MLK was and will for a long time be viewed as one of the United States most iconic leaders. I agree with both of the articles by Camerota and Carson. Camerota’s article pointed out the big ideas surrounding the man that was MLK. He was well educated and had a supportive wife to help him. While at the same time Camerota states a valid point by highlighting the fact that MLK Jr.’s push for peaceful protests was highly disagreed with within the black community. This was what made it challenging for MLK to lead.
At the same time, Camerota points out the fact that the FBI did have evidence of some infidelity. Some people that this evidence is real and others do not because the FBI did bug phone calls and send mail all to try to discredit MLK during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. All at the same time, Malcolm X had a very different idea of what black people should do to propel a movement. In the end, the U.S. government supported Martin Luther King Jr. because he did promote nonviolence and they knew that making successions with MLK Jr. was safer for them than to allow the ideas of Malcolm X to take lead in the movement completely. I believe that all of this information is relevant when studying the leadership of MLK. I do like that Carson brings up the background of the movement and the pieces that are often left out of the history but the job of MLK Jr. was difficult because he had many people that despised him on several fronts and different communities. Yet he still managed to be a figurehead for his controversial movement. That seems pretty charismatic to me.
I also took note of Camerota’s point regarding MLK’s infidelity. I think more often than not when we consider someone who has a legacy of effective charisma we shy away from admitting they had flaws as well. I think it is a really important practice to look beyond the typical story told in history books and to note the more unpopular parts of a person.
I think that considering the difficulties faced by MLK is extremely valuable as it is a reflection, even deeper, into his character and legacy. King’s ability to persevere is a strength that is not be overlooked when considering his effectiveness as a leader. His dedication to staying “all hands on deck” or “on the battle ground” with his followers despite countless death threats to his family, and himself, is admirable is a great point to bring up when discussing King as a leader.
I think the comparison you drew between MLK and Malcolm X’s portrayal in the media is very important. While both were charismatic leaders with the same goals, Malcolm X was portrayed much more negatively in the media because of his willingness to utilize other methods in order to achieve the same goal. While MLK and Malcolm X were working towards the same thing, they were often pitted against one another in the media because of their difference in methods.