There are a select few individuals who have come variously to be called "great" or "brilliant" because they and their accomplishments have forever changed society and the world. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of those individuals. Martin Luther King's contributions to history place him in this inimitable position. One of the great figures in the march of human history, Martin Luther King Jr., like Gandhi before him, lived by a heroic credo of non-violence. More than two decades since his death, Martin Luther King ideas; his call for racial equality, his faith in the ultimate triumph of justice, and his insistence on the power of nonviolent struggle to bring about a major transformation of American society- are as vital and timely as ever. Many seek a leader that can provide assurance to their lives. Martin Luther King's dream became that beacon of hope to African Americans and everyone seeking equality and justice. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired people throughout the world to strive for the ideals of equality and non-violence; ideals to which he dedicated his life. He dreamed of a world blind to the lines of color and he worked unceasingly and peacefully to obtain that goal. His peaceful resistance was inspired by Mohandas Gandhi, who led the peaceful struggle for India's independence from Great Britain (Cone, 1969). Like his mentor, Gandhi, he believed in expressing your feeling in peaceful ways. Dr. King's one mission was to improve race relations for all people regardless of color through non-violent means. Dr. King was beaten, arrested and in constant danger yet he refused to give up on his dream that all men would be treated equal (Cone, 1969). With his constant pursuit for civil rights, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ... ... middle of paper ... ... Luther King Jr., a great freedom fighter died on April 4, 1968 in pursuit of bettering the lives of his people on total freedom (Lewes, 1970). Since his death things have changed in many ways. In the 39 years he was on this planet, he has changed the way people perceive blacks and has made America a better place. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left a strong legacy today giving a platform to all for peace and equality. Bibliography: Cone, James H. Black Theology and Black Power. New York: Seabury Press, 1969. King, Coretta Scott, ed. The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Newmarket Press, 1983. Lewis, David L. King: A Critical Biography. New York: Fraeger Publisher, Inc., 1970. N/A "Martin Luther King." NobelPrize. 1964. 9 Nov. 2006 . Schwartz, Davis. "A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." Long Island University. June 1998. 9 Nov. 2006 .
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.
Garrow, David J. "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." History Net: Where History Comes Alive. N.p., Aug. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one the most heroic figures of our time. According to Joseph Campbell's characteristics Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has a characteristic of a hero such as, a hero is usually someone from whom something has been taken or who feels there's something lacking in the normal experience available, or permitted, to members of his society. (The Power of Myth, 1998) Dr. Martin Luther King was a man who yearned for dignity and respect from those who followed him. Mr. King was an African- American who lived in society were he wasn't appreciated. In the time in which Mr. King was raised, there was a lot of race...
Martin Luther King Jr. is considered to be one of the most prominent human rights’ defenders of the XX century and the speaker for non-violent social change. He believed that building power is the most important task facing movements for human progress because the human progress comes through the tireless efforts of people, who should use powerful and true weapon – non-violence – in order to achieve positive effects. King managed to achieve brilliant success in the battle for the liberty of blacks and not pour the way to freedom by rivers of blood.
Calloway-Thomas, Carolyn, and Lucaites, John Louis. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Sermonic Power of Public Discourse. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, 1993.
“As we walk, we must make a pledge that we shall always march ahead.”(MLK , I have a Dream Speech). Martin Luther King JR. was a remarkable man. He helped the community like no other did. He is a great character and role model towards all African Americans and others. He shows bravery, kindness, and has the eyes to make change happen. He was an inspiration to many less fortunate people than him, and people who had more than him. Do we have the bravery and courage that this man had? Do we have the eyes for change? MLK had something many didn’t. MLK made a change because something was bothering him in his community, he brought people together, was an inspiration to many because of his patience, and had a dream.
Martin Luther King jr. was one of the most influential persons of the 20th Century. He is the father of the modern civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is recognized around the world as a symbol of freedom as well as peace. King practiced everything that he preached, he did not preach or speak values that he himself did not follow. He established himself as a pastor that was not afraid of hard work, guiding the middle-class congregation to public service. For example, Peake, Thomas R. author of "Martin Luther King, Jr.” states, “He encouraged his parishioners to help the needy and to be active in organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)”. I think that kings motivation for wanting to help people, originated with his fathers guidance as a child. King was devoted to the nonviolent method, which was encouraged by both of his parents during his upbringing. Kings influence was so vast, america as a whole recognizes his birthday as a national holiday, in the celebration of his influences in addition to a national monument made in his honor.
Undoubtedly, Martin Luther King Jr. was an outstanding individual for his time and location in society. As an individual, Martin Luther King, Jr. possessed many of the extraordinary qualities of the charismatic leader. No other black person has ever risen to such heights in American society. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life had a lasting impact on the events in the United States. Years after his death, he is the most acknowledged African-American leader of his times. His life and work have been honoured with a national holiday. Many public buildings as well as schools are named after him. King's strategic decision making skills of the above disciplines led to historic political success. These decisions hold great lessons for all leaders, and highlight the courage and resolution needed to change the world. Martin Luther King exhibited these illustrious traits to alter the course of history by overcoming deeply deep-rooted prejudices, biases, and unfair values
Martin Luther King, Jr. has stood the test of time and proved to be one of the most influential humanitarians in history. As a leading Civil Rights activist of the twentieth century, King has seen man's inhumanity to man with his own eyes; in fact, he himself has been subjected to it. King lived during a time where people were sent to jail for not giving up their seat on the bus, and little boys were physically tortured and mutilated for flirting with another person. In all of this, Martin Luther King was conscious. He lived during a time where oppression was so alive that it was not only expected, it was enforced. In all of this, King did not senselessly fight fire with fire. With a spiritual grounding and a fiery heart, King reached the root of the problem in the most astounding, peaceful manner. He did not allow anger to rise within him, which was an amazing strength given the social turmoil he witnessed with his own eyes. He was a trailblazer, leading the civil rights movement towards victory.
His leadership skills, intelligence, and dedication is what allowed him to become great. Martin Luther King sought to achieve equality by educating blacks in order to, as much as possible, pass the tests that are required to register to vote. Martin Luther King also brings up the idea of self defense and states that blacks should be able to resist retaliating to violent actions by whites. He understands that this can be difficult at times, but reminds African American’s of the hardships that their families go through on a daily basis and persuades them not to retaliate in order to better the lives of their loved ones. Also Martin Luther King knew it would be beneficial to have as much white support as possible and black aggression could potentially deter white supporters. King says that the heros will be people who go to sit ins, choose to not ride the segregated buses, and the ones who will willingly and nonviolently goto to jail. In a way he was right. Rosa Parks refusing to sit at the back of the bus and the little rock nine who bravely choose the attend a desegregated school are now key parts of American history. Lastly King favored nonviolence because his goal was not to only legally gain equality but to truly get along with whites. Although a violent strategy could potentially work faster to gain legal equality it the tension between races would be
...chulke, Flip. He Had a Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1995.
King, Martin Luther, Jr. "A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., ed. James M. Washington. San Francisco: Harper, 1986.
Martin Luther King Jr. came from a middle class home with two loving and supportive parents. He was born in Georgia, January 15, 1929. Dr. King Jr. was one of three children. The impact he had on black and white audiences changed the way they viewed segregation and unity. He was such a revolutionary orator that he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Martin Luther King Jr. was the living definition of a prototypical nonconformist, which is a person who does not change their initial thoughts or actions based off of what others do. The reason prototypical nonconformist defines him so well is because his speeches were written to inspire all races, especially young African Americans to use non-violence to resolve any issues and to never lose sight of their dreams. His most famous “I Have a Dream” speech spoke about uplifting one another to help achieve each other’s goals with the absence of hatred and violence. He also brought forth the knowledge that God does not see any race more superior than an...
According to former Baptist minister and civil rights activist, Martin Luther King, Jr., he once describes, “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” During this time history, while growing up in the South, the idea of whites and black individuals could come together as one and being considered as equals towards one another. While growing up in the South, despite that fact down the South they felt that everyone should remain separate with one another because of the color his skill. King was known for leading the civil rights movement in the United States. As a leader, he had used the nonviolent, or peaceful, to protest to try to get equal rights for African Americans. No matter how tough things, King never lost track of his original message and he had the power to inspire in followers along the way. Although, he was assassinated years before he could see this full progress of creating a world where all African Americans were considered to equals was shorted lived but his dream of a better day never died and eventually the passion of change will change the course of America history to the years to