ist ways, so can institutions. Institutions can be overtly or inherently racist. Institutions can also injure people. The outcome is nonetheless racist, if not intentional. Whenever people discuss race relations today and the effect of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, they remember the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was and continues to be one of the most influential people that have ever lived. His thoughts and dreams of a day when all people will live together in harmony are still not accomplished. Throughout his life, King felt the pain of racism, and being the kind of person he was, he knew he needed to do something. In 1957, he founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The conference was very influential and invaluable during the Civil Rights Movement. Through this group, King was able to build a strong reputation for having a strong will and desire for equality and justice for all people. This reputation made him a leader, if not THE leader, of the Civil Rights Movement. With the SCLC and the passive resistance philosophy, King was able to lead actions such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Selma, Mississippi. The most widely-known march is the March on Washington. In his speech, he talked about his dream for unity and equality among all people. However, because of his marches and protests, he was arrested over thirty times. Despite these arrests, King still made many other accomplishments. In 1963, he was named "Man of the Year" by Time Magazine. He also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King's awards show the support that people had for his ideas and improvements of Civil Rights ("Martin Luther King"). Another influential Civil Rights leader is Jackie Robinson. Rarely do people find an individual who has the courage and perseverance to break down social barriers. Jackie Robinson is one of these ground breaking individuals. Robinson not only broke the color barrier in basebal...
