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How Did Martin Luther King Influence Society

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Alexis Eastman Mrs. Thomas Avid 11/Period 5 9 December 2015 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work and life were influenced by the fact that many African-Americans in the south suffered from violence and from being treated as second-class citizens. He drew inspiration through Christianity and teachings of Gandhi to lead non-violent movements. His significance made African-Americans achieved more progress than the previous 350 years toward racial equality in America. Martin Luther King, Jr. was, and still is, one of the most influential person in the 1950s-1960s. “During the less than 13 years of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s leadership of the modern American Civil Rights Movement, from December, 1955 until April 4th, 1968, African Americans achieved more genuine progress toward racial equality in America than the previous 350 …show more content…

grew weary from going to jail, marches, and living under threats. “In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles.” (Biography). On his last crusade from a labor strike by Memphis sanitation workers, he gave his last speech, saying that “we, as a people, will get to the promised land”. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s less than thirteen years of nonviolent leadership ended abruptly and tragically on April 4th, 1968, when he was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.” (About Dr. King). After King’s assassination, he was returned to his hometown in Atlanta, Georgia. In conclusion, Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the greatest leaders to lead peaceful movements for racial equality for African-Americans. From 1957, when he first started to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, until 1963, his assassination, he achieved social justice through nonviolent

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