Martin Luther King In the 1950’s

1. Martin Luther King In the 1950’s By: Adison Morinville, Summer Jenson, Morgan LaBelle

2. Who Was Martin Luther King?. • Born January 15, 1929; Died April 4, 1968 • He attended segregated schools in Georgia, and graduated at age fifteen to attend and receive a degree from Morehouse College, a prominent African American institution. He later studied theology, and received a degree. • MLK was born into a family with a long history of pastor’s at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he served until his death in 1968. • In 1954, he became a pastor at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Here, he was already a promoter of civil rights, with an executive membership position in the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the leading civil rights group of the time. • In 1955, he took on his first challenge as a civil rights activist during the bus boycott • And In 1957, elected president of the SCLC MLK, deep in thought. A dreamer, more than likely dreamin’

3. Montgomery Bus Boycott • In the 1950’s, city buses were segregated • In 1955, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat to a white person • This launched the boycott, organized by MLK • MLK emerged as the leader and organizer of the boycott • He gave various speeches, and urged fellow African Americans to boycott the buses, and walk instead The boycott in action, MLK at the lead

4. Mongomery Bus Boycott continued… • The boycott stretched on for over a year (382 days) • King, being the leader, received death threats, and had his house bombed • On November 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court went against Alabama state saying the segregation of city busses went against the 14th amendment Martin Luther King, Jr., and his nonviolent civil rights movement had won its first great victory. There would be many more to come. A shiny vehicle, some fine young ladies; a fine day indeed.

5. The Beginning of the Civil Rights Movement • 1893, Plessy vs. Ferguson, a case ruling that separate institutions are equal • On July 26, 1948, Truman signs executive order 9981, which states that there should be equal treatment and opportunity to those of every origin in the armed forces. • May 17, 1954; Brown vs. Board of Education, a famous case which ruled that segregation is unconstitutional. NAACP victory won by Thurgood Marshall, which greatly made way for desegregation to occur. Overturns Plessy vs. Ferguson. • The murder of Emmitt Till, a 14-year old boy from Chicago who was kidnapped, beaten, and shot, then dumped in in the Tallahatchie River for whistling at a white woman while visiting his family in Mississippi. Those accused later admitted and boasted the crime in an interview for Look Magazine. Sparked much controversy which in turn led to the civil rights movement. • The 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott (previously discussed), initiated by Rosa Parks and led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. paved the way for much of the success throughout the movement, and was a major victory.

6. MLK’s Philosophy on protest • Adopted Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent social protest • He is convinced by some of Ghandi’s followers that non-violent protest is the most effective resistance for the oppressed. • Even if you were insulted, or beaten, you keep your cool, and civilly disobey.

7. Southern Christian Leadership Conference • An American civil rights organization presided and established by MLK • Operated mostly in the south, and helped local communities through leadership training programs, community education, and voting drives • Was the support that helped Dr. King to expand his ideals, and successfully lead the country towards equality.