The Influence of Martin Luther King Jr.

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Martin Luther King Jr. was the most influential leader of the American Civil Rights Movement as he fought for the freedom of African Americans. King’s most influential speech is his “I Have a Dream” given on August 28, 1963.1 King himself was a man whom thousands of people admired. Martin Luther King Jr. uses an expressive tone in his speeches by using verbal powerful imagery toward his audience, reminding them of the challenges facing them and defeating racism. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired others to take action, lead by example, as shown in his speeches and promoted non-violence as a method for change. To begin with, Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929.2 His father, Martin Luther King Sr. who was a pastor, and his mother Alberta, who was a schoolteacher who raised both King and his two siblings.3 King was very religious because the three generations of men, starting with his great-grandfather, were all preachers. His younger brother and uncle were also preachers. Religion had a big influence on his life. King grew up in a neighborhood of average citizens. No great wealth or possessions, leaders, or anyone of great stature. His best friends were religious, attended Sunday school together and church which King was considered their second home. King entered Morehouse College at the age of 15 and graduated four years later. 4 He was the third generation to attend this academic institution. At first he planned to major in medicine or law, but by his senior year, he changed to theology.5 King himself was not one to follow in the footsteps of his father, grandfather or mother, and was influenced by Dr. Benjamin Mays, President of Morehouse College, to become an “advocate for racial ... ... middle of paper ... ...ivil rights in America, galvanized by the landmark Brown vs. Board of Educa2tion of Topeka decision of 1954.” The Montgomery bus boycott happened on “December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks... who refused to give up her sear to a white passenger on a bus” she was arrested. Later, the Supreme Court ruled “segregated seating on public buses unconstitutional in November 1956.” Works Cited History.com-History Made Every Day American & World History. http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-king-jr (accessed October 1, 2013). (Primary source) King, Martin Luther, and Clayborne Carson. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. New York: Intellectual Properties Management in association with Warner Books, 1998. Print. (Primary source) "1960s Timeline." About.com 20th Century History. N.P. Web. 6 Nov. 2013. http://history1900s.about.com/od/timeline (Secondary source)

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