Compare And Contrast Roosevelt And Martin Luther King Jr

What makes a great leader? Two great leaders from this century were Eleanor Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. despite their difference in gender and race and and not having political experiences. Martin Luther King Jr. was an “African-American, Baptist minister, who was born on January 15, 1968” (Contemporary). He led the civil rights movement. Eleanor Roosevelt, who was “born on October 11, 1884”, was an influential a First Lady (First Lady Biography). She was a great social reformer and she was well educated and came from a wealthy family. Both had successful leadership qualities: empathy, conceptualization, and ability to build community. Martin Luther King Jr. and Eleanor Roosevelt had great empathy for the oppressed. Martin Luther

He stood for nonviolence for everybody. He wanted equality but he was willing to suffer without the need for revenge. He encouraged people to be brave and to be active, not passive. However, everything should be done with love. For instance, he came up with his plan when he communicated with people and tried to help in order to change their lives for the better. This was prompted through his speeches, which brought people together. People were suffering, but he tried to “gain economic justice for poor in America because he wanted to help all races in every town to receive rights” (Riggs 233-235). Likewise, Eleanor Roosevelt had empathy for those who were discriminated because she, like Martin Luther King, Jr, wanted everybody to be equal! She helped reformed the laws to get equal rights for women, African Americans, Great Depression workers and basically for all people, not just men. She also wanted to bring peace to all the nations of

and Eleanor Roosevelt have accomplished dreams, they were able to change society through building community. Martin Luther King Jr. was not afraid to make a changes. For example, he showed his faith in many ways. For instance, King was “arrested, defamed and his house was bombed, but he still preached nonviolence in Montgomery city”(Contemporary). However, the black community won because “The Supreme Court” (Commire) changed the laws. For example, on December 21, 1956, the Montgomery city buses were required by law to desegregate. Meanwhile, he and other black leaders came together to shape the “Southern Christian Leadership Conference”(Contemporary). This was when King became a president of SCLC; however, he died before great changes could be made. Finally, he became a leader where he journeyed all over the country and gave speeches, helping to build communities of blacks and whites who could live together. He wrote a book about the Montgomery experience, which also helped change the communities through his visions. He won the “Nobel Peace Prize”(Contemporary). In a like matter, Eleanor helped people who struggled the most. She made sure that people had access to the president, like women, laborers, and black Americans, so they would be able to gain the President’s attention. Eleanor encouraged hiring black Americans and other small groups of people in the war industries as equals. She acted to make sure there would be no