Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Leadership
by Kenny & Estelle Martin

On January 21, many Americans and other people of the world commemorated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15), and honored him for the great legacy he has left our nation and our world as a quintessential leader. We would like to share with you choice excerpts and golden nuggets of wisdom from Dr. King in a book written by Donald T. Phillips entitled, Martin Luther King, Jr. on Leadership: Inspiration & Wisdom for Challenging Times.

• "These are revolutionary times; all over the globe men are revolting against old systems of exploitation and oppression. The shirtless and barefoot people of the world are rising up as never before. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.…We must move past indecision to action….If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight." -Martin Luther King, Jr., April 4, 1967
• "People are often led to causes and often become committed to great ideas through persons who personify those ideas. They have to find the embodiment of the idea in flesh and blood in order to commit themselves to it." - Martin Luther King, Jr., February 13, 1961
• "I neither started the protest nor suggested it. I simply responded to the call of the people for a spokesman." -Martin Luther King, Jr., 1958
• "As people began to derive inspiration from their involvement, I realized that the choice leaves your own hands. The people expect you to give them leadership. You see them growing as they move into action, and then you know you no longer have a choice, you can't decide whether to stay in it or get out of it, you must stay in it." - Martin Luther King, Jr., November 1956
• "I had come to see early that the Christian doctrine of love operating through the Ghandian method of nonviolence was one of the most potent weapons available to an oppressed people in their struggle for freedom." - Martin Luther King, Jr., September 1958
• "Through violence you may murder a murderer but you can't murder murder. Through violence you may murder a liar but you can't establish truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can't murder hate. Darkness cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr., March 4, 1967

Mr. Donald Phillips writes in his book, "On December 21, 1956, at 6:00 A.M., Martin Luther King, Ralph Abernathy, E. D. Nixon, Rosa Parks, and Glen Smiley (a white minister from Texas who had supported the boycott) waited at a corner bus stop near the King home. 'I had decided I should not sit back and watch,' remembered Martin, 'but should lead them back to the buses myself.'"

• "People are often led to causes and often become committed to great ideas through persons who personify those ideas. They have to find the embodiment of the idea in flesh and blood in order to commit themselves to it." - Martin Luther King, Jr., February 13, 1961
• "The biggest job in getting any movement off the ground is to keep together the people who form it. This task requires more than a common aim: it demands a philosophy that wins and holds the people's allegiance; and it depends upon open channels of communication between the people and their leaders." -Martin Luther King, Jr., 1959

Martin Luther King, Jr. on mastering the art of public speaking.

"In general, there are five main reasons for a leader to master the art of public speaking:

1. To articulate, reinforce, and intensity the values and beliefs of the organization.
2. To educate, persuade, and sell people on new ideas.
3. To ensure and inform members of the organization on what action the leader is taking.
4. To build support and enthusiasm.
5. To inspire people to take action."

• "Press on and keep pressing. If you can't fly, run; if you can't run, walk; if you can't walk-CRAWL." - Martin Luther King, Jr., March 31, 1956

Mr. Phillips writes in his book, "Martin Luther King, Jr., also had confidence in himself-and in the belief that he could make a difference by working in a team-oriented environment. He knew that by employing effective teamwork, rather than allowing people to work only individually, he could achieve more definitive and comprehensive results in the long run. Modern research and practical experience clearly confirm this philosophy. For example, Jon R. Katzenbach and Douglas K. Smith, authors of The Wisdom of Teams, noted several reasons why teams perform better than individuals. The four most important advantages are:

1. Teams bring together a broader mix of skills that exceed those of any single individual.
2. Teams jointly develop and strive toward clear goals.
3. Teams can adjust with greater speed and effectiveness.
4. Trust and confidence are more easily built in teams."

Jesus is our greatest example of this concept of teamwork when he selected His twelve disciples.

• "In a multi-racial society, no group can make it alone." -Martin Luther King, Jr., March 31, 1968

There is much more we could and would like to share about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on leadership; however, in the interest of time and space, we highly recommend Mr. Donald T. Phillips' book on Dr. King as a valuable addition to one's library.

In closing, the following is a portion of one of Dr. King's most memorable speeches:

• "I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" -Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 196