While reading the Sunday paper at the local coffee shop one hears a couple of elderly gentlemen reflecting on their younger years. Curiosity prevails and one quickly lifts the paper in front of one’s face to act as if one was reading. Albert chuckling says come on Fred you remember back in the day when the gazette cost two bits. Fred jerks the toothpick from his mouth; hell Albert we were too poor to afford the paper. Albert quickly responds too poor even us colored folk could afford it. Now, now Fred says as he sits straight up in the chair and continues you sure like to rile me up Albert. While Albert slurps his coffee and before he could say another word. Fred continued I am 90 years old and not going to change now. Not for nothing …show more content…
Martin Luther King was a proud American. He was not a racist. MLK had a vision, a “dream” just as the majority of Americans. One would think. His dream was no different from the very words our American founders directed in The Constitution of the United States for all to be equal and united as one. MLK assumed the risk of death when he acted so boldly to address this nation. Unfortunately, he paid the price. Then Rosa Parks’ decides not to sit in the back of a bus. She just wanted the simple possessions all were given after being freed from slavery. Rosa didn’t feel she needed to give up her seat for a white man. She wanted to experience sitting in the front of bus. Though, her life was not ended for refusal. She too chose to demonstrate. These demonstrations were not based on color but on equality. They acted as Americans! Why are these two individuals still being discussed today? A black history week that later was altered to a month long celebration, no! These two leaders’ profound actions became history. Their simple demands caused chaotic occasions that captured the American people’s attention. Additionally, MLK’s speech was so heroic that the United States declared 19 January as a day to remember him. Glancing at a calendar it appears to be cluttered. Currently, The United States celebrates ten types of events during the year. The United States celebrates Black, …show more content…
Each race, nationality, and social group will continue to feel miss-treated somehow and claim discrimination or infringements on their constitutional rights. Make no mistake each citizen holds their own fate. While this entire country strives for equality each person has their own personal agenda based on ones beliefs and perception. For that exact reason equality will never be achieved. The next time one sees; a bus or hears President Obama speak or while watching a sit-com or movie take a minute to reflect back on MLK, Morgan Freeman, Ray Charles, Rosa Parks, Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, and Condoleezza Rice’s successful lives based on what one knows about each. Truthfully answer this question: Did one learn of these people in February of any given year during African week or now referred to as African month? No and neither did countless other Americans. These great American people secured a chunk of American history and therefore verify no day, week or month celebration should be
These events aim to make people remember the troubled times that many experienced. Utilizing facts to enforce the overall concept is a tool, a useful tool when it is regard to the people. Individuals understand facts it is the basis for a concept to push and move people. MLK understands through religion and that of being educated, facts can’t be denied only more information can be found out by that incident. That is why it is important to stay informed and aware of the past mistakes, because those incidents are likely to happen again, and people aren’t fond on known mistakes or
Reading MLK’s speech stirred my views on America in the past. Being an immigrant, I never got a complete view on the reasons behind MLK's expressions addressed in his speech, but reading his speech and his word choice, helps me realize why MLK’s words are so precious even in the modern day. MLK uses rhetoric in his speech constantly repeating phrases such as “Now is the time” or “I have a dream”, and I believe this helps readers and listeners to become aware of the cruelty faced by the people MLK addressed. In King Powell’s CNN article, he talks about how a lot of the discrimination still exists to this day. “I can learn from you but you can also learn from me. That is how we do more than tolerate each other. That is how we come to respect
Did you know that Martin Luther King JR was shot and killed in a hotel in Memphis? Martin Luther King is one of the best motivators of his time, with words like, don’t judge someone by the color of their skin, but by the actions that they choose to make. MLK (Martin Luther King JR) was a shooting star, that actually makes dreams come true, you only see that once in a lifetime. First, MLK was one of those people who knew education like it was the back of their hand. Also, if it wasn’t for his speeches we would be right where we were before he made his speeches, race against race. In the end, he had the confidence to lead him into these speeches and no one could take that, sure he was a “Negro” that does not meant that he doesn’t have the charisma, the education, as a “White person.” MLK made a difference, so can you. Those are some reasons why MLK was and will forever be, one of the best inspirers, he shows differences, he is smart, he is charismatic, he simply is a, owl, a cat hunting, a dolphin having its jumps in life, he was the dream maker, a huge impact on racism, he wanted to make sure that the people, you and me, would be together, knowing that someone in life had sacrificed so much to get you where you are today.
Furthermore, Martin Luther King was the main leader who led these marches and was a man who wanted racism and being separated from everyone else, gone. “At age 6, Martin Luther King Jr. was jarred when a parent of a white friend said the boys could no longer play together because he was black. Another time, King’s father, a minister, was driving a car when a white policeman pulled him over for no obvious reason. Listen, boy, he began, only to be cut off when the Rev. King pointed to his son in the passenger seat. That is a boy. I am a man (Atkin).” Martin Luther King Jr. was bumped when a parent of a white companion said the young men could never again play together on the grounds that he was dark. Some other time,
To many million of American americans , Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the prophet of their crusade for racial equality. He was their voice of anguish,their battle cry for human dignity. He forged for them the weapons of nonviolence that withstood and blunted the ferocity of segregation.And to many millions of American whites, he was one of a group of african americans who preserved the bridge of communication between races when racial warfare threatened the United States in the nineteen-sixties.In his dedication to non-violence, Dr. King was caught between white and african american extremists as racial tensions engulfed into arson, gunfire and looting in many of the cities during the summer of 1967.Militant african americans argued that only by violence and segregation could the group attain self-respect, dignity and real equality in the United States. when he led a protest march through downtown Memphis, Tennesse. a group of african american youths suddenly began breaking store windows and looting, and one african american was shot to death.Two days later, however, Dr. King said he would stage another demonstration that attributed the violence to his own "miscalculation.”At the time he was assassinated in Memphis, Dr. King was involved in one of his greatest plans to dramatize the plight of the poor and stir Congress to help african americans. Other times mlk was
Martin Luther King Jr. changed things in America just enough to send it on the right path.Man has enough problems with everyday life and other more unique problems that will come along.People will add to the problems which only gives more struggle to people and, racism has always been the problem that adds more, until it came to the attention of the people.The problem with all racism are the people who bring it and the people who do nothing to stop it.There were people who tried to help and the only way they did that was by sticking out in a good way by giving yourself a positive reputation. Ignorance is the only reason things were bad and by solving that issue would help with everything else.Although America was changing because of King things still needed to be fixed but, only through the people.
Martin Luther King Jr. is an idol for most people; Rosa Parks was one of them. She admired his bold integrity to stand up for what is right in equality. Dr. King was a light to the world, because people wanted things to change, but they were afraid. They did not want to be arrested or attacked. They could boycott. They could refuse to ride the buses. That would cost the city a lot of money. The city and bus officials would not like that. This was a way Dr. King was standing up for Rosa. I added Dr. King to Rosa’s friends, because I felt he made a great impact on her life. If it weren’t for Martin Luther King’s heroic act in taking charge of the situation, Rosa Parks may have been in jail longer than intended, with a possible worse penalty.
In social class we reviewed past history of protesting that people did to bring about change. African Americans where not in slavery, but still had to endure racial laws and segregation that divided them from whites. blacks had to sit at the back of the bus and couldn't use the same restrooms, resturances nor drink water from the same water fountain. this amazing woman named “rosa park”, was doing a peaceful stand to not give up her seat to a white man that later made history as being a peaceful protest that many African Americans people came to her defense with boycotts and protesting. according to the martian Luther kings article that while protesting for rosa parks
King’s assassination caused riots and protests in more than 100 cities across the country! Including the march of 50,000 people in Memphis, lead by Coretta. She continued to help lead the Civil Rights Movement. Coretta founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent social change. In 1995 Coretta passed the Center over to her son Dexter. Coretta wrote articles on social issues and published a broadcasted column, and was also a regular commentator on CNN. Some people might be thinking how did Martin Luther King Jr day come into existence? Well Coretta fought hard for fifteen years to get a holiday dedicated to him. Ronald Reagan finally signed the bill in 1983, creating the U.S. holiday we call Martin Luther King Jr Day. Coretta wrote books about her husband, her son Dexter helped edit her stories. They edited The MLK Jr. Companion: Quotations from the speeches, essays, and books of MLK Jr.
February 1st signals the beginning of Black History Month. While there are many disputes arising from this celebration, including its brevity and timing, being able to have time dedicated to honoring the history of the African population who now call the United States of America home. Even this, however, is marginalized by the history books. We as a society spend weeks learning about the famous faces of the Civil Rights Movement. We know all about Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. I personally have respect for them and their contributions to black culture. However, we often overlook other important heroes in our culture. These individuals also fought for change, progress, and equality. But we do them a great disservice by neglecting their
The Civil Rights Movement and Dr. Martin Luther King The Civil Rights movement is still identified by people across the world with Dr Martin Luther King. His day of birth is remarked with a national holiday in the United States and there are many historic sites dedicated to MLK across the nation. His funeral in Atlanta on 9th April 1968 was attended by political leaders from around the world and later in 1977 King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom which stated that MLK was “the conscience on his generation” who…”saw the power of love could bring down segregation”.
Martin Luther King was a civil rights activist who believes in equal rights for anyone, no matter their race or sex. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 By James Earl Ray. He was hit in the neck, and rushed to the ambulance, he almost lived, but was pronounced dead at 7:05. when Martin spoke up, he was shot, this has happened many times. So all of our racism, sexism or discrimination will keep happening because anyone who
When we talk about peacefully protesting and America, who couldn't think of a man named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When we look at all the injustice this man faced, we should realize immediately that he could have been mad at the world and blamed the system and refused to do anything with his life. When his house was blown up, he didn't throw a pity party, he picked himself up and continued his work to help not only himself but everyone else. Insted of telling every one to riot and burn houses, he told everyone to treat each other with respect and
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Believed in achieving equality through peaceful demonstrations: “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred” (King, pg.3 ¶.1). He felt that equality had to be gained through honorable, civil ways otherwise those fighting for equality were no better than the slave owners. We can see this best when he says, “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence” (King, pg.3 ¶.2). MLK felt that it was in the best interests of all parties for black to integrate into society. A couple of his quotes that show this best are, “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood” (King, pg.4 ¶.6). and “I have a dream that one day in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers” (King, pg.5 ¶.2).
In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech; one filled with hope, hardship, and a call for justice. The people that came to hear the words of Dr. King experienced segregation on a daily basis. These were ordinary people performing ordinary jobs, yet their role in history is still acknowledged and appreciated today. Many of them went to segregated schools, were not allowed to vote, and experienced police brutality. These people, who had every right to be angry, walked the higher road and demonstrated peace, praying for their persecutors. They exercised nonviolent protests, which required lots of courage and sometimes ended in punishment. Many spent time in jail, were targeted and beaten, or threatened for their efforts. To hear Dr. King speak, many traveled long distances. Some drove, some walked, and some hitchhiked to participate in