Life and Contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Written by Admin on March 7th, 2010On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born and called Michael Luther. After some time, he chose to be called Martin. Martin is a well-known lobbyist and minister defending the rights of the African-American community.
He was brought up in the Southern part of America when the African-American society was seen as nothing but slaves. He attended public school in Georgia and graduated high school at the age of fifteen. He took up Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and completed in 1948 from Morehouse College, an acknowledged African-American Institute where his grandfather and father also finished up their studies.
When Martin was studying in Boston for graduate school, he met Coretta Scott who also shared his passion for equality for the African-American society. It didn’t take them much time before they tied the knot and started a family.
As Martin’s father and grandfather were, Martin became a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Up until his death, he served as co-pastor alongside his father. He was not only a civil rights icon but he was also considered a martyr in 2 other Christian churches in America.
A march for peace and prosperity was held on August 28, 1963 in Washington. In the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C, Martin Luther King, Jr gave out his speech we now all know as “I Have a Dream” wherein more than 250,000 people got together to witness this unforgettable event. He was declared ‘Man of the year’ by Time Magazine later that year.
He was arrested several times and became a target of violent threats. After one of his arrests, he wrote the famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail, narrating his beliefs and hopes for the future of America. His many protests helped convince the U.S. Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Act protected African-Americans or other ethnic groups from being treated unjustly.
He received a Nobel Peace Prize at the young age of 35 for his outstanding contribution to eliminate racial discrimination. A protest was held in Memphis, Tennessee sometime in 1968 regarding the inequitable working conditions given to African American garbage workers. Sadly, he was murdered by James Earl Ray on the terrace of his motel room.
The memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. will not be forlorn as long as his sacrifice to bring forth equal rights is present among us. Martin Luther King, Jr Day is annually celebrated on the third Monday of January. This MLK Day, take a moment to remember how one life, devoted to the good of others, can make a huge impact on the world.
Something that may prove useful to you is the Listen To My Dream by Debi Pearl. The author is an old white lady from rural Tennessee and her motivation for writing the book is very interesting.
