1960's

Martin Luther King Jr.- The son of a renowned minister, Martin Luther King Jr. had grown up in Atlanta with an environment tuned to make him a

destined leader. At first, he refused to follow in his father's foot steps by becoming an assistant minister at the same church, but eventually gave in. He then decided to devote himself to the cause of improving the life quality of the black man. Soon, an opportunity to head his own church would arise when one in Montgomery had hired him. Here is where he and his wife Coretta Scott King would reside. During a highly successful boycott planned by the leaders of the church and the Women's Political Council, an organization called the Montgomery Improvement Association was formed, with Dr. King chosen as president. Teachings of nonviolent resistance became the new lessons taught at his church. With such impressive work, Dr. King was chosen to lead the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference). With these resources at his back, Dr. King would lead many successful boycotts, protests, and demonstrations, often with him ending in jail. Dr. King later became a member of CUCRL, or the Council on United Civil Rights Leadership/"The Big Six," an organization to keep the revolution from "getting out of hand." On August 28, 1963, Dr. King gave his most famous speech, "I Have a Dream." This awe-inspiring speech had a tremendous influence on the struggle and ended up being one of the most recognized in America's history. During the Vietnam War, he became a large provoker of criticism. He in return was criticized for his idea that the Vietnam War and civil rights were comparable, while still being one of the most influential critics of the time. On April 4, 1968 on a motel balcony in Memphis, an assassin made his way to Dr. King and killed him at the age of thirty nine. His body was given a home at his father's church. As a result, the movement had been pushed to extremes not thought possible as well as immediate nation wide riots.

SCLC- The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization known by many as the SCLC was founded out of a need for communal leaders to organize and lead the masses for change. With unprecedented ideas and speaking skills, no one was as fitting as Martin Luther King Jr. Along King's side were the important figures Ralph Abernathy, Hosea Williams, James Bevel, Andrew Young, and Fred Shuttlesworth. After many attempts, the movement seemed to move nowhere. February 1, 1960, four black students sat at a white-only lunch counter. Being denied service, a protest soon formed. Many students came from all around to stand against segregation, giving way ultimately to the SCLC having a victory over the Jim Crow Laws. Six years would go by until this organization would have another victory on its hands. As this time passed, the ideas and mentality of the organization had changed. Now, they realized they must have an obtainable single target and goal, led by planning and unification. Implementing these techniques, they decided to attempt to separate the business and political elites in Birmingham. Children as young as six were used, with the idea that Hosea Williams "could do more with young people than any human being on the face of the earth." Soon, violence would start to become a part of the plan, as the public safety was not watched over, putting even more pressure onto the business elites and politicians, in specific, the Kennedys. The unity of the SCLC had helped it to overcome this trial and eventually led to a negotiation between the hindered city and the black community. After organizing marches in Selma against the ban by Governor George Wallace, King's leadership had come under question after he decided to give into the officials and turn the march around upon their request. Although a new perspective had formed about Martin Luther King Jr., the SCLC with King at their lead would continue their struggle valiantly.

SNCC- Upon hearing about the student sit-in at the lunch counter, a woman and member of SCLC named Ella Baker saw an opportunity. Being a woman, her word did not go far within SCLC, holding back her ideal plan. No longer accepting of this treatment, she resigned and borrowed funds from SCLC to form another group with students from over fifty schools called the SNCC, or the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The question of "how change comes about" is the barrier that split the SCLC and SNCC in their fundamentals. SNCC's vision opposed that of the SCLC since emphasis was put onto making leaders of others, instead of finding leaders that appeal to the media. "Let the people decide" became the slogan they used to represent themselves. As CORE called it quits for freedom riding, SNCC decided to continue it, with the mindset that "it must continue at all costs." Being beaten, maimed, almost killed, and even asked by Attorney General Kennedy to stop the bus rides, they refused and continued on. Eventually, this led to the ICC banning segregation in interstate terminals. Not following the new laws, the SNCC led a protest against bus and train terminals, and also branching

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