[Dave S]

The Birmingham bus boycott had already taken place by this point, but that's about it. You are correct that King stood up for his beliefs and that nobody's perfect. I'm just pointing out that many of the reforms that are credited to King had their origins before he has assumed a prominent position on the national stage.

If I recall correctly King was involved in the Birmingham bus boycott. That aside, Blacks did not have the legal right to stay at a motel, eat at a lunch counter, much less buy a home in a non-Black area until the mid 60's. Even then, they were not always able to do so even though to refuse was against the law. King was the most memorable speaker at the march on Washington prior to the passage of the 64 Civil Rights bill. By 68, he was getting sidetracked into Vietname Anti-War movement.

[traditionalist]

That aside, Blacks did not have the legal right to stay at a motel, eat at a lunch counter, much less buy a home in a non-Black area until the mid 60's.

That was only true in the South.