The name Martin Luther King Jr. holds a significant place in the history of the United States and the world as a whole. Martin Luther King was most popularly known as a pastor from Alabama who was a prominent spokesperson and leader of the civil rights movement in the 1950’s. His actions to oppose racism are the very core of his legacy that continue to influence and empower people all over the world.
Previous to the 1950’s, racism was a day-to-day struggle for people of color living in the United States, with laws, such as the Jim Crow Laws, that made life for African Americans increasingly difficult and legalized segregation. The Jim Crow Laws stated that people of color weren’t allowed to use the same public facilities that white people used, this included bathrooms, water fountains, schools, but the discrimination didn’t end there. Like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t believe that violence was the answer to problems people faced, no matter how unjust they were. His philosophy of nonviolence and his sense of justice lead Martin Luther King Jr. to become the face of the civil rights movement in which he encouraged people from all walks of life to peacefully protest against discrimination and advocate for their rights. In order to encourage his supporters, Martin Luther King Jr. often gave speeches that left people in awe and supplied people with hope that they could change the laws that chained them. During his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech, at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Martin Luther King Jr. shared his dream of what he envisioned the world could be. He said, “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.” His speech empowered people of color all over the world and inspired them to peacefully advocate for their rights and equality.
During his thirty nine years of life, Martin Luther King Jr. created a name for himself as an activist and accomplished far more than anyone could have imagined. Defining moments for Dr. King were events such as boycotts, protests, and marches. Using such methods to change laws weren’t considered very efficient in the United States at the time, until Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated their efficacy and government lawmakers started to listen. This didn’t come easily and they had to fight to shift the mindset of America. Events like the March on Washington, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the Memphis Sanitation Worker Strike worked towards that goal. While these achievements may seem minor, patience and high morals were needed to change a nation’s mindset through non-violent protests. Because of his hard work and dedication, Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1964. These accomplishments impacted not just Dr. King, but the people he represented.
Dr. King continues to be one of the most talked about and influential people of the 1950-1960’s, and for good reason. Martin Luther King Jr. is credited for being a leader of the civil rights movement and guiding the country into a new era of equality. In many ways he represented the change that needed to happen for a better country and world. Dr. King led the country in taking steps to end inequality and discrimination. He proved that protests could make monumental changes in government and that it could be done peacefully. In the news today we see these same forms of protest happening constantly to evoke change, whether that be gun control, equal rights for women, or continuing the fight against racism.
Remembering Dr. King is not only a simple act of respect towards him and his actions to end the heavily ingrained discrimination against African Americans, but also remembering all those who risked their lives to fight for something that they believed to be true.
