In class this week we discussed The Essential Martin Luther King, Jr. I found these readings to be very interesting. I always studied MLK in terms of the civil rights movement, but what many students brought up are thoughts on his person-hood and character, which aren’t really things I put that much thought into. The thought that he evolved as a person and changed his message is very fascinating. Especially if his outlook was becoming more dark. I’ve read a few of his writings before and they’re all written beautifully. MLK has a rhetoric and style that is unique and compelling. I wish there was an individual or specific group that people could rally behind in today’s protests and efforts. I think things became chaotic very quickly, but as we said in class, this anger and frustration is difficult to sustain when left unguided. Regardless of ones views of non-violent protest though, there’s no doubt that having MLK speak eloquently on behalf of the movement helped greatly. I wonder how things might be different if there was a figurehead leading the protests going on today.