Civil Rights and Martin Luther King Jr.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great civil rights leader who gave his life in the name of freedom. The work of Martin Luther King, Jr. goes further than establishing peaceful social change strategies, he shaped America into the free country it is today. Before his protests in the south blacks, were treated like second rate citizens. It was uncommon to see blacks and whites using the same public restroom, or drinking from the same water fountain. Dr. King created a legacy that carried on far beyond his death. He had a dream that blacks and whites could live together in peace, free of segregation. Born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia Martin Luther King, JR. was rooted in the African American Baptist church. He was the grandson of Reverend. A.D. Williams, and the son of Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., both pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. “Young M.L.” as he was called, grew up in moderately comfortable circumstances in a city that was not as oppressive of its black residents as some areas of the South, but upheld stubbornly all aspects of racial segregation (American Reformers). Introduced to segregation at a young age he attended two separate elementary schools, one that was segregated, and another, which was just for blacks. He was a good student, skipping the ninth grade, and at fifteen upon completion of his junior year at Booker T. Washington High School, he entered Atlanta’s Morehouse College. At the young age of eighteen, King was named a Baptist minister and became assistant minister at his father’s church. After receiving his bachelors degree from Morehouse, King entered the Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. He was one of six blacks in a student body of one hundred. King ... ... middle of paper ... ...ared, King’s “dream had not died with him” and proclaimed a day of national mourning (American reformers). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for what he believed in. He symbolizes the struggle of blacks to gain civil rights. His methods of non-violent social change will continue to be used as long as problems exist in society. Millions of people can credit some of the basic rights in which they enjoy to the work of Dr. King. The work of Dr. King, goes further than establishing peaceful social change strategies, he shaped America into the beautiful country she is today. Works Cited: 1. King, Martin Luther Jr. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Warner Books, 1998 2. American Reformers. King, Martin Luther, Jr. The H.W. Wilson company: 1985 3. Carson, Clayborne. King Papers Project biography. www.stanford.edu.

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