Abstract:
This case traces the life of civil rights leader Martin Luther King from his birth into a black middle class family in Atlanta in 1929 to his receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. It shows how his family background, his mentors, and his education in theology and philosophy helped shape King's dream for black equality through non-violence. This case is one in a series illustrating a uses-of-history method of "placing people." It may be used in conjunction with Malcolm X, which chronicles the life of a contemporary black leader who sought similar ends through dissimilar means. Together, these two cases demonstrate how placing a person in historical context deepens one's assessment of him or her beyond immediate stereotypes. For further discussion of this method, see the Vietnam Advisers abstract.
Learning Objective:
This case provides an overview of Martin Luther King's life, philosophy, and accomplishments and allows the reader to evaluate each critical decision and the effects it had towards the abolishment of "Separate by Equal."
