During his era they were unquestionably oppressed. You'd have to be a grade A idiot to believe that "separate but equal" actually meant equal. His whole argument was fight for what you believe in, never a victims' attitude whatsoever. The guy was unjustly thrown in to jail for what he believed in and for organizing peaceful protests. He never blamed 'the white man' for Jim Crow and segregation, in fact he blamed government. He SOUGHT OUT the support of White Americans and emphasized his patriotism. He never demonized America for its faults at the time and never sought retribution. He was a truly great man.