Martin Luther King Research Paper

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The History of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial From the "I Have a Dream" speech to "The Drum Major Instinct," Martin Luther King Jr. was notable speaker and leader during the Civil Rights Movement between the 1950s and the 1960s. Based upon his Christian beliefs, King used nonviolence and civil disobedience to achieve his goals of racial equality; the "I Have A Dream" sermon was famously delivered during the March on Washington in 1963, and a year proceeding, King received a Nobel Peace a Prize through his passive resistance. The activist was fatally shot in 1968, yet albeit his death, King became an iconic American figure, leaving a momentous legacy. The day following his assassination, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, in which caused a major leap forward for racial equality in the United States. In his honor, a memorial was erected in Washington D.C., reflecting his "I Have a Dream" speech alongside various messages from other sermons. The idea to conceive a statue in King's honor is dated back to 1984; members of Martin Luther King Jr's prestigious fraternity proposed the plan …show more content…

The reception amongst critics was quite privative, yet many, including the King family, were pleased with the outcome. Opening year, the memorial had 5.2 million visitors and still continues to have excellent ratings annually. Recently, the controversies have regressed, and people have begun to see the brighter and more inspirational aspects of the monument, such as the well-accepted inscription wall. Bob Vogel, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, reminds that every monument and memorial has experienced controversies over its design. "We found a really great solution that everyone thinks will work and the memorial will be beautiful," Vogel exclaims, "we can get past the controversy and focus on the while meaning behind this incredible memorial,"

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