Martin Luther King Jr Essay Example

ideas remain relevant today. Even amidst an oppressive environment for black Americans at that time, there was still hope for positive change thanks to King's influential presence.

In 1955, Rosa Parks, a civil rights activist, refused to comply with Montgomery's segregation rules for buses. This resulted in black residents initiating a bus boycott and electing King as the president of the newly-formed Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA). During this time, King gained national prominence for his exceptional oratorical skills and personal bravery. Although he and other leaders were convicted on charges of conspiring to interfere with the bus company's operations, Alabama's segregation laws were declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in December 1956, leading to desegregation of Montgomery's buses. Perhaps out of frustration at firsthand discrimination faced by himself and most black Americans during that era - including segregation, property bombings, social exclusion, and even death - King achieved success.

King's activism began in 1955, which was a significant year for him due to Rosa Parks' case. The world knows about the injustices faced by Black Americans. In 1957, President Eisenhower called upon 1,000 paratroopers to escort nine black students to an all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. This action aimed to restore order but resulted in two deaths and several injuries due to riots. In 1962, James Meredith became the first Black student at the University of Mississippi causing further unrest and many more casualties.

The video that documented a crucial event in America's history is still fresh in our memory. It's amazing to realize how recent it was. Martin Luther King, an advocate for human rights and a visionary pioneer, acknowledged the significance of

using innovative thinking to revolutionize the existing situation. Whitfield (1975) differentiates between creative people, innovators, and entrepreneurs, which is a valuable differentiation to contemplate.

According to Jane Henry (1992: p6), creative individuals generate ideas, innovators develop ideas into a tangible product, and entrepreneurs take the product to market or implement the practice. This quotation is applicable to King, whose enterprising actions were not primarily focused on earning profits or building a business empire. Instead, King concentrated on advocating for human rights. Though enterprising behavior is not always visible, King's imaginative nature allowed him to reach greatness. As King famously said, "nothing happens unless we dream first."

Alison Morrison's book from 1998 (p64) explores the implementation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Its purpose was to eliminate racial discrimination in public spaces and provide African Americans with equal education and employment opportunities. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 went a step further by abolishing any laws that prevented African Americans from participating in public elections. These achievements were made possible through King's innovative, imaginative, and entrepreneurial actions. He was not motivated by material possessions or status but by his desire to create and succeed, which ultimately led to the groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education case.

In 1958, Martin Luther King played a significant role in the Board of Education case, which resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to oppose segregation in public schools. Although he was recognized for acknowledging the inventive abilities of African Americans, it was his innovative ideas that ultimately earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1964. His presence left a lasting impact on desegregation efforts during the 50s and 60s, solidifying

his position as one of civil rights history's most influential leaders.

King's capacity to engage the country stemmed from his resolute bravery and robust character, as he fervently championed for improved treatment of African Americans – a quality shared by business moguls such as Rupert Murdoch. Moreover, King possessed imaginative and theoretical intellect that enabled him to detect correlations in intricate circumstances – an essential aptitude for thriving entrepreneurship.

Despite chaos, Martin Luther King Jr. was able to conceptualize order and provide solutions. His enterprising personality and activism for human rights led to significant transformations in American businesses, specifically the eradication of segregation in both workplaces and educational institutions. Although it took time to achieve, the black population of America was able to obtain equal working rights and conditions. King's vision and futurism were distinct characteristics of his enterprise, exemplified by his memorable quote: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed" (Martin Luther King 1964: p154). Possessing self-confidence and control were also noteworthy traits in King's personality, as he was always in control of his undertakings and relentlessly pursued his goals. These elements made King someone upon whom millions could depend.

King exemplified a combination of practicality and vision, placing importance on truthfulness and directness while also recognizing the value of being well-informed. He expected those in his circle to adhere to these same principles, and he maintained a sense of urgency that was crucial to his achievements. King possessed an unrelenting level of energy that rendered idleness unacceptable, underscoring the pivotal roles urgency and energy played in his successes.

King exhibited the characteristics

of perseverance and persistence that are essential for entrepreneurs. Tropman and Morningstar (1989: p7) noted that entrepreneurs possess the ability to continue pursuing their goals despite setbacks. Despite fending off constant rejection of his ideas and experiencing discrimination against himself and his black minority followers, King remained composed. He stated that retaliation with violence was not the answer and that non-violence must be used in response to violence.

According to Martin Luther King (1964: p207), responding to hate with love is a prime illustration of perseverance and leadership. By leading his vast followers to tolerate and act in a humane manner, despite the difficulties encountered along the way, King demonstrated emotional stability. In 1964 and 1965, the Congress passed civil rights bills due to the urgent and patient efforts of King and his followers. Good leaders and entrepreneurs possess this kind of stability to endure stress resulting from business or personal life. They view setbacks as challenges and draw strength from them instead of getting discouraged.

Despite facing multiple challenges, such as being arrested and jailed for driving at 30 m.p.h on January 26, 1956, King remained emotionally stable in order to fulfill his mission and work.

Despite being in a 25 m.p.h. zone, King's house was bombed three days later. Nevertheless, King persisted through the adversity and continued to thrive. His leadership abilities and influential presence can be observed through "The literature on leadership typically argues that they have visionary capacity, are good at team building and team playing, are self-analytical and good at self-learning, have mental agility and 'constructive restlessness,' while also being able to concentrate for long periods, and are self-directed and self-confident" (G).

King's leadership

skills were exceptional, according to Johnson and K. Scholes (1999: p530). He was able to bring together millions of people from various communities through large-scale demonstrations, as evidenced by his remarkable capacity for inspiration. This led to a significant protest in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963, with over 250,000 participants.

My recollection of Martin Luther King's address to the demonstrators at Lincoln Memorial is clear. Despite being a member of a new movement alongside other activists, King emerged as its prominent figure and demonstrated his capacity for guiding and steering its progress. This characteristic is often seen in successful entrepreneurs who thrive when they have full control and responsibility, rather than operating within inflexible hierarchical systems.

King was not driven by the desire for power, but rather by the need to create and accomplish goals through control over events. This trait is shared by successful entrepreneurs who effectively direct others towards achieving objectives. King's success was due in part to his comprehensive awareness of all facets of a situation and the decision-making process. Additionally, King exhibited an objective approach towards personal relationships, prioritizing performance and achievement over emotions. His unwavering dedication to success and refusal to be swayed by outside interference rendered him an efficient and influential leader who also remained open to being influenced himself.

During his visit to India in 1959, King expressed his enduring admiration for Mohandas K. Gandhi and attributed his triumphs in civil rights to Gandhi's principles of nonviolent resistance.