From Emmett Till to Barack Obama

obama and civil rights watts riots
Flip Schulke / Corbis

King's Lament
The Watts riots and the rise of the more militant approach to attaining equality espoused by Malcolm X were a direct challenge to King's philosophy of non-violent protest. "I feel that Malcolm has done himself and our people a great disservice," he said. "Fiery, demagogic oratory in the black ghettos, urging Negroes to arm themselves and prepare to engage in violence, as he has done, can reap nothing but grief."

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