Stephen B. Oates focuses on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s role in the civil rights movement. Oates supports his thesis by drawing on a wide range of primary sources, including King's speeches, letters, and writings, as well as interviews with …show more content…
Oates also explores King's personal life, including his family and marriage, and his struggles with racism and opposition to his work. One specific example of proof that Stephen B. Oates uses to support his thesis is King's involvement in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was a significant civil rights protest in 1955-1956 sparked by the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, leading to a year-long boycott of the city's segregated bus system and ultimately resulting in the Supreme Court ruling declaring segregation on buses unconstitutional. Oates details how King emerged as a leader during this major event, organizing the boycott and advocating for nonviolent resistance. By highlighting King's role in the boycott, Oates strengthens his thesis by showing how King's commitment to nonviolence and civil