preview

Albany Movement Essay

Better Essays
Open Document

When it comes to debate about the success of the Albany Movement, one major pattern emerges. Those whose allegiance belongs to Martin Luther King tend to characterize the movement as either a complete failure, or as valuable solely due to its role in providing a learning experience for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during its mission in Birmingham. Likewise, those that believe that the Albany Movement was a success in its own right do not maintain strong bonds with King, but instead value the grassroots elements of the effort. The reason for this pattern is due to King’s own interpretation of what victory entails. To King and his supporters, a successful mass action movement required not only the fulfillment of demands and nationwide headlines, but also federal intervention. In contrast, scholars and activists that are more aligned with the vision of community empowerment wager their opinion of success on the mobilization of the formerly quiescent black community. Furthermore, those that hold a King-centric point of view perceive the barriers the Albany Movement faced as signs of defeat, rather than indicators of persistence and organizational success like grassroots supporters. All in all, the defining factor that determines whether activists and historians consider the Albany Movement as a success or as a failure depends upon their view of Martin Luther King and grassroots organization. For example, Ralph Abernathy, a close crony of Martin Luther King, held views of the Albany Movement in line with King’s. In his descriptions of the Albany Movement, words like “disaster”, “failure”, “defeat”, and “mess” arise. Through the lens of his relationship with King and the SCLC, Abernathy concluded that the Albany Movement was beneficial only because of its part in the learning process for Birmingham. Although Abernathy admits that the people of Albany mobilized in mass, were willing to be arrested, and did in fact achieve some hard-won goals, his concept of success required major visible concessions, widespread media coverage, and federal intervention, as was consistent with King’s definition of a triumphant mass action movement. Achievement was dependent on tangible change, the

Get Access
Related
Get Access