Martin Luther King Jr., known as one of the most inspirational African American Civil Rights’ leaders of the century, was brought into this world without knowing the big impact he would have on our nation on January 15, 1929 . This Monday, January 16, we celebrate and rejoice in remembrance of a change in history that happened merely fifty-four years ago.
Martin Luther King Jr. was brought up in a loving and content household. His family was very involved in the church, but despite that, he had a lot of issues within himself. When his grandmother died, King Jr. took the loss hard. After finding out he tried to commit suicide because he never got to say goodbye. After a couple years of healing he went to college at the age of 15, but lacked motivation. Once he began to grow more, he began to thrive in every one of his studies and graduated in the year 1951 as the valedictorian of his class.
After college, he began to participate in many civil rights movements- one of the first was the Montgomery Bus Boycott. To start off the boycott that lasted 382 days, he gave a speech that sparked a new voice in the home of Alabama. After that speech, his and co-elect’s, E.D Nixon’s houses were attacked by whites who didn’t believe in anything, but segregation. Despite verbal attacks and physical abuse, he continued to aspire the growing movement for equality.
One of his most inspirational speeches the nation has heard to this day was the “I Have a Dream” speech. This speech moved both races to think differently and begin to think of one another as brothers. One of the most influential lines that imprinted on the hearts of many is when he stated simply: “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” (Martin Luther King Jr.). Five years after this speech King was assassinated, because he continued to spread his teachings of being nonviolent and that everyone was equal.
January 15 will always be known as the day that the man who had so much influence on the world was born. He always believed that being equal was not a chore and that all brothers bleed the same no matter what the race was. He was such an inspiration that he won the Noble Peace Prize in the year 1964, as well as 9 other significant awards. Martin Luther King Jr. will always be known as the man who sparked a movement that started a revolution. To add remembrance and respect to such a great man, as Martin Luther King Jr. would say, “Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty we are free at last”.