Martin Luther King Jr

Martin Luther king is a leader who successfully fought for civil rights for African Americans. The case
mainly focuses on how Martin upbringing and values Martin Jr inherited from his father and American
society. Case also focuses on the change in opinions of Martin Jr has in his middle life and ways he
adopted for his fight for racial equality.
Martin Luther King Jr Growing up with Values
Martin Luther King was born on January 15, 1929 to Martin Luther King Sr and Alberta William King.
Martin Luther King Sr was a Pastor in one of the prominent black churches in US and a powerful fixture
in National Baptist Convention. Martin Jr during his childhood days understood the racial difference
existing in the society. Kings parents shaped his values and his understanding of the world. Kings
mother instilled self-confidence and sense of self-respect from the very beginning. She could explain the
discrimination and segregation to a small child. Even though the society treated the Negros as inferior
she instilled the sense of hope and optimism in the minds of her children. Kings father is a strict
disciplinarian and King learnt fearlessness and courageousness from his father. Kings father is a genuine
Christian and man of real integrity, deeply committed to moral and ethical principles. King learnt the
skills of telling the truth even during adverse times from his father. King learnt that Love was central to
all relationship as it was how he was bought-up in his home.
Conflicts and Consciousness
King had an internal conflict about his love as central to all relationship when he was first exposed to
racism. Couple of his white friends refused to play with him due to his race. King determined to hate
every white person after his bad encounter. This firmly shaped his beliefs and action at later stages of
his life. King received his education in US and did his PhD in Boston University where he met his wife.
From the early stages, King was determined to work for his objective of serving for the Black people.
After this PhD, King settled in South US because he thought that people in south needed him the most.
King became the pastorate in Montgomery which will help him to serve the black masses. King was
conscious of his objectives of serving the black people. He first improved the financial conditions of the
church which is his primary objective. King was good orator and with his oratorical skills he garnered a
lot of money for the church. King very well knew that he had to fight against the society for the
betterment of his people. King didnt know about the ways & means for fighting. At that time, King came
to knew about the power of non-violence from Gandhi. Immediately, he read a lot of books on Gandhi
and appreciated the power of non-violence. King decided to adopt the non-violent approach in his fight
against the society for civil rights. Kings inspiration came from Gandhi.
King the Leader
In most southern cities at that time, public life in Montgomery was marked by racial segregation. Black
people in buses have to occupy the back seats and should give way when a white person comes to
occupy the seat. King wanted to protest against this approach and proposed to Boycott the Bus on

Dec 5. This was huge success and Martin Luther King Jr became a leader from the front. People started
to take note of King. After the bus boycott, King was officially elected the leader of Montgomery
Improved Association (MIA). After becoming leader, King had a lot of blackmails, threats from people
because of Bus Boycott. King initially had fears due to threats from people. King understood his role and
inherited the values from his father. He could feel the challenges his father could have faced at his role
and the fearlessness of his father. King decided to fight with faith and not with fear. King instilled faith in
the minds of Black people and inspired them to fight for their rights. King was supported by his wife on
all the occasions. King acknowledged the support of his wife and he is quite appreciative of his wifes
support. King openly acknowledged the supportive role of his wife in the meetings. This shows the open
mind of a leader and attributing his success not only to him but to others as well.

Martin Luther King Jr is truly a leader of his age. Initially, Martin had his values learnt from his family and
had conflicts within himself. He made his objectives clear for fighting for the civil rights of African-
American people. He didnt go behind the post but never shied from responsibilities. This fearless
execution of responsibilities made him a great leader.