Martin Luther King Jr.: Who Was He? “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” ( King ) This quote is true because if we never move forward and only go back or stay put, then we never achieve our goals in life. I believe that we need to live out this quote of Martin Luther King. He had a dream and his dream inspired many, encouraged peace, and we, as students, teachers, and parents, still play a role in living out his dream in our lives today. “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscious tells him it’s right.” is a quote I believe Dr. King lived by most of his life. He was bullied as a kid because of his race and skin color, but he always pulled through. As he got older, he became an inspiration in the colored community. He stood up for what he believed in and never backed down. He opened the eyes …show more content…
King led, but Rosa Parks was the one who really kicked it off in December of 1955, when she got arrested for refusing to give her seat up to a pair of whites. This boycott was to protest against the bus rules stating that colored people had to sit in the back of the bus and, if no other seats were available, they had to give up their seat to a white person then either go sit in the back of the bus or stand. By agreeing to take part in the boycott meant that they would find other ways of transportation besides taking the bus. This boycott was meant to hurt the profits that bus companies were making from all the blacks, and it did but Dr. King and eighty-eight others were arrested for organizing the boycott, but they never resorted to
King is portrayed as a man on a mission, and he is determined to achieve the goals of this mission at all costs. Dr. King has a growth mindset as he is determined to make sure African American citizens get voting rights. King has confidence in his abilities to influence the people to never give up and fight for their rights regardless of the obstacles that they are facing. King put effort in his beliefs as he went to President Lyndon B. Johnson to ask for equal rights. The fact that his efforts were a failure did not stop him as he started influencing the people to participate in the struggle. King had the special talent of identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and he knew their strength was based on determination. In spite of the beatings, shoving and even the death of his supporters, he still encouraged the people not to give up. Moreover, Dr.King faced many challenges, including threats and the risk of being killed, but he showed that he had a determined mindset to achieve his goal. He was open to ideas from his supporters and relied on them when he feels
The boycott started whenever Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white person, and then continued into much more. The Women’s Polotical Council asked for many different things , such as a city law where blacks set from back till front and white sit from front till back, blacks not be forced to pay fare at front, busses stop of every corner in residential sections occupied with blacks.
December 1, 1955, an African-American woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. By refusing to give up her seat, Rosa Parks was arrested. Dr. King held a meeting at his church the next night to discuss ways of dealing with her arrest and protesting her arrest. So, they decided that they would have a bus boycott, beginning on Monday, December the 5th. Her refusal caused what is now known as the Montgomery Boycott. Since the boycott caused a larger quantity of all black patrons, Dr. King realized that although a boycott was needed, many of the patrons were afraid of taking a chance on boycotting because of the effect it may have
Dr. King tussled with the cares of life looking for solutions, concern for his family, and stood up for righteousness, justice, and truth. Dr. King knew what he was up against was daunting and knew enough to call on the name of Jesus. Dr. King believed in the power of prayer even through the countless number of threats he received and even arrested he stood unyielding for what is right, justice. Dr. King refused to sink in the quick-sands of racism and abhorrence. Dr. King realized that he had to alter the mindset of society if change was to come.
According to The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute, after the arrest of Rosa Parks in 1955, a bus boycott was ignited which lasted a period of thirteen months. The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute noted that Rosa Parks was not the only person to challenge segregation laws, her arrest however, pushed the Women’s Political Council to call a one day protest of the city’s buses on December 5 1955, which was publicized and retrieved 90% of Montgomery’s black citizens to support. The bus boycott continued which resulted in black residents staying off the buses for the entire year of 1956. (The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute)
“Jim Crow” laws dictated that a black person must surrender their seat to a white person if there were no other seats available, and stand at the back of the bus. In December 1955; Rosa Parks refused to do this, and was arrested and fined $10. Her friends and family, led by Martin Luther King (who would later become leader of the Civil Rights Movement), immediately started a twenty-four hour bus boycott in response, and found it so successful that it was decided they would continue until the bus company agreed to seat customers on a first-come basis. Many black people became involved with the boycott, and as black passengers made up 75% of the bus company’s business it proved to be enormously damaging. The boycott attracted more black people to the civil rights movement.
In Alabama, there used to be a segregation law where African Americans had to sit in the back of the bus. If a white person happens to be on a bus where the seats are full, an African American would have to stand and allow that person to have the seat instead. In December 1955, Rosa Parks refused in a calm manner when the bus driver asked her and other passengers of colour to give up their seats, she was then arrested and sent to jail. After this, Martin Luther King Jr. arranged a bus boycott. After 13 months of boycotting, the U.S. Supreme Court to finally ruled the bus segregation law as unconstitutional, the act of civil disobedience was ultimately successful.
In a dark world, a time full of hate, hurt, and segregation, a man stood out against those injustices, Martin Luther King Jr.. Martin Luther King Jr. was a very strong activist in the civil rights movement. King was a pioneer of the “no violence” and “no harm” era of protesting. He became a leader for African Americans and whites who opposed the idea of segregation. These people wanted change, they stood together as brothers and as Americans, all led by the great qualities of Martin Luther King Jr.. On the road to civil rights, King had many quotes that had given people hope, trust, and faith and many are still used today.
Later that same year the Montgomery Bus Boycott started when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on the bus.The montgomery Bus Boycott was led by Dr. Martin Luther King jr.(http://crdl.usg.edu/) In 1963 over a quarter million people went to the march on wasington where King gave his “I have a dream”
The boycott began days after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white male. It lasted from December 5, 1955 to December 29, 1956 and it was the first substantial manifestation against segregation. Initially the people only asked for fair and courteous treatment, but be that as it may a group of women ultimately filed a lawsuit against the city demanding for an end to the segregations laws. Finally on June 5, 1956 the court deemed racial segregation on public transportation in violation of the 14th Amendment.
King’s teachings and sacrifices is putting their context into action. A perfect place to start is your own community. Some people see problems in diversity. However, Dr. King saw only beauty in it. There is so much diversity all around us in our own communities, black and white; old and young; male and female; religious and nonreligious; rich and poor. But if we can look at the big picture, we will see a strong community, happy and motivated to helping each other. We all are rooting for the same cause: peace, friendship, love,acceptance, and unity. It is so important to comprehend the power that unity holds, but when we do, we will be able to see the beauty in all our diversity, just as Dr. King did. Dr. King said, “The Negro needs the white man to free him from his fears. The white man needs the Negro to free him from his guilt.” (achieve-personal-growth.com). If we are to be successful, we will need each other. Dr. King inspires me to take action in uniting my community/school and to be a leader. Because of his example, I ran for student council representative in elementary school and was given the position. This assignment is important to the school because the representatives gather desires and opinions from primary and secondary classes to present to the student council for consideration. This operation definitely unites the school together to reach important decisions as one. There is always a way for someone to contribute to their community no matter how small it is. Dr. King once aforementioned,“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” (goodreads.com). Not everyone’s contribution will be the same, but they will all mean
“I have a dream” spoke Martin Luther King, Jr. at washington infront of 250,000 people. Martin stood up for what he knew was right, would you do the same? Martin was only young boy when he first experienced racism. All Martin wanted to do was go to his friends house and play but because his friend was white he couldn't (page 8-9). That incident didn't stop martin he went on to became to be a great intelligent young man,. Dr. King was the person everyone looked up on he was the one who people listened to. Martin inspired many people, he showed people they can do anything they put their mind to, He showed people that around the world and still to this day he does.
King’s story is one that America will never forget. His speeches were powerful. Enough so that he moved a whole country. Forget mountains, this man was so amazing that he was able to move millions of people's hearts. That is an incredible feat, and one that will go down in history as the day America realized that all men ARE created equal. He united thousands upon thousands of people by showing that he wasn't going to give up his freedom. He taught them peace and how to work together to accomplish great things. We all have a role of living out the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whether in our home, school, or community. As Dr. King once said, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” (wikipedia.com) Dr. King knew that if we only showed kindness and love to everyone, there will be no hate and injustice. We may not know it, but we can play a big part in fulfilling his dream. If you look around today, you can see that racism is not completely dead. Although it has sufficiently died down, I don't think racism will be completely gone for a long time and I am sure many others do too. But we can do our part, by simply not judging others on how they look, their wealth, or their heritage, but by who they really are on the inside. Dr. King also taught that we should not be putting people in groups, again because of how they look, their wealth, or their heritage. We should not be the one to decide what they will do, where they will go, and what they will say. No one has the power to completely take control over someone's thoughts, their words, or their actions. And if you can’t completely control them, what's the point in trying? Sadly, Dr. King has not lived to see his dream become reality. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. He was fatally shot at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 39, by James Earl Ray. Dr. King was on his way to dinner when a bullet struck him in the cheek. Instantly,
King's successful civil rights activism, it is said that the “collective strength of individuals, organized in religious, civic, fraternal, and civil rights groups allowed southern blacks to begin overcoming fears reinforced by centuries of racism and repression”(Lawson, 246). The overcoming of these fears consisted of sit-ins, protests, boycotts, and marches. Also, Dr King was a big supporter of non-violence.He “rallied black southerners to confront racism through non-violence, when their instincts might pull them in the other direction”(Lawson, 249). His open mindedness made him a successful leader in terms of the African-American struggle for civil rights. This is what allowed him to connect with not only African-American people, but people of other races as well. Martin Luther King is a great example of someone who did not look for profit for himself. Dr. King’s biggest goal was to achieve equality for his fellow African American people. It was said that Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t just fight for civil rights but he fought for human rights as well. Montaigne makes a statement saying “Let every one but dive into his own bosom, and he will find his private wishes spring and his secret
King's most basic principles was that love can change the hearts of all people. Dr. King shows a great example of how to be a community full of serivce. At times he brought thousands of people to work together for a common goal. Those goals were not always the same but they all were to do good. He was one man who changed thousands of lives and still impacts our communities today. We all have a role in living out the dream of Martin Luther King today. Many of Dr. King's dreams have become a reality in today's world. In his famous “I Have A Dream” speech he said “I have a dream that my four little 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.” In today's world there are people of all races that are treated equal. In school, African-Americans, Whites, and all foreigners are allowed to learn together. We all share the same restrooms and drinking fountains, Dr. King left a message that never will be forgotten. If there is one responsibility for us today to live out the dream of Dr. King, it is to love one