Journal Review: Martin Luther King Jnr.

             Martin Luther King is an American leader born on January 15^th 1929. He is remembered for his great role to secure civil and human rights in the US. This paper analyses Journal reviews on articles related to his approach to leadership and also his role in the mass struggle for freedom of the Black community. The review begins with a look at an article on Martin Luther’s plagiarism written by David J. Garrow. This article displays the extensive plagiarized works of Luther in his term papers in graduate school and also in his doctoral dissertations. Martin had already discovered the importance of intellectual knowledge in achieving his leadership ambitions.  He was deeply involved with the black church and also the struggle to attain freedom for the blacks. He therefore had no much time to concentrate with reading and his teachers in both the seminary and the graduate school. Having these facts in mind, Luther resulted to involve himself with imitations in order to attain a PHD that was of great importance in his political career as a sign of his intellectualism. Plagiarisms were not only in his academic works but also in almost all his sermons and public speeches[1].

            Luther is said to have been aware of his wrong doings and he did this for a purpose. The tactic of using plagiarism in his work was only a way of self revelation into achieving his political ambitions. The plagiarized speeches especially helped him to build his public figure by use of reliable expressions. Luther had already studied the situation in the background and he knew that the only way to achieve his political ambitions as a black leader was by the use of political vocabulary of the Americans and making use of their culture to bring change. He therefore borrowed the American vocabulary and used it to express his ideas and thoughts in the plagiarized writings and oral statements. His citations especially on the American democracy were warmly welcomed by many Americans.  His borrowed vocabulary combined with his eloquence helped him to satisfy his multiracial audience. He held his theological training as an asset and this helped him to be distinguished from the other Black Leaders. The training equipped him with important skills that enabled him to improve on his intellectual ability of influencing the opinions of the middle class whites. The imitations from other theological work helped him to develop speeches that did not need any citations. This contributed a lot in skills of a greatly admired leader[2].

            Luther’s approach of using plagiarism to achieve his political leadership is of historical importance in that it brings out the importance of delivering speeches that are sufficient enough to influence the audience. It also brings out the fact that self knowledge is not sufficient to create great leaders. Other sources of knowledge are very valuable in creating new and great leaders.

The article on the plagiarized works of Luther also brings into light that the writings of the great leader are greatly about the influences and the ideas that he used to shape his leadership skills and not how he managed to create a great impact especially on social change. The writings do not necessarily display the inner minds and thoughts of Luther. It also proves that great leaders do not rely on their complete knowledge. This is a great lesson for the leaders today and the future. His tactics and approach to attaining his skills to climb the political ladder will always be remembered in political history.

            The skills that Luther obtained in his works can further be reviewed in his role of mass struggle. This takes on a review of an article on Charismatic Leadership of Luther written by Clayborne Carson in the Journal of American History. The article generally brings out the role of Luther in the struggle for the freedom of the black. It focuses on the ideas of Luther especially the non violent approach of activism. His leadership is discussed as very controversial in his endeavors to challenge authority. The article also brings out the role of Martin as the initiator of the civic rights movements during the periods of 1950’s and 1960’s. It encompasses on the unique qualities of Luther as a leader and how this qualities played a big role in political history especially in social change[3]. Martin frequently doubted his abilities and he was aware of his weaknesses and limitations. He took his time to accept responsibilities

            Martin is brought out as a very charismatic leader. During this period charisma referred to the magical qualities of a leader. His oratory qualities enabled him to deliver very exceptional speeches that influenced many and left more to admire him as a leader. Martin also applied non-violent strategies in achieving the social change. His political thinking in a multicultural environment brings out a very brave leader with special skills of satisfying the whole society which enabled him to achieve his ambitions. He especially relied heavily on his black Christian aspects to demonstrate his political ideas. His tactics of mobilizing mass movements in advocating for civil rights brings him out as a very significant leader. His influence in the society is demonstrated by the rise of independent mass movements which he had little or no role in their realization especially the protest movements in the southern communities. He is greatly remembered for the Bus boycott movements and also the formation of the Student nonviolent coordinating committee (SNCC)[4].

                        The article is very significant in the political history in conveying the importance of having leaders who can be able to deliver very rational speeches that can create emotional bonds between the leaders and their followers. It also brings out the strength of the mass movements in the political arena as opposed to the reforms that are headed by the independent civic rights leaders. The article also cites out the importance of having leaders who have the skills and the ability to meet the demands of the movements both within and outside. The success of any movements demands for leaders who can be able to influence, mobilize and transform people’s attitudes within the society. The article also brings out the importance of having leaders with the capacity of changing the followers to create better leaders. The article serves as a big encouragement to the future leaders to realize and recognize Luther’s leadership qualities in themselves. It encourages leaders to recognize and accept their own limitations or weaknesses and be brave to seek for guidance from others in order to overcome them.  His speeches during the mass movements also bring an important fact in political history that leaders should be remembered for the role they played in serving other people within the society and not for their personal achievements and accomplishments.

References

Clayborne Carson .Martin Luther King Jnr.: Charismatic Leadership in a Mass Struggle. Journal of       American History 74, (September, 1987), pp. 448-454

David J. Garrow. King’s Plagiarism: Imitation, Insecurity, and Transformation. The Journal of    American History. Vol. 78, (June, 1991), pp. 86-92

[1]          Garrow J. David. King’s Plagiarism: Imitation, Insecurity, and Transformation. The Journal of American History. Vol. 78,  (June, 1991), pp. 86-92

[2]          Garrow J. David. King’s Plagiarism: Imitation, Insecurity, and Transformation. The Journal of American History. Vol. 78,  (June, 1991), pp. 86-92

[3]          Carson Clayborne. Martin Luther King Jnr.: Charismatic Leadership in a Mass Struggle. Journal of             American History 74, (September, 1987), pp. 448-454

[4]          Carson Clayborne. Martin Luther King Jnr.: Charismatic Leadership in a Mass Struggle. Journal of             American History 74, (September, 1987), pp. 448-454