Martin Luther King Jr’s Philosophy on the Power of Associations

Martin Luther King Jr. believed in the power of associating together to effect change. In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered at the March on Washington in 1963, he emphasized the importance of unity and collective action, stating “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back.” King believed that by forming associations and coming together as a community, individuals could create a collective voice that could bring about change in society.

He also believed that associations were important for the moral development of individuals. In his book “Strength to Love,” King wrote that “an individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” By coming together with others in a community, individuals can learn to empathize with others and become more compassionate and understanding.

King’s belief in the power of associations to bring about change is just as relevant today as it was during his time. Ongoing issues of racial and social injustice require the collective voice of individuals to demand change.