What makes Martin Luther King a bad leader?

Answer 1

Although his efforts and achievements for the black civil rights movements cannot be ignored, in many cases his input has been outstretched.

King is usually regarded as a good leader because of his oratory skills, being able to draw the attention of all peoples. However, when it actually came to activism he was quite often led rather than leading.

Examples include the 1961 Freedom Rides in which he merely gave his public support but did not actually risk himself going on such rides. Also in 1961 he attempted to raise awareness in Albany and he spoke with some city officials but once he left, Albany rapidly re-segregated. His campaign in St. Augustine (1964) and the Chicago ghetto (1966) sowed how out of touch he was with the urban blacks and his form of activism was irrelevant for them. In many cases he was also seen as too much of a moderate and would be criticised for being an 'Uncle Tom'. King was also infamous for being very 'sexually keen', even when he had a family.

Don't get me wrong, I admire King and he achieved great things, I just think that sometimes the negative parts are omitted just to make him seem all the better. Nevertheless, it is important to recognise that he was indeed human, and no human is perfect.