This is something I knew -- but I have studied social movements and deviance. Most of America has no idea how much of a debt all of us owe Dr. King.

The triumph of the civil rights movement was in no way inevitable or preordained. All of its gains could so easily be lost, even now.

I strongly recommend that everyone read "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail

http://abacus.bates.edu/admin/offices/dos/mlk/letter.html