Like it or not, MLK made someone like Herman Cain possible. The message MLK put out about being judged based on the contents of one's character opposed to the color of their skin is what Herman Cain is preaching. The real evil about MLK is that while he preached that positive message to the public, he practiced and fought for changes that became the exact opposite of that message(ie: modern affirmative action, modern black culture, etc).
When a guy like Herman Cain runs and wants people to judge him on his beliefs and doesn't use his race to demonize his opponent or an advantage he is using MLK's public message. You see the black democrats are in a complete frenzy over this because they know Cain is promoting an end to their race-pimping gravy train and they are scared to death of that.
MLK associated with communists and was himself, at the very least, a strong socialist, like Obama, and most likely had communist sympathizing beliefs. If Cain were a true conservative, then he would not want to associate with MLK.
There could have been reforms in the system that allowed people to be treated fairly without destroying private property rights and rights to freedom of association.
Nothing good comes from the left and the Civil rights movement itself was a leftist movement.
There could have been a movement that allowed for things to improve for black people in the right way but that's not what MLK was about. He was about taking rights away from whites rather than elevating blacks.