Becoming King: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Making of a National Leader (Civil Rights and the Struggle for Black Equality in the Twentieth Century)

270 Pages·2008·0.92 MB·English

by  Troy Jackson

Becoming K ing
Civil Rights and the stRuggle foR BlaCk equality
in the twentieth CentuRy
seRies editoRs
Steven F. Lawson, Rutgers University
Cynthia Griggs Fleming, University of Tennessee
advisoRy BoaRd
Anthony Badger, Sidney Sussex College
S. Jonathan Bass, Samford University
Clayborne Carson, Stanford University
Dan T. Carter, University of South Carolina
William Chafe, Duke University
John D’Emilio, University of Illinois, Chicago
Jack E. Davis, University of Florida
Dennis Dickerson, Vanderbilt University
John Dittmer, DePauw University
Adam Fairclough, University of East Anglia
Catherine Fosl, University of Louisville
Ray Gavins, Duke University
Paula J. Giddings, Smith College
Wanda Hendricks, University of South Carolina
Darlene Clark Hine, Michigan State University
Chana Kai Lee, University of Georgia
Kathryn Nasstrom, University of San Francisco
Charles Payne, Duke University
Merline Pitre, Texas Southern University
Robert Pratt, University of Georgia
John Salmond, La Trobe University
Cleve Sellers, University of South Carolina
Harvard Sitkoff, University of New Hampshire
J. Mills Thornton, University of Michigan
Timothy Tyson, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Brian Ward, University of Florida
Becoming 
K ing

Martin Luther K ing Jr.
and the Mak ing of
a National Leader
t J
Roy aCkson
i
ntRoduCtion By
C C
layBoRne aRson
T U P K
he niversiTy ress of enTUcKy
Copyright © 2008 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky,
Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College,
Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University,
Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
12 11 10 09 08 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jackson, Troy, 1968–
Becoming King : Martin Luther King, Jr. and the making of a national leader /
Troy Jackson.
p. cm. — (Civil rights and the struggle for Black equality in the twentieth
century)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8131-2520-6 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929–1968. 2. African American civil rights
workers—Biography. 3. Baptists—United States—Clergy—Biography. 4. African
Americans—Civil rights—Alabama—Montgomery—History—20th century. 5.
Montgomery (Ala.)—Race relations. 6. Segregation in transportation—Alabama—
Montgomery—History—20th century. I. Title.
E185.97.K5J343 2008
323.092—dc22
[B] 2008025041
This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of
American University Presses
For Amanda, Jacob, Emma, and Ellie

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction by Clayborne Carson xi
Prologue 1
1. “The Stirring of the Water” 9
2. “The Gospel I Will Preach” 35
3. “Making a Contribution” 53
4. “They Are Willing to Walk” 85
5. “Living under the Tension” 115
6. “Bigger Than Montgomery” 147
Epilogue 181
Notes 187
Bibliography 229
Index 241

Acknowledgments
This book reflects the valuable suggestions and recommendations of many
scholars and readers. Dr. Gerald Smith’s knowledge of the field helped
me clearly define the scope of the work. Dr. Smith also provided detailed
feedback on the entire manuscript at several points during the writing
process. Many other professors from the University of Kentucky provided
helpful reflections and raised important questions that helped enhance
this work, including Dr. Kathi Kern, Dr. Ronald Eller, Dr. Philip Harling,
Dr. Eric Christiansen, and Dr. Armando J. Prats. Lexington Theological
Seminary’s Dr. Jimmy L. Kirby also provided useful feedback.
Other scholars also contributed to this work, including Dr. Clay-
borne Carson, senior editor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Papers Project,
who inspired me to take on a project that incorporated the work I had
done as an editor with the King Papers Project. Dr. Carson and his wife,
Susan Carson, also provided wonderful hospitality during research trips
to Stanford University. Other editors with the project, including Dr. Ki-
eran Taylor and Dr. Sue Englander, provided helpful suggestions. I am
honored that the King scholar Dr. Keith Miller read the entire manu-
script and offered helpful suggestions and encouragement. Theologian
Dr. Curtis DeYoung of Bethel University also provided helpful feedback.
Others who read and commented on the work include Brandie Atkins,
Aaron Cowan, Rob Gioelli, Emily Gioelli, Les Stoneham, and Jeff Suess.
Thanks to Susan Brady for her very diligent editorial work on this manu-
script, and for her many helpful suggestions.
I am thankful for the support of University Christian Church, where
I serve as pastor. The congregation has encouraged my academic pursuits
and provided a sabbatical that allowed me to complete the bulk of my
research.
My family has been supportive throughout. My wife, Amanda, has
encouraged my educational pursuits throughout our marriage. This man-
ix