Compare And Contrast Martin Luther King Jr And Robert Williams

Robert Williams and Martin Luther King, Jr. were both influential in the black freedom movement in the 1950s and 1960s, but history has remembered MLK more than Williams. In the midst of fighting for black rights, both Williams and King, each had dramatically different approaches and ideas on how to conquer freedom for black Americans like themselves. Williams was a controversial man because of the communist suspicions surrounding him and his promotion of using violence for self-defense. History has acknowledged these differences by remembering the less controversial approaches of the two, Martin Luther King. Although Martin Luther King should never be forgotten because of his will and courage to lead African-Americans by using nonviolent civil

In response to the violent outbreaks, many blamed Robert Williams. Robert Williams was known for his continuous fight against the “public” swimming pool in Monroe. Although the pool was supposed to be for both whites and blacks, public officials and pool employees would not allow blacks to swim in the same water that touched whites skin. For this reason, and the fact that young African-Americans were drowning in ponds and lakes, Robert Williams organized small groups to protest and demand the right for all citizens to have access to the public pool. One day in the midst of picketing, a group started a violent riot that sparked more controversy in Monroe about Robert Williams. Robert Williams did not directly approve of this use of violence, but recognized violence as important to achieve freedom. Because of the increased use of violence by the African-American community in response to Williams’ encouragement for self-defense, Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered more than Williams. In the end, Williams’ protests won the blacks the right to be able to swim in the public pool in Monroe, and for this reason, along with others, history should change how the black freedom movement is studied. Williams should also be remembered and discussed as an important figure while talking about the black freedom movement. The accomplishments of Williams’ life are a testament to his work for black pride and armed self-reliance. Although the views of Williams and King contradict each other, they were both successful leaders and their ideas both worked together to achieve black freedom. If not for Robert Williams and his use of violence, Dr. King would not have been successful in his nonviolent pushes for