Final answer:
Dr. Kingwood suggested that people could be more involved through a participatory democracy, where local activism and nonviolent protests challenged segregation and racial injustice. The Civil Rights Movement was largely successful because of local community involvement and daily acts of resistance that went beyond high-profile activism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists, like Ella Baker, advocated for greater community involvement and participatory democracy. Kingwood promoted the idea that individuals should look beyond their own interests and engage in the broader concerns of humanity through nonviolent protests and civil disobedience to dismantle the racially segregated system in America. This was an extension of the daily prophetic practices of freedom, where personhood and human dignity were asserted in daily interactions, and individuals became critical in leading local actions that would transform the nation.
Moreover, Ella Baker played a significant role in engaging local communities and fostering the growth of grassroots organizations, such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). The SNCC played a key role in desegregating public accommodations through student-led demonstrations, including sit-ins, which were part of the wider spectrum of nonviolent protest activities like read-ins and pray-ins that sought to challenge segregation.
Despite the significance of famous leaders and speeches, the Civil Rights Movement succeeded largely due to the action of local people. Local activists were the driving force behind voter registration drives, bus boycotts, and everyday acts of resistance that collectively contributed to the movement's success. It was the persistency and community-driven efforts that ultimately led to historical change, embodying what Hamilton insisted upon: real change in government beginning with responsible, civically engaged citizens.