Off Script, How One Man Changed the World

Yesterday, the USA and the world marked 50 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The civil rights activist who changed the face of the United States by bringing full equality to the African American population, and showed the world that racism does not have a place in modern society. He was a rebel. He challenged the old order of the most powerful country in the world and won. However, what most of us don’t realise, is that he came inches away to total faliure; and it happened in his most famous rally.

The USA in Turmoil

Throughout the course of history in the United States, there was always a disparity between the African American and the white population of the country. Originally brought in as slaves from the African continent, their population grew to be the most significant minority in the United States. Today one in … are descendants of these original Africans. Even when they received their freedom, there was still the spectre of racial superiority and segregation.

It affected every aspect of their lives, from the schools (which were noticeably worse) to seating on the bus (they were only allowed to sit in the back of them) to the drinking fountains and bathrooms. Even their right to vote was denied. Racist rhetoric was a part of everyday life, and African Americans were relegated to remedial jobs such as janitors and maids.

In the 1950s, the African Americans decided they’ve had enough. Mass protests began in major cities across the country. African American workers went on strike and begun challenging segregation rules. They refused to give up their seats to white people on buses, and when they were arrested for doing so, they simply boycotted the transport companies. The old order of US society was, for the first time, being challenged en masse.

Who Was MLK?

Martin Luther King Jr. or MLK for short, was a Baptist minister and the most visible leader of the Civil Rights Movement. From 1954 until his assassination in 1968, he led the African American population to take the first steps towards equality in society. What was special about him is that he, like Gandhi in India, was a pacifist, and promoted peaceful protests. His protests were never violent, even though violent force was used against him. He helped organise boycotts, “sit-ins” and marches, such as the successful Montgomery bus boycott in 1955, and forced the local, state and federal governments to take action and talk.

Taking It To the Top

As his protests and movement gained steam in many cities, King realised that the only way to get the government to respond directly to him was taking the protest directly to them. In 1963, he organised the now famous “March on Washington”. In it, he went to face the US government squarely head-on, on their own turf. A quarter of a million people came to participate, in which 80% of them were black African Americans. 1963

March on Washington was initially… a total failure. King’s original speech failed to rally the crowds, and the protest was beginning to lose momentum. King, who was now beginning to feel the pressure, suddenly heard a cry from one in the audience. “Tell them about the dream!” she exclaimed, and King was inspired.

King decided he would ditch the script that he wrote, and speak directly to the hearts of the people. “I have a dream”, which called for a complete end to racism, became one of the most powerful and most mesmerising speeches ever given. King described his dreams of a land of equality and freedom, born from a land of slavery and hatred. It made such an impact, that this speech is considered to be as important as those made by the famous President Abraham Lincoln. King managed to do what most cannot. He spoke directly to the hearts of the people because it was coming directly from his heart. No script, no prompt, no advisors. He simply used his talent as an orator to resonate with millions, and he genuinely meant every word he said.

The Legacy of “The King”

King’s March on Washington was so effective that in 1965 the US government passed the Voting Rights Act, which finally gave African Americans the right to vote. However, King also made a lot of enemies as well as friends, and one took the law into his own hands. In 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated by James Earl Ray, a white nationalist. King was 39 years old. Riots ensued in major cities across the country, including Washington DC, Chicago and Baltimore.

However, even though he didn’t live to see it, his movement succeeded. Only a few days after his assassination, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which finally gave African Americans full racial equality.

If there is any lesson that we can take from the man himself, apart from the fact that racism has absolutely no place in our modern society, is that you don’t need to be powerful, or have a script or advisors to tell you what to do and say. Sometimes, a simple heart to heart talk can be twice as effective, even when the people on the other side number in their millions.