The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was plagued with controversy because the old guard institutions of segregation were being challenged. Peaceful protests were breaking out across the country, especially in the south, to bring awareness to the movement. Thousands of blacks gathered in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963 to march in the streets and demand civil rights. As expected, the police, led by Bull Conner, attacked the protestors with dogs and water hoses to break up the gathering. Martin Luther King Jr led the march and was arrested for doing so, this inspired the youth of the city to join the protest and keep the movement alive. Despite the arrest of King and the new passion found within the youth of the movement, Congress and the President did not step up to enact legislation. MLK knew he had to change the game and shortly after his release, he started to plan the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
MLK constantly spoke about the first amendment in his speeches and in many respects, he was a genius in utilizing his rights. The bedrock of the Civil Rights Movement was the first freedom, the freedom of religion. By making the word of God his benchmark and brandishing himself as a servant of God, King was able to amass a spiritual following. I would argue that if a prophet has ever lived in the United States it would be MLK. He is named after a former priest who started the reformation, he cited biblical prophets just as Jesus did, and he died, as predicted, before reaching the promised land like Moses.
Religion was King's foundation and speech was his weapon. Luther's charisma on the podium was overwhelming and after viewing his speeches in full it is clear that he was born to be a leader. By exercising his right to free speech, Luther was able to amass a following and achieve his mission.
This brings us to the use of expressive action in the Civil Rights movement. The right to peaceably assemble turned the rhetoric of the movement into something material. Bus boycotts, sit-ins, and marches showed that people are stronger together. To demonstrate their strength, 250,000 people answered Luther's call to assemble in Washington on August 28th, 1963.
To learn more about the March and MLKJr please read the links below:
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