The Drum Major Instinct: Martin Luther King, Jr's Theory of Political Service

In this project I explicate Martin Luther King, Jr’s theory of political service. King’s theory of political service, I argue, was composed of the following three central components: First, it requires the cultivation of an ethos of care and concern for others. Second, it is a moral responsibility that requires all members of society to work collectively toward combating structures of injustice rather than private and supererogatory acts undertaken by individuals. Finally, marginalized peoples’ struggles against injustice are considered an essential aspect of service, thereby empowering the oppressed.