Martin Luther King Jr.
Garrett P.
Martin Luther King Jr. had a vision for the future that no one else in his time could understand. He believed in equality for Africans Americans, and resistance with nonviolence. He saw things before his time, and envisioned a future where people could live together without regards to race. He stood by his philosophy and beliefs, even when there many opposed to him. He sacrificed his time, and eventually; his life, to his noble cause and bravely defended African Americans. King once said,“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” (King, 1). In this famous speech, Martin Luther King Jr. describes his vision. During this period of time, this idea of racial equality was absurd. However, King was determined to change the attitude of the nation, and to stop racial discrimination. Over fifty years later, conditions for Africans Americans have improved drastically, and racial segregation is a thing of the past. This vision for the future defined King’s philosophy, and helped African Americans across the nation fight for their rights. King also said,“We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality” (King, 1). King’s most important asset was his will and his drive to achieve equality. Although he knew how dangerous and risky his task was, he remained faithful to his word until the end. He never rested, and never held back as long as there was still work to do. |
Winnie C.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. He was a social activist who played a key role in the American civil rights movement during the 1950s. King sought equality for African Americans, the economically disadvantaged and victims of injustice through peaceful protest, calling for the end of discrimination and the start of racial equality. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president. "We've got to transform our movement into a positive and creative power" (King, 1). He organized and led marches for blacks’ right to vote, desegregation, labor rights and other basic civil rights. Most of these rights were successfully enacted. He was an outstanding leader and became a national icon in the history of modern American liberalism. On August 28, 1963, King delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech, while 300,000 people gathered at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to hear the speech. ”Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” (King, 1) He was able to tell people about his dream and impressed them to follow him and make their own dream come true. He had this ability to persuade people to fight for their rights. The 17-minute speech has carried a lot of strength for people in the movement and many other people since then. Nowadays, people are still remembering how the civil rights leader changed a nation. |