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MARTIN LUTHER KING JRS BIOGRAPHY

Martin Luther King Jr is recognized as one of Americas most powerful activist of civil
rights. His passionate, non-violent protests, helped to raise awareness against racial inequalities
in America, which lead to significant political dynamics. In addition Martin Luther King Jr was
also an eloquent speaker who captured the attention and hearts of people, regardless of their race.
Martin Luther Junior born 15th January 1929 in Atlanta (Biography.com) was one of the
greatest societal icons that we will ever come to know in history. Martin Luthers father and
grandfather shared one thing in common and that was hey were all from the priesthood
community in a multi-racial church. Luther King was educated at Morehouse College Atlanta
and later on Crozer Theological Seminary at Pennsylvania. He then joined Boston University.
While at the campus Martin Luther learnt of the widespread racial segregation and inequality
perpetrated against the non-white Americans. Martin Luther specifically was so much inspired
by one Mahatma Gandhis way of life of non-violent protests. The viewpoint of Gandhi went
hand in hand with the wisdom acquired by those of his faith. While aged 24, Martin Luther King
Jr tied the knot with Coretta Scott, who was a gorgeous and talented young lady. Immediately
after he got married, Martin Luther King Junior later ventured into priesthood at Dexter Avenue
in a Baptist Church at Alabama.
The Bus Boycott (Montgomery) had the greatest impact to the life of Martin Luther King
where he masterminded the promotion of (Biography.com).The Boycott later on was adapted
as a big step in the civil rights struggle which attracted national attention.
The boycott began on December 5th 1955 when a civil rights activist turned down an offer
of letting her seat go where she was seated on the white area compartment.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JRS BIOGRAPHY

This ruined the severe exclusion of black Americans and white individuals on the
Montgomery automobiles (Biography.com). The bus corporation snubbed the backing down
appeal and so Martin Luther assisted to organize a strike where black Americans declined to use
city buses. The law enforcement agencies in a struggle to control the unrests turned dogs and fire
hoses on the demonstrators. Martin Luther king was put in custody together with his army of
loyal supporters and jailed (Biography.com). This occurrence attracted peoples attention nationwide. Nevertheless his concern and hostility, both the white and black priesthood criticized him a
lot. He however held his position and advocated fearlessly for his non-violence gospel.
"Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a
community, which has constantly refused to negotiate, is forced to confront the issue."
(Biography.com)
By the end of the Birmingham campaign, he, Martin Luther King Jr., and his supporters
had made plans for a massive demonstration on the nation's capital comprising multiple
organizations, all who were asking for peaceful change. August 28, 1963, the historic March on
Washington which drew more than 200,000 people in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial took
place. It was here that King made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, emphasizing his belief
that someday all men could be brothers and be equal. The go slow lasted for several months,
when the issue was then brought to the Supreme Court who declared the segregation was
unconstitutional.
After a successful Montgomery bus boycott, Martin Luther in collaboration with other
state secretaries established the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The
priesthood was reluctant to react to the reproach of Martin Luther, and in this reign Martin
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MARTIN LUTHER KING JRS BIOGRAPHY

Luther King became a creative writer and his articles were extensively circulated throughout
Europe.

This catalyzed the growing movement for peoples civil rights. The 1960s experienced
the formation of the movement known as Black power movement which was personified by
individuals such as Malcolm X and several other nationalist groups. Martin Luther King
however stayed committed to his non-violent ideals of struggle. King was an influential
inspirational orator; he had the influence and many times rejuvenated his audiences where he
dwelled in restoring hope to the people. He saw the discrimination of the period and also saw this
as a passing cloud. Martin Luther King often made allusions to his Christian Faith, the word of
God and also to God.
Some of the quotations included: And this is what Jesus means when he uttered: How
is it that you can see the speck in your brothers eye and not see the beam in your own eye? He
illustrated saying that it was one of the shortcomings of the human nature. He preached a gospel
of loving enemies first then those who hate us most in our collective individual general life
Martin Luther Kings speeches were mostly devoid of revenge, and instead focused more
on the importance of moving forward. In 1963, he was recognized by Time Magazine which
followed his renowned and iconic I have a Dream Speech which was delivered during a
procession in wage of civil rights in Washington.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JRS BIOGRAPHY

Martin Luther in his speech had a dream that one day his nation would rise against all
injustices and live according to the oneness faith it was built on. He believed that a day would
come when on the Georgia hills the descendants of slaves and the sons of prior slave owners
would
Martin Luther was later that year presented with the coveted Nobel Peace Prize for his
marvelous contribution towards societal fight against civil injustice. Martin Luther King Jr
selflessly announced that he would channel the prize cash $54,123 towards the movement of
civil rights. With the status that came with the Nobel Prize politicians such as Lyndon Johnson
would go to seek Kings Counsel. However, when King opposed the Vietnam Warfare, his
decision did not go down well with Lyndon Johnson and his administration and as a result Martin
Luther King Jr began receiving a lot of scrutiny from the authorities, such as the FBI. April the
4th in 1968 was a sad day when , Martin Luther King face assassination . It had only been one
day since he had presented his very final speech known as I have Been to the Mountaintop.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s life had a very large impact on race association to in the United
States (Biography.com). Years after his death, he is the most generally known African-American
leader of his era. Martin Luther Kings life and work have been honored with a national holiday,
schools and public buildings named after him, and a memorial on Independence Mall in
Washington, D.C. But his life remains controversial as well. In the 1970s, FBI files, released
under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed that he was under government surveillance, and
suggested

his

involvement

in

adulterous

relationships

and

communist

influences

(Biography.com). Over the years, widespread archival studies have led to a more balanced and
complete assessment of his life, portraying him as a complex figure: fallible, flawed and limited

MARTIN LUTHER KING JRS BIOGRAPHY

in his control over the mass movements with which he was associated, yet a idealist leader who
was deeply focused to achieving social justice through nonviolent means.
In his memory and honor, America have instigated a national Martin Luther King Day.
He remains an icon on Americas fight for justice and racial equality.

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