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How Did Martin Luther King Contribute To The Civil Rights Movement

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The civil rights movement was one of the most dynamic movements in American history. It impacted social expectations and created change for the rights of African Americans. The movement came from a place of necessity and determination. There were many events that had an impact, whether it was negative or positive, on the outcome of the movement. Many people served as role models and leaders on how to get involved with the civil rights movement the right way. There were certain things that needed to be done for the movement to become successful, and the leaders spread that knowledge. The civil rights movement set a precedent on what is effective and not effective for an activism movement like this. The civil rights movement started in the 1950s …show more content…

Some of the most important people in this movement were Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and President John F. Kennedy. Malcolm X left an impression on the black community. “A captivating speaker who packed meeting halls around the country, he offered a stark alternative to King’s vision of a nonviolent social reform, urging Black Americans to defend themselves or deploy violence when threatened or struck (The Unfinished Nation, 711). A large number of people rallied to support his contributions to the movement. Martin Luther King Jr. was a significant leader of the movement. He was all about nonviolence and peaceful protests. “In April, Martin Luther King Jr. Helped launch a series of nonviolent demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama (The Unfinished Nation, 704).” Even though his protests were nonviolent most of the time the protesters were met with violence. After this specific protest, hundreds of protesters were arrested and herded like cattle. A news reporter took pictures of this protest, and they were nationally circulated. These images support the cause to grow. Another figure in the movement was President Kennedy, even though he was not an activist. The growing support from the activist made Kennedy feel sympathetic towards the cause. “The president addressed the nation on live television and made his most forceful statement to date in support of civil rights (The Unfinished Nation, 705).” Bringing the issue to the knowledge of people all around the

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