Sheuvaun Vernon MGT 366 Midterm 03/24/11 Case Study 1. What base(s) of power did Dr.

King draw from and which were most effective? In Letter from Birmingham Jail Dr. King drew from the bases of legitimate power, slight use of coercive power and reward power. The most effective being reward power. 2. What political tactic(s) did Dr. King use and which were most effective? Dr. King used various political tactics in his Letter from Birmingham Jail. He identified power contacts, kept informed, brought in outside experts and remembered that everyone expected to be compensated for their contribution. 3. Was Dr. King an empowering leader? Why or Why not? Absolutely, Dr. King exemplified an empowering leader. He used his words to connect individuals to the movements goal; he legitimized their ability to create change; he gave them a choice; he listed reasons why their commitment should be an internal one.
4. Compare and contrast the leadership of Dr. King to ONE leader we

have studied so far in the cases. Dr. King can be compared and contrasted to Adolf Hitler, in their leadership methods, charisma, magnetism and commitment. 5. Are the conditions which prompted Dr. Kings letter similar to those portrayed in the Corporate Women article? If women in modern corporate America wanted to emulate Dr. Kings tactics, what could they do? The conditions between the two parties are extremely similar; women are being discriminated against, hindered by gender. AfricanAmericans in the South were discriminated against by race; they were hindered in their ability to progress in life because of the color of their skin. If women in corporate America wish to emulate Dr. King, they need to overtly acknowledge and openly address their issues, take a strong public stand, appeal to their counterparts and even include individuals who are not directly involved in their movement. They must become extremists for their cause.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s entire disposition in his Letter from Birmingham Jail is the embodiment of an empowering leader. The manner in which he pens his words draws the reader in, compelling any individual who begins reading to continue to do so. His words relay the goal of his cause, the meaning of his purpose and his basis for joining said cause. He stimulates self-efficacy not by saying you can do it, I believe in you, but by associating prominent individuals in the past who have been able to create positive change in a positive manner, bridging the readers beliefs with his own and showing that the two are the same. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?... Jesus Christ was an extremist for love.. With these presentations one of Dr. Kings finest traits is his subtle request for commitment; as a true Christian he understands the reward in voluntary humility, he asks for understanding and assistance, he does not demand it. Internal commitment to the goal of justice is worth more to any movement than a commanded soldier. To draw attention to his purpose Dr. King uses various bases of his positions power. He begins the letter My Dear Fellow Clergymen, establishing his position as man of The Word and affirming himself as an equal, a comrade. He later goes on to say I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference This statement symbolizes his position as a representative of many Christians. Dr. Kings legitimate power lies in his appointed representation of his church, the

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Southern Christian Conference and his chosen representation of God. Once the need for justice was established, Dr. Kings coercive power lay in his determination of the possible ramifications for noncompliance. Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. If [the Negroes] repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history. The reward power behind the call for compliance is Dr. Kings greatest compeller, for the reward is to be living as Christ lived. Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment. Is that not the ultimate goal of every Christian? The transformational leader that Dr. King was, was wise in his powerful associations; he quotes Jesus the Christ, Peter, Paul, St. Thomas Aquinas and the original Martin Luther for Christians to see his strong base; Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson to appeal to American patriots; Socrates for the intellects; and Martin Buber to show his movement was not limited to a single faith. His political contacts also doubled as outside experts An unjust law is no law at all St. Augustine; We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal Thomas Jefferson. These connections may seem miniscule but they are of most significance to any individual who identifies with them. Dr. King points out that a victory for the Negro is a victory for all. We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom. His ability to tie in various individuals that all can associate with was most effective.

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Although it is repulsive to draw any connection between the two individuals, Dr. Kings magnetism was vaguely similar to Adolf Hitler. He [Hitler] will always follow the lead of the great mass in such a way that from the living emotion of his hearers the apt word which he needs will be suggested to him and in its turn this will go straight to the hearts of his hearers While Hitlers appeal was founded in his unique ability to alter his state of being in order to manipulate, Dr. Kings appeal laid in his loving and honest heart. Both individuals possessed immense amount of charisma, vision, and commitment. Their application of these attributes however could not have been more different. Hitler was manipulative, intellectually inferior and violent Words, and even facts, were to him not a means of rational communication but devices for manipulating emotion Hitler hated the intellectual. Dr. King was compassionate, brilliant beyond his time, and peaceful. While Hitlers vision was one filled with violence and separation, Dr. Kings dream was one of harmonious living. Dr. Kings tactics for integration and progression can be applied in any area where there is discrimination. In todays world discrimination based on skin color, sex or sexual orientation is, although not as overt, sadly still prevalent. Women in corporate America are still being held back by the famous glass ceiling. According to Dr. King, a sure way to remedy any injustice would be to directly negotiate, but in order to do so one must first call attention to the action that is unjust. When inequality is not overtly acknowledged, its harder to openly address. A boil can never be cured as

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long as it is covered upAn active campaign must be established; A nonviolent, verbal protest of the blatant, yet hidden, inequalities is the only way to begin negotiations for future change. As a future leader in America its always necessary to research the past for understanding and guidance. Dr. Kings teachings allows for both processes to occur at once. When seeking justice for unjust practices, such as gender discrimination, after calling attention to said practice my first action would be as Dr. Kings was, to affirm myself as an equal. When there is tragedy, but it does not directly affect you, it is easy to separate yourself from someone elses pain. To humanize the onlooker, to draw them into your travesty is to gain a supporter and fellow advocate, we are all equal and equally affected by one another. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, ties in a single garment of destiny.

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