African American people have come a long way from the illiterate slaves, who were once picking cotton in fields, to powerful political leaders. A prime example would be President Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States of America. But first we must ask ourselves, how did this occur? Who lead African Americans to better living standards? Civil rights leaders, such as Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks, just to name a few. However, among these great names in history, there is one that stands out, and that man is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King gave hope to those in need with his awe inspiring sermons he performed at the church his grandfather founded. He changed foes to allies with his thought provoking speeches, and lead powerful protests and strikes, with each one ending in a peaceful demonstration. First, a look into the history of Dr. King. Though not known to many, Dr. King was not born with the name Martin; rather, his name was Michael, having changed it due to his father’s name change. The name change came across as a way of honoring the Martin Luther who wrote scriptures on doors. Dr. King was born January 15, 1929 to Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1960 he served as co-pastor with his father in the Ebenezer Baptist Church, located in Atlanta, till his death, however he became head pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church before then in 1954. At fifteen he graduated from Booker T. Washington high school, he then sought after high education at Morehouse College and received his B. A. degree. He later traveled to Pennsylvania for three years to study theology at Crozer Theological Seminary. There he received his B.D.... ... middle of paper ... ...m) At Lorraine Motel, in Memphis, Tennessee, the next day, Dr. King was shot through the head by James Earl Ray, while standing on the balcony of his apartment (Nobelprize.org). Due to his great accomplishments for the African American people, his birthday is now a national holiday. Works Cited "About Dr. King." The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. The King Center, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. Clark, Isaac, and Alexis Carrasquel. "Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Biographical Sketch." Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Biographical Sketch. Ed. Mitchell Brown. LSU, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. "Martin Luther King." Spartacus Educational. Spartacus Educational, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. "Martin Luther King Jr." Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. "Martin Luther King Jr. Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
King Jr, Martin Luther. "Martin Luther King Jr." Pan-African History: Political Figures from Africa and the Diaspora since 1787 (2003): 105.
It is no secret that Martin Luther King Jr. did great things. We have learned in school that he was a leader in the movement to desegregate the South. He has served as a role model for people across the globe. But even though Martin did change the world for the better, it was not without hardships. We gathered new information on Dr. King in the essay, “Heeding the Call” by Diana Childress. From his childhood to his last days, Martin faced massive opposition. Still, all of these challenges brought Martin the wisdom and idealism he used throughout his life.
Everyone that has been through the American school system within the past 20 years knows exactly who Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is, and exactly what he did to help shape the United States to what it is today. In the beginning of the book, Martin Luther King Jr. Apostle of Militant Nonviolence, by James A. Colaiaco, he states that “this book is not a biography of King, [but] a study of King’s contribution to the black freedom struggle through an analysis and assessment of his nonviolent protest campaigns” (2). Colaiaco discusses the successful protests, rallies, and marches that King put together. . Many students generally only learn of Dr. King’s success, and rarely ever of his failures, but Colaiaco shows of the failures of Dr. King once he started moving farther North.
Black Americans needed a Martin Luther King, but above all America needed him. The significant qualities of this special man cannot be underestimated nor taken for granted. Within a span of 13 years from 1955 to his death in 1968 he was able to expound, expose, and extricate America from many wrongs. His tactics of protest involved non-violent passive resistance to racial injustice. It was the right prescription for our country, and it was right on time. Hope in America was waning on the part of many Black Americans, but Martin Luther King, Jr. provided a candle along with a light. He also provided this nation with a road map so that all people could locate and share together in the abundance of this great democracy.
Martin Luther King Jr was born on the 15th of January, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, known as Michael Luther King Jr and was than assassinated on the 4th of April 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The world renowned Baptist minister and social activist had a massive impact on the American civil rights movement from the mid 1950’s until his assassination in 1968. Martin Luther King Jr’s up bringing was fairly pleasant and he was brought up with a great education. However, he had his couple of prejudices and traumatic experience through out his life. One of these including one of his friends who was a fair skinned boy who was told to tell King that he was no longer allowed to play with him because the children were now attending
Doctor Martin Luther King was born in January 15th, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia named after his father Martin Luther King Senior. During his adolescence Martin lived under racial segregations where Whites and African Americans were divided. To cope with
He was put in jail for a long time along with all his supporters that were there. King was hated from both white and black people for endangering kids that were at the demonstration. When he got out of jail King and all of his supporters were planning an even bigger demonstration. He put on the Historic March in Washington. More than 200,000 showed up to the Lincoln memorial to hear his speech. His speech stated "I have a dream that my four 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." He was hoping that one day all men could be brothers no matter the race. By 1968 King decided to hold final march where the tragedy happened. James Earl Ray assassinated King on April 3rd.
“Martin Luther King, Jr...” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2013. .
Martin’s life story is a very astonishing thing alone. He did remarkable things with his childhood, all the jobs he participated in, his shocking assassination, and just little facts about him. One may think that a person can’t be successful till they are an adult, but King proved this to be false. Martin Luther King’s accomplishments began very early in his life, even as early as his childhood. Starting at a young age, Martin excelled above average in just about all the school work he participated in. He attended Booker T Washington high school and graduated at age fifteen. Skipping two grades in high school, King exceeded all previous standards. He was enrolled at Morehouse College directly after graduating high school. The next step he took was entering Crozer Theological Seminary. For graduate studies, King submitted to Boston University and received his Doctorate of Philosophy in Systematic Theology.
Dr. King was born the son of Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr, a devout Christian who would raise his son to be so as well. Dr. King skipped ninth and twelfth grade and went on to Morehouse College at the age of fifteen. He graduated in 1948 with a B. A. degree in Sociology. He then went on to attend Crozer Theological Seminary and received his B. Div. degree in 1951. In 1953, he married Coretta Scott and in 1955 he graduated Boston University with a Ph. D. in Systematic Theology. By this point in his life, he was also the pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.
1. King, Martin Luther Jr. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Warner Books, 1998
Garrow, David J. "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." History Net: Where History Comes Alive. N.p., Aug. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Nearly three centuries ago, black men and women from Africa were brought to America and put into slavery. They were treated more cruelly in the United States than in any other country that had practiced slavery. African Americans didn’t gain their freedom until after the Civil War, nearly one-hundred years later. Even though African Americans were freed and the constitution was amended to guarantee racial equality, they were still not treated the same as whites and were thought of as second class citizens. One man had the right idea on how to change America, Martin Luther King Jr. had the best philosophy for advancing civil rights, he preached nonviolence to express the need for change in America and he united both African Americans and whites together to fight for economic and social equality.
American & World History. http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-king-jr (accessed October 1, 2013). Primary source: a. King, Martin Luther, and Clayborne Carson. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Intellectual Property Management in association with Warner Books, 1998.