In 1967, Martin Luther King wanted to improve economic conditions for black Americans, and he used the momentum achieved from the Civil Rights act of 1964.
King's goal was to increase voter registration and create employment opportunities for minorities.
"As long as people are devoid of jobs they will find themselves in moments of despair that could lead to a continuation of social disorders." King said after resolving a boycott of Pick-N-Pay in November of 1967.
For King, organization was key to changing conditions. The news clips below are examples of King’s earned leadership position in America.
Because of his leadership role, King was forced to address a violent wave of civil unrest at the time. In 1967, rioting related to the African-American civil rights movement happened in Detroit, MI and Newark, NJ.
In these clips, King never outwardly condemns the riots, rather, he almost hints at their inevitability: “I’m sure that if this problem isn't solved in the very near future, it can mean some very dark and desolate nights for the whole country.”
The following year, King was killed. Following his assassination, violence broke out in cities across the United States.
