1 ' 1 ' our n td
h o s t t h e e v e n i n gn r e e t i n ea t D e x t e i - c h u r c h
E , a r l YF r i c l a l 'e t ' e r t i n g a . s l \ ' l r s .R o h i n s ( ) n ' sl e a l - l c ' tcs: i r c r - r l a t et icr rl o u g h o u t\ 4 o n t -
g ( ) n r e r ' \s' ' o. m e s e r e n t r b l a c k l e u c l e r si l s s e r l b l c c li r r t h e -b a s c n r r ' l rnt t e c t i n g r o o m o 1 -
D e x t e r A v e n u eB a p t i s tC h L r r c i r . . A l ' iae rb r i c l p r u t - \ ' c l ' tH i u b b i r r c lI.R c - r e r e n L c l. R o l ' ]
B e n n e t tt o o k t h e 1 - l o oar n c it o l c lt h e i n l - l L r c n t i u l g r ' o l r l l
t h a t l i e d i c ln o t s e el r u c h n e e d
l o t ' l t n v e x t e n c l e c l i s c ' u s s i obne c u r - r si rcc . B c n l r e t t .k n r ' u 1 ' L r lul c l l h o u t o o r g u n i z - c
a bclvcott.
B e l t n e t tl c c t L t t ' c oc tl t A s t l r c n t i n t t t c sp r r s s c c n l .r o r c t i n c in r ( ) r ' cl l c o l l l c b r - e : - t r . n c
l l ' u s t t ' a t eidt n c ia n g r ' \ 'D . c s l r i t cr c p c u t e crlc c l u c s t sI.l c r t n c t Lr c l ' r - r s ct o c lv i c l t l t h e l ' l o o r ' .
W h e n B e t t n e t t 'tsn o n r r l o g urcc u c h e dt h c l r a l l - h o u nr u r r k .s o n r cP e o l l l r ' b c g l rnrar l l , , i n g
t t L t tA. l l t o n g t l t o s c t o l c l r t ' ci l ' a s , t \ l a l ' u r r rSi lt a t c I ) r ' o 1 ' c s s o r ' . l l r nf rt c. sl ) i c l ' c c .o n c o f '
N i x o r t ' sc l o s c s tl l l i c s . I ' r l r r l i ctll u r td u _ \ ' l ) i c r ehcl i r lt r i c t lt o t l i s s L u r chl ics l l ' i c n cIl ' r ' o l n
t l t e l - l o y ' c opt tl i t no n t h c g r o t r r r c tl h s l r ln n u r \ b / l a c l tc i t i z c n sl ] r i r i i l n o t s u p P o r il t . ' l ' l t i s
s e s s i t l l ltl l t t lo t ' t l ys t t ' c t l g t l l c r t cl )di e l ' e c ' st i o L r [ r tl st l t o t t t l t c c l ' f i r r t l. u t t l l t i s l c l u ' t l u t t
t t u u t yi r t c l i v i r l L lrcailt d c t ' sl i.l < cI l c n n c t t r. , r , o r rbi tcl L r n u l r lt co p r r tl r s i t l cl l t c i l ' r ' i r r r l r i uc lsi d
c l c s i t ' el si t " s c l l - i r c l \ l a n c c n t cl onrtt ge n ( ) L r gtlor i l g r c c( ) n l r r r i i i l i c rcl ( ) t ' n n t L u t i l t , c l ' f o r l .
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ancltold Pierce. u'ouldlilteto
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t r i s c L r s s i l rl g' l ' r t t h e ' c . u l c l c l o .
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i n c r e a s i n g l l ,c n r u , d e du i t h c a l s a n d p e o p l e . T h o u s a n d so f N 4 o n t g c l n r e r ' \b' 'lsa c k
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t o c a p a r c i t l l,o n g [ - l e 1 ' o rscc r e n . b u t I L c v c r e n c\l\ / i l s o n c ; L r i c k l ya n ' u n g e c l i r r l o t t r ] -
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o 1 ' c o r n p l c t cs i l c n c c .T h o L r g hp c r h u p sL u r w i c l c l 1t h, .e n u r n t - l eorl ' P c o P l c\ \ ' u sg r u t i l ' 1 , -
i n g t o t h c l c a c l c r sa. n d u n s \ \ / c l c rtlh c r l r . r c s t i otnh l r t h a c lb c c n l c l ' t o ; r e n t h l i t a l . t c r - -
n o o n .A s K i n g l r L ritt . " n r t , t l o r r b tcs( ) l t c e t ' r r i tnl g r cc o n t i n L r csr rl r c c c sosl ' ( ) L u " \ c n t L t t ' c "
\\,'cre c l i s p c l l e db y t h e r r u r s sl u l n o l r t . " l ' l r e ' c p r c s t i oonl ' c a l l i n g o l ' l ' t h c p r o t c s tr v u s
n o \ \ /a c a c l c n r i c . "
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no t t L l l t ( i e r - \ \ , l t \o. r r c t h o L t : i l l t dp c o ; l i c \ \ c l . c i n s i c i e t i t c c i t L r i . c i t
a t t c ll . O l t rt h t l i t s a t t c\l \ c r c s i - t t i - ) e r eocul t s i d e l o r a t i e a : ; tu b l o c l , i n c v e r r c l i r e c t i o n .( , . r r -
l l ' a l ' \ t t l E . i ) . N i r o t t ' s d e s i t - c .n o s 1 - r c i - r l . .\c\ r, c" sr e r n l r o t l u e c . i i . l n i l l ' i t e a s o l r c p l r : i t o r
l e c l a p l ' i l \ / e l ' a n cllt s e e o n c lt ' e u c ul s e l c c t i o n r i t ' S c r i p t L r r eT. h e n K i n - r s t e p l t e c l c l r u a r - cilr r
t e i l t h e ; l e o p l c r i ' i t r i t t t c lh o u t h e r n t L r s tp r ' o t e s tt i r e a r l e s i a n c lc o l t v i c t i s p 6 1 ' M r s . P u r - I . , s
a n c l t h e c o l t t i t t L t i t t gi n c l i g n i t i e s t h l t h u n c i r e c i so l ' t h c r l l ' c g L t i l L r i rs L r f l ' e ; e cgl n , \ 4 e n t -
g o n l e l ' \ ' ' s b l t s e s . K r n g g a \ / e a l e t t s i h i t c s t i n r o n i a l t o N 4 r ' . -P. u l l i s ' s c h a l a c t e r . u l c l r - c -
r l i i n c l e chl i s i i s t e r t e l ' sl h a t s i t e . l t t t c il i t c t . s L t f l e r e ctli r e s c i n s L r i t so n l r o l - la c c o L r n to l ' t l t c i r -
l ' a c c . " F r | s t l r t l t l l o t ' c l l l o s t \ \ c t - t l ' c , { t n e r - i c acni t i z e n s . " h c c o n t i n u e d . " W c i - u ' ul t o t i - r e r . r
I t c l V t l c l . t t i l l\gi o l e t t c t . [ ' ' c h a t ' r -( ) \ ' e l ' c ( ) t ' nteh l t t T l r e o n i r \ \ r c l r l l o r t. hi at li,c ltlr,,c. ..
i s t h c w e i . l p o l to i ' p r r ) t c \ t . ; , u t d" t l i c g ; e a t l l g r ' r 9 1 ' . A p t c ; i c u l ct i c p ] o c l ' a c yi s t h c r - i g h t
t O p t - o t e s ti t l t ' I ' i g h t . " H c I ' r - l ' e r r e ct vl i i c c t o t h e c o n t n r l n c i s 9 i t l r e L i . S . C g p s t i t u r i 6 p .
I t t l c lt l t - t c : te( ) t h c S u p t ' e t ' t l cC ' g L r ; t ' sl f i o i ' \ ' i i r c l i c u t i g n 9 i ' i - r i i r c l , . s ' c l c p r l n c lj si r r . t t " L r j '
e c l u r l tri i g i l t s . F J L r1i ' l t ' o t c sat r l c i l e g a i c i t - : t n a r r cul s' e r e o r r i r l l t r r t 9 1 ' 1 1 ' h 1 \t \ ' r r sl ' e r l L r i ; c c l .
K i n g \ \ ' e l l t t l n . " V \ ' c l . I ) L l sl li e c p f i o t i i n t h e l o r e i ' r ' o n t .L c l i u s l r c f i i i ' i s t i u p i 1 l i l l e l ' e r - r r -
itctiott I { i s i n g t o t h c i i ' l . c ' c ti.h c p eo l t i e l i p p l u u t l c c ih c a n i i r .
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t h a t " c l L t l ' i l l gt h i s c a r l r p e t ' i o d . K i n g ' s p h i l o s o l - r h _or1 ' l t o n v i o l c ' r -i r' cl s i s t a l t c c\ \ ' 1 s e r r l - r
g r a c l u a l l r t a k i t t s l ' o f t n . \ \ ' h e l t l t e n r a c l eh i s c l e [ - r ult. r sp r e s i c i c l t to j ' t h t . N , l i A a t
tlie i1i-
t i a l t l l : . t s sl l l e e l i l l g . l ) e c e t n b c l ' 5 . h c c l i c ln o t n r e l t t i r i nf i u r r c l i t io l ' u p - \ t h i r r sc l i r " e c t l _l ' rc l l i i -
i n - t t O t h e N 4 a h a i l i t l t ' sl h e o t ' r ( ) l ' p l ' r - r c t i coe1 ' s o c i a l c h a n g c . H i s s p c c c h u u s . j L t s t( ) p r 1 .
l l l o l ' e : r p p e a lt o p r i r l c i ; r l e st l i ' C h l ' i s t i i u t i t i ' : . u t dc l c n t o c n t c \ . i o i : , i i ; p i a r u l t c lc 1 l r p p u s s i , . r r . r
1 - o rt h o s e i n t h e ( ) p p ( ) \ i t c -c u n r p . " B r C l i r - i s t r . r - u rhso. u e r c - r - .i r n e n r c r . g i n ue n r p h u s i s 0 n
l l o l ' ) \ ' i o l e l l c eu ' a s c i c l - i r .T i t e s t a t e l t t e n l o 1 ' t h e N , { i , { p o s i t i o n . s e t 1 ' o r t hi n t l i c n r i p 1 c t , -
t r a p h e c l l - r t ' c l c h l t t 'oeb. s e t ' r ' e ctli r a t " t h i s i s a r - r ' r o y e n r e no tf p a s s i \ e r d s i s t u n e e .c l e n e n c l -
i n s o t t n ' t o l - u al n c l s | i l i t i u r l 1 ' o t ' c e sW . ' e . t i t e o p p r e s s e c l .h a r , e n o i ' u l t ei n o u t - h e u r . t sl o r .
t i r e o p p r e s s o l ' s .L - r Ltt,ti ' ea t ' e .I . l e v e r t h e l e s sd"e t e r n t i n e c lt o r e s i s t u n t i l t h e c l l s e 9 1 ' . j g s r i c e
t r i u n l p h s . " T l i o u g h " T r r l , r . l i i ' r ' t ' e s i s t a r t c\e, i"- l sr - rn r i s n o n r e r ' t. h e c o p S C i g u sc l e s i l e t 9
c o t t l b i n e G a l l c l h i a n p l ' e c e p t s u i t l t C h r r s t j a n p r " i n c i l t l e s \ \ L t s g l - ( ) ui n g i i t l - r t t t hK i p g
an d th e l \4 1 .A
\ \ ' i t h i l t t i r e p l ' t r l t c r ' r , L t n c i l so 1 ' t h e N , ' l l A .t h e r e \ \ ' i r sg r ' ( ) \ irn g i i p p l e c i u r i r l p L r e t h
f o r K i n s s a b i l i t r i i s t i l e b o . r ' c o t t ' sp r i n c i p a l p r - r l r l i cs 1 - r o k c s l n l iunn d l o r h i s . s k r l i l u l
l e a c l e r s h i po 1 ' t h ee r e c L r t i \ eb 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 sa n c l
c l l t s s e sc l 1 ' ; r e t l l l l uH' .u ' l t l s o p e l ' s L u r c l cldh e n r t o g r ' 11 l 1 r n gu r t h c u c h g t h e r ' . "N { l . A h i s l p -
t - i l t t lL l t t \ l ' e l l c c R c t l c l i c k l l t i c t ' l ' e c u i l e c l K. i n g ' s " c l e n r o c t ' a l i.ep l t i c n t u n c l o p t i r l i s r i e "
l u 1 - r 1 - r lho ltroe i h i r r g s i l l ' l J l l ' c s s c celr c r - ro n c . . . .
. . . O n l \ 4 o t l c l a r 'l .. l l t r l L r i i t r' r3 . 1 9 5 6j N ' l u r o t ' ( l u - il c l i n r ) ( ) L l r c c ct l i l i t t 5 c e i t - r r i u s
a c l o ; l t i n gi , rl 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 po l N c g l - ( )r - a r l i c u l us h r r
I t l t v es p l i t l t s L t l t c l c l ' t l t r ' l ' i lIt'ec l u t i o r t s l t i p sb" e t u c c l t 1 \ l o n t g ( ) l n c l ' \ ' sh l a c l . . sl r r r r lq , h i t c s .
C a V l e c i c ' c l l t l ' c tt ll t t t l " t i t t h l t t c i l L l s s v l ' o o t c ci ul ' o L r n ttl, r rt l t i s l - l o - r e e ilt1 l p gc . l r p 1 - 1 g 1N19. "
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i l r r ; t g 5 {r ' c n u r i n c tilr r l i r r - c c . . ' L i n t i l
t h c t ' l t l ' e t ' c i t t l Yt o c l l t l i t . t h c t ' c t ' i l l b c n ( ) l l t o r c d i s e r r s s i o n s .\"\ ' l t i t c
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l l l t l l ' c l l ' t h c t l t t c s l i o t lo 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 t l e ' s t t ' r r c l i pprlr'
( ) L us' o c i a l i ' l r b l i c . "
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l t t t l i c c t t t c nt o t l t s l ) r ' l ' \ !cl ' o p l P so l ' l t l l r c l r s\ \ , , l l i t i r rlg' r i 11.. 1 u - l l o (r).li t l c so l r s t r . c c ct o r . n c l . s .
I t l l c l( i i t , \ ' l cl l s l , . c t nl l t i t r - l' t o t t s c t ti 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 , t l g r p c s t i c '
 37]

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u ' h o l e a d t h e b o 1c i ) 1 i . "[ ' i r _ r1 - r o i r cuel s o b e g a n t u i l i n g d r i , , e r s1 l ' o n rt h e N 4 l . Ac a r '
p o o l . i s s u i t t st i c l i c t sl o l t r i i i l - Loi r ' n ( ) r l c x i s t e nt ri a f l ' i ci ' i o l a t i c l n sT. h r ro f f i c i a l i t a r a s s -
ntel'ltntacieson.lepr"otest\Lrllp()i'tel-s plrllse."The lolLrr-rtLrr'_r';xci.,-Llp -s1'51sr-n itegan to
w e a k e n . " o l t e N 4 l , Al c u r i c r r c n o r t c c l .u n c l " 1 o i ' i t n - r o n r e nt h e l r r o t e s t n t ( ) \ , e l n e n t
s e e m e ctlo l r e u ' a v e r i t r g . "
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l t o o n .a c c o n r p r . t n i ebdr o n e o l ' h i : b e s l { . r ' i c n c lRs o . [ - r e r\ \t ' i l l i a n r s .a n c li r i sc h u r c l is e c l ' e -
t i . r r \ 'N
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t r u u r s 1 ' l o t - t r , l1t i-or ot ii nt to s i r c t h l c e o t h e r l l e r s o n sa l i l t . \ [ r h e n K i r ' ] ! p l r l l c c lo u i . t r v o
t ' t - t c l t o t ' c t 'oc1l el ' i e e rbs e g a nt a i l i n s h i n r .A l t c r s c r e r u rLl - r l o c i i K s .i n g s t o l - r n ctcoi c h ' o lot f l '
t h , -t:' i d e r sT . h c o l l l c e r s1 - t r l i e rLi r pt r c s i c l ch i m u n d i o i t i h i n r h e u ' u su n c i e i ' L u ' r ' ' . l.S.[ .
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b e e nl o c l i e ciln a . j a i l .u n c lt i r c i ' i r s t i n r ch c h ; r cbl c c n f i n u e r p r - i n t e c l . . . .
N 4 e a t r r , r ' h i rl e, i.o l ' do 1 ' K i n S s a n ' e s th a d s ; l r e u cri a p i c l l r t h r o u g i r t h e b l a c k c o r l -
nrltnit_t''. Et,en belirre Abcrnatir-\r'etLln')ecl. sevcraicloz-en 11[11g1'1-r]re n'r[rtrso1'Derter.
N 4 l A c o l l e a g L t e sa.n c l1 l ' i e n c l s - b e g l Lanr r i v i n ga t t h r ' . f a i l T . he g1'lrriinS e r ' ( r u ' cu l, o r r i e c i
t h e u , h i t e . j a i l e r sr.. u r cr ,l r i r i l et h e l - i n g e r p r - i n t i ni ngl . .r , r ' a s t i l l b e i n g u , i p e df r ' o r r K i n g ' s
h u n d s .t h e c h i e l ' l a i l e r ' l o l c iJr i r r i r e l n ' a si l ' e c t o l c a v e L r p o nh i s o u ' n s r g n a t u r eH . is
t r i a l u , o u l d b e S a t u r d a i ' r l o r - n i n gI.n h a r d l \ a n r ( ) r ' n e n t t' si r n e . K i n s \ \ r a se s c o r t e d
o r - rat n c ld r i v e n b a c k l o 1 o u ' n .
T h e e m o t i o n a lt r - u r - r nor 1a ' t h ea n ' e s th e i g i r t e n e ct hl e g r o u i n g p e r ' \ o n l rtle n s i o n s
K i n g n ' a s I e e l i n q . H e h a c ln o t u a n t c c l t o b e t l t c f r t c t t lp o i n t o 1 ' t h ep r ' ( ) t L -isnt t h e f i r s t
p l a c e . a n c lh e h a d e r r c l n e o L l s lar s s u n r e cLl h a li r n e g o t i a t e csl e t t l e n ' l c n\t\ ' o L r l cbl e o b -
t a i n e d i n . j L r s ta f e r . ru , ' e e k st i n r e . \ L ' i t h n o e n d i n s i g h t . a n d r - n o r ea t t e r l t i o l rc o n ' r i n g
h i s w ' a t ' .K i n q u , o n c i e r e du ' h e t h e l h e u ' a s L r pt o t h e r i g o r s o 1 ' t h e. j o b .H e s t r e s s e di c r
e \ r e r v o n et h a t h e a s a n i n d i v i c l u u u l ' a s r . r oct r u c i a l t o t h e p r o t e s t .t h a t i 1 ' s o n r e t i i i n g
h a p p e n e dt o h i l " u o . r s h o u l ch l e s t e pa s i c l et.h e r r o v e n r e n t\ \ , o L r l cg lo o n . " 1 1 ' \ 4 .L . K i n g
h a d n e r e t ' b e e nb o n r t h i s n r o i e n r e r - \r\t' ( ) L r l hc a l v e t a k e n p l a c e . "t h e r , o r - r l rngr i n i s t e r '
" l
t o l d o n e n t a s sn ' ] e e t i n g . . j L r sitr a ; l p e n e ct lo ' [ - l eh e r e .\ ' o L rk n o u t i r e r cc o n ] e sa t i r t r c
u ' h e nt i t l e i t s e l f i s r e a c i rl o l c h u n g e .T h a t t i n r eh a s c o r n ei n N l o r . r t g ( ) n r c r \ . l rInhdu d
n o t h i n gt o c l ou , i t h i t . "
. . . T h a t n i g i i t . I i r r t h e f i l s t t i n r c i n h i s l r 1 ' eK. i n g 1 ' e l.t . . r . ucr x 1 - r c rn- ci ee l u ' i t i r C i o c l l
a s i r e s o t - t g i il t( ) c s e a l l et i r c 1 - l r c s s r - rtrhcu- 'sN ' l l , Ap r c s i d c n c - r ' h apdl u c e cLl r p ( ) il tr i n r .
H e t i t o u g h tI n o t ' el i i r o u t1 1 o \ t\ n r L i [ r l e - 1 ' rh' ci sc l i l ' eh u c ll - r e e n L r n t i tl h c n t o r e n t e n t
began

A r r dt l r c n\ \ c s t i i r t c o
t lL r sl t l ' u g s ltco g c t l r cTr 'h. i n g su c r c r o i n s \ \ c l i l i r rt h c f i r s tl ' c ur l u r s
l t L r tt l t c t i . l t l t o t t t t c t t o t ' l ' i l i c c n c l l t - r ' lsl l , ' i ' . l r l ' t c rt 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 ' I\ . . l t c \ \
-l'ltci
t l ' u l t t i ' c l ' l t c l u t tb t t s i r t e s s t. 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 . s l l r r t e r lr n l r l . , i n S
I u t s t vt c l c p h o n cc l r l l s .r r r r til1 e l n r c 1 o t h c p o i r r tt l u r l s o r i r cr l l r rs l l ( ) l ' ct h l r r rl i r l t r t c l c p h o r r c
c l L l l su t t L t l r lc o t n c i n . t l r r c l r t c r . r i rnr rs, t 'l i l ' c .t h e l i l ' c o 1 ' r r r r l ' l r r n i l r t. l r c l i l c o l ' n l \ c l r i l r l . I
t o o l i i l l i r l ' l r u ' l t i l c . i r r l t s t l ' ( ) n tl l t i u l t r ' r ' .

B L r lt l t a tt t i g l t t .t t r l r l r l r ' t ob c i r l l ) c u c cr i ' i t hl r i r r r s c l li . , i n gl ' c a r c rhl c e o r r l t tl a l ' . ci t

I t o I t ) l t g c t I' .t u ' l t sl l t e t i t o s ti t r p o i ' t l r nnt i g l t t t l l ' l r i s l i l c . t h c o l r c l r t ' ; r l \ \ l r v sr , l , o L r l t l
t h i n l . i, l t c l t l o i t t I ' t t t r t r vc c l u ' sr i ' l r c r trl t c t ) i ' r ' . \ s u l 'tc- rst l r i ist c c r r r e t lr l l l c t o t ) r ' l ' ( - ] i r t .
 ';72 M aj ot' Pt' o b I etns tt't Atl;errc (tl't ii l's|or,'\

''it
u'as alound midn;ght,'' he said. thini:ing Dack on it. "]bu can have scme
strangeexperrencesai midnight.'' The threatening caliel had la|ted him deepjl,.
"Nigger. we are tl-ed of vou and voul mes.!nt)\\. .And if vor-raren'i oui of tiris to\A/rl
j n t h r e ed a 1 , sw
. e j ' e g o r n ! t o b l o \ l i v o u r -b i a i n s o u l . a n d b l o u ' L l p1 2 s 1 1 , - h o u s e . "

I sarthereandthor,rghr htrle ciaughter

abouta bear,riifr-rl u,hohad.1ust beenborn. . . . She
u'astiredarirn-tof mr,lrfe.i'd conrein nightaftei'nightancl .see
titailittle gentlesrniie.
tirarhttle girl and thini;rngabor-ri
And I sai ai thattabiethinliingabor-ri tirefact thal she
c o u l Ob e L a ri ,eanw a \ i' rornrne an\ nl nl l l e .
-And I riiscoi,eredthen that reiigion hzLcl tcrbrecotnet-ealIO tre. and I iiad to liitou'
G o c li o r-n r1 ,5 r1A t.n d J bou,eddou,n oi ,el thal i Lttroi coffee. -l neve; u' i 11i crrgetr t . . . i
pr-aveci ri Jlrzl.\/er. and lplai-r,edout louC tir;rtnrsirt. l:iaid. "l-clrci.l'm clora,n itere tt'-r''it-tg
Lc,
d o ra ,h e L r-i t' sc h t.I ti ri nl i l ' ni ri gi rt. I ti trni ,the c:Ll rs:ti tai r,rre
I' eJl resenl i s r-i gi ti .B ui Lor d.
i rl u l s i c o n fe s sti ra t]' m w eal ,nov,. ]' m fal Lei i ng i ' nr l osi ng n' l --\r col l l ' l i ee.A ncl J caill'l iel
tirs peopie see nte jiire litis becaLtsejf'tire-r se: nre lr,'-i.il,. iLndlosittc lll\ cc)Lliage"ther
ra,illbegrnto g3t ureal'."

Then it hapnened:

And ii seemeclat thal morueni that I cotrld heal an inner voice sa,vtusLt]ttle. "N{altitt
S tandup fol.jLrstice. SLanclup foi trr-rth.4.nd lo J u'ill
l rpfo r ri ghteor-rsness.
L L rti re i s. ta u c L
be r.r,rthvoll. even undl tire end of tiie u,or-id. I i reardthe t,otceof Jesus sa\/1 11o st 'i-
to fi-rht on. He ploiltseci ne\/el-to leetvente. l to\/ertcrl ezi veme al one. N o net,et-alone.
No nerreralone. lle pr omtsed nevei'tc ieave me. ne\/elto i earreme al one.

T h a t e x p e r - i e n cgea v e K i n g a n e \ / s t r e n g t ha n d c o u r a g e . " A l r u o s ta t o n c e m 1 ' f e a l s

be-9anto go. Mr unceltainii, disappeareci." He uzentback to bed no longer u,oitied
about the threatsof bombings. . . .
Kin_Q'ssense of iristor-),and the bloadel meaning of tire ptolest ra'asstiiliin-q.
"srhetirer' \ /e urant ro be or not. we are caugilt in a gleat momettt of history.'' King
t o l d o n e m a s sm e e r i n s " l t i s b i g g e r t i r a nN 4 o n t s o m e l - _ .\ .. T h e v a s l m a t o r t f ) o f t h e
people of the lvorid are coioled. . . . Up Lrntilfoul or fti,e )/ears :Lgo"most of tirern
l'*.,'" exnloireclhv rhe emnires
vv L,t u un
PlL,f,l
LL/LJ L'-\ LrJ\-of the u;est
\-rrrP.tl L-J L . frTodav manY ale fi-ee.. . . And the
LrrL- vr u.rL!

rest are on tire road. . . . We are part of that gr-eaimo\/ement." The tat'getwas lzu-ger
than just sesr-egatioit. "\\ie must opllose alJ exploitertion, . . Vv;eu'etntno classes
and castes.. . . !\ie u'ant to see everi,bodyfl-ee."