Final answer:
Political leaders chose to broadcast James Brown's concert on television following Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination as a strategy to calm tensions and prevent rioting among the devastated African American community.
Step-by-step explanation:
On the night Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, political leaders made the decision to televise James Brown to help calm tensions and prevent further riots that had already begun in response to the tragic news.
Brown was seen as someone who could positively influence the African American community, particularly those in anguish over King's murder who might otherwise participate in the riots.
His concert was broadcast as part of a broader strategic decision to maintain peace and stability during that period of intense civil unrest, rather than because of album sales or celebrity status.
Historically, music and cultural icons like James Brown had a powerful influence on the emotions and actions of the public.
Moreover, Brown had a deep connection with the African American community, which was a critical audience during those tumultuous times.
This strategic choice by political leaders utilized the power of televised media, a transformative force in the 1960s, during what was known as 'the age of television' in American politics, to promote nonviolence and healing instead of further division and destruction.