Category: American Ideals

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15th,1929, and passed April 4, 1968. He was an American Baptist priest and dissident who turned into the most noticeable representative and pioneer in the American social liberties development from 1955 until his death in 1968. King progressed social liberties through peacefulness and common insubordination, propelled by his Christian convictions and the peaceful activism that was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. He was the child of early social liberties lobbyist and pastor Martin Luther King Jr.

In this essay, I will be focusing on 3 different speeches and explaining how he promoted social change throughout his speech using rhetorical devices such as; repetition, metaphors, and allusions. The speeches I will be looking at are ‘I Have a Dream’, ‘Loving Your Enemies’, and ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’.

King uses a lot of rhetorical devices to persuade people and manipulate them into believing him and being on his side, this is what makes him such a good spokesperson as well as a great social activist. By being able to manipulate and convince people to a certain side he gains more confidence in himself which can then also help with him speaking out to people. King’s speech ‘I Have A Dream’ which took place in Washington DC on August 28, 1963, is one of the founding moments of the civil rights movement and one of the most famous speeches in American history, a cry for dignity and democracy. The critical message in the speech is that all individuals are made equivalent and, albeit not the situation in America at that point, King felt it should be the situation for what’s to come. He contended energetically and capably. ‘Manacles of segregation and chains of discrimination.” Using metaphors, King utilizes this analogy to portray to the crowd that even after the liberation declaration which implied that all slaves be free and treated equivalently isn’t being dealt with equivalently and it is similar to being a slave with loads on him. He uses alliteration throughout his speech to get the attention of the audience, as the way the lines are said sounds lyrical. “Rise from the dark and desolate” In this line that he said I think he was trying to convey the “light”, to get up and move forward from the past darkness that a person may be living in. He also uses alliteration when he says “trials and tribulations” This phrase means hardship or a problem that may test one’s courage, the two T’s that come right after each other give the audience something a little playful, as alliteration is often melodic. King uses parallelism to give his speech rhythm and a nice memory for the audience, it also makes it engaging which draws the audience in “We will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together”. When King says “free at last” he uses allusion, By using allusion he’s giving the audience a chance to make their own direct connection of “free at last” which can make the audience feel more engaged. “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today…” King alludes to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, in this manner stimulating a feeling of nationalism in his audience members. The utilization assuming that initial line likewise lays out a norm of assumption for the remainder of his discourse. He involves a similar way of opening as did the Gettysburg address he situates a correlation between that noteworthy speech and his own promptly setting the assumption that his speech is just about as great and strong as Lincoln’s. “America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked” King uses amplification in this line, getting his point across by repeating the explanation of the problem which gives his line a lot more power and affects the audience. Toward the end of the speech, King repeats the opening clauses of successive sentences with the phrase “I have a dream” He utilizes anaphora causing a lingering effect that resonates in the listener’s mind. Throughout this speech, King continues to use strong language and rhetorical devices to bring his point across to the audience and as he uses rhetorical devices it gives him the power to manipulate his words and draw the audience in which can help him promote social change.

Clause

In his speech ‘Loving Your Enemies’ he preaches on the commandment of Jesus to love our enemies implying that while this is a daunting task, it is both possible and necessary for one to act as a good Christian or a good human being. The speech took place on November 17, 1957, in Montgomery, Ala, his target audience was mostly churchgoers who believed in God and supported King’s great black movement. King lectures on Jesus’ edict to cherish our foes and proposes that while this is an extremely challenging thing to do, it is both conceivable and fundamental for one to live as a decent Christian or a decent individual. It is a brilliant illustration of the way of thinking of Nonviolence and Christian pacifism. In his speech, he says “painfully hard, pressingly hard” he uses repetition in this line, repetition is a strong way to get a message across because as you repeat the same word or phrase over and over again it gets stuck into the audience’s head. “thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thin enemy” he uses antithesis to create contrast in his speech and bring in the audience’s attention as this will help him convey the message he wants to. He uses a rhetorical question “How do you go about loving your enemies?” This is a great way to engage with the audience, making them subconsciously answer his question and feel a part of his speech and they are able to interact with him. “The Doctor said it would be best for me to stay in bed this morning” It directly addresses the audience and brings up past notes that he has mentioned before. “You must begin by analyzing yourself” By saying this it conveys to the audience that whether or not they like or dislike a person it doesn’t hurt to approach them with love and positive energy, it gives the audience hope to form love around the world. As King uses rhetorical devices he can easily cajole the audience and can make a change as he promotes a new social aspect.

King’s last speech was ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’; it was on April 3, 1968, at Mason Temple in Memphis. It was the day before he was assassinated, he gave this speech in defense of protesting sanitation workers. On February 12, 1968, 1,300 African-American sanitation workers in Memphis went on strike in response to inadequate working conditions and low pay. They advocated for financial justice for employees of color as part of the civil rights movement. King advocates for peace, economic action, boycotts, and nonviolent protest. “Something is happening; something is happening in Memphis; something is happening in our world” he uses parallelism, by doing this he implants the message into the audience’s head trying to get their attention with the situation that has been addressed. He uses repetition as he says “I would” at the beginning of a new point that he would make in the first few parts of his speech. This gives him power, however, as he says “I would” it also implies that he ‘can’t’ as this can later lead on to the part of his speech where he talks about untimely death, his untimely death. “I can remember–I can remember” he uses repetition, however, between the lines he pauses creating a dramatic effect that can lure the audience in. As King uses strong rhetorical devices he is able to draw the audience in.

King was able to successfully inspire and encourage the crowd to seek freedom for all American citizens by referring to all three rhetorical components, pathos, logos, and ethos. He had a huge influence on American society during the 50s and 60s. His belief in nonviolent protest set the tone for the movement he was creating. In his speech, he incorporates Western history with Christianity. He takes quotations out of the bible which helps him promote social change, as he incorporates the beliefs of others within his speech.

A famous quote by Martin Luther King Jr. says, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that” (King qt. in Mindock). King demonstrated this quote in his daily life while fighting for civil rights. He believed that kindness had a greater impact than being contentious. King was a very important and influential leader in the American civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. made a great impact on the American civil rights movement by providing leadership in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and establishing the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, delivering his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and many other significant speeches.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia as Michael King Jr. He grew up in a middle-class family where his father and maternal grandfather were pastors for Ebenezer Baptist Church. “He never forgot the time when, at about age six, one of his white playmates announced that his parents would no longer allow him to play with King because the children were now attending segregated schools” (Carson and Lewis). King had one of his first experiences of racial segregation when he was six. That experience stuck with him throughout his life. At the age of twelve, he tried to commit suicide by jumping from a second-story window when he learned that his maternal grandmother, who he was very close to, died from a heart attack. He went to Crozer Theological Seminary for three years in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he was introduced to Gandhi’s nonviolence philosophy. As a teenager, he changed his name to Martin Luther King Jr. because he was inspired by Martin Luther.

One important movement that King led was the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Montgomery Improvement Association was forced by activists to boycott the transit system, so they chose King as their leader. “He had the advantage of being a young, well-trained man who was too new in town to have made enemies; he was generally respected, and it was thought that his family connections and professional standing would enable him to find another pastorate should the boycott fail” (Carson and Lewis). King was a great leader for the boycott because he didn’t have enemies yet and if it failed, he could find another pastor to lead. “We have no alternative but to protest. For many years we have shown amazing patience. We have sometimes given our white brothers the feeling that we liked the way we were being treated. But we come here tonight to be saved from that patience that makes us patient with anything less than freedom and justice” (King qt. in Mindock). King says that they have been patient, but they should start to stand up for themselves so they can achieve justice. King’s family’s safety was threatened, but he kept leading the boycott for a year until the buses were desegregated.

Another influential movement that King provided leadership for was the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was formed in 1957 as a nonviolence organization for “redeeming ‘the soul of America’” (“Southern Christian Leadership Conference”). The SCLC wanted to bring America back to how it started, with freedom. King stated, “This conference is called because we have no moral choice, before God, but to delve deeper into the struggle—and to do so with greater reliance on non-violence and with greater unity, coordination, sharing and Christian understanding” (King qt. in “Southern Christian Leadership Conference”). King believed that they must rely on nonviolence and unity to help them to obtain civil rights. Their first campaign was the Crusade for Citizenship. They wanted to be able to vote as a start to convince the nation to change its current conditions. They also helped with the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and other local movements for voting rights.

“I Have a Dream” is one of the most famous speeches in history delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. The founding fathers signed a promissory note that granted freedom and opportunities (“‘I Have a Dream Speech”). “Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds’” (King qt. in “‘I Have a Dream Speech”). King stated that the country had not carried out what they agreed to by treating the African Americans with less respect than other white people. Halfway through the speech, Mahalia Jackson told King to tell them about his dream, which led him to repeat the phrase “I have a dream” throughout the rest of the speech. King stated during the speech, “I have a dream that my four little 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” (King qt. in “‘I Have a Dream Speech”). King believed that one day there could be enough peace that his children would be able to have the same opportunities given to white children.

Before King’s assassination in April of 1968, he led a group of sanitation workers who were striking. Henry Loeb became mayor in 1968 and lowered the pay for black sanitation workers, including suspension of overtime pay. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People supported the strike. The City Council voted to increase the pay for the black sanitation workers, but Loeb rejected their vote and insisted that only he could increase their wages. “You are demonstrating that we can stick together. You are demonstrating that we are all tied in a single garment of destiny and that if one black person suffers if one black person is down, we are all down” (King qt. in “Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike”). After everyone joined in the strike to support the sanitation workers, King pointed out that if the African Americans stick together, they can achieve their goals.“We’ve got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end. Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point in Memphis. We’ve got to see it through” (King qt. in “Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike”). King inspired others to persevere through their fight for civil rights.

King was shot while standing on his second-floor balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee at 6:05 pm on Thursday, April 4, 1968. A policeman found a 30.06 Remington rifle next to the motel that led the FBI to James Earl Ray, a fugitive from prison in Missouri, who had fingerprints in an apartment in Atlanta, Georgia. They found out that he had rented a room in a motel on the second floor facing the Lorraine Motel across the street. James Earl Ray was brought over from Britain for his trial. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to ninety-nine years in prison, but later recanted his confession. The jury would not reopen his case, so he died in prison on April 23, 1998. At King’s funeral, a tape recording was played where King said, “I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others” (King qt. in “Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.”).

Martin Luther King Jr. served as an influential leader in many aspects of the American civil rights movement. King provided leadership during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and for the Southern Christian Leadership Association. He also delivered “I Have a Dream,” one of the most famous speeches in history. Before he was assassinated in 1968 at the Lorraine Hotel, he was a leader in the Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike. While there are still problems with racism today, Martin Luther King Jr. played an important role in gaining the same rights that white people had for the African Americans who lived in America.

The teenage years for an individual are the most impressionable and vulnerable period in one’s life. Add social media into the equation, and there can be some potentially harmful consequences to one’s mental health. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, social media is websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. When discussing social media platforms the most common apps that are included are Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. These are the social media platforms but without forgetting television and magazines play a role as well. As discussed below, the main consequences that can arise in the mental health of teenage and pre-teen adolescent females are lower self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. This means that exposure to mainstream media is directly causing these concerns to arise in teenage girls. For example, girls as young as 11-12 years old compared their body image unfavorably to those viewed on television (Lev and Bunumgarten 2014). Comment by Macie Keim: Some other way to stress the importance

With the female teenage population being exposed to these social networking platforms, it is almost inevitable that they are then exposed to the thin-ideal body image; The thin-ideal body image is what is portrayed through the media as the ideal body image of a woman, being tall and thin (Chang and Lee 2014). In other words, the standard to which this demographic is taught resembles societal pressures. This appearance-focused lifestyle that social media platforms permit, at times, encourage, can give these females the impression that their self-worth is based on their appearance. Consequently, self-worth tends to be lowered if they do not match up with societal ideals (Forbes 2012). A logical solution to this problem would be to normalize plus-size models; Considering the ideal body size is unattainable for most women, since 40% of women in the world are overweight and 15% are obese (Clayton 2017). The research that will be outlined throughout this analysis is not limited to the United States; Instead, it compares American ideals to other cultures around the world such as Argentinean, Brazilian, and Japanese ideals. To combat these health concerns, retailers are taking a stand to fight the traditionally thin ideal by incorporating average or plus-size models into their social media campaigns, which is essentially helping cure the thin-ideal body image (Clayton 2017). Essentially, the epidemic of body dissatisfaction for the female youth is derived from mainstream media. A realistic solution would be to expose these girls to more body-positive aspects of society and fashion. Fortunately, simply by normalizing plus-size models and raising awareness, the problem can become limited and less widespread. Alike other issues that are happening in society, it is easier said than done.

Most young girls grow up watching Disney princess movies; A stereotypical youth activity for most girls. Every princess character portrayed is slim and tall with an extremely tiny waist. This is potentially the first encounter these girls have with thin thin-ideal that society presents adolescents with. Researchers report that some children as young as five years old are concerned about their weight (Hayes 2010). Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that some children are aware of the thin ideal that exists and can identify dieting as a type of method to attain the ideal body (Hayes 2010). This is crucial in understanding the weight of this topic; Since the awareness of this stereotype begins at such a young age and is then present with these individuals throughout their life. Once an individual has a dissatisfied body image, it is then hard to overcome this internal battle.

Not to go without mention, different cultures have different idealistic body images. America’s idealistic body image is a tall and thin woman, as shown throughout the Disney princess movies. Nonetheless, in cultures such as Brazil, thinner bodies are associated with physical weakness. In this culture, a curvier-shaped woman with thicker thighs and hips is perceived as more attractive than those who do not (Forbes 2012). However, due to United States media exposure, the ideals of our culture are being shifted into Brazilian societies. Similarly to America, a body cult surrounding the perfect body is deeply embedded into Brazilian culture (Forbes 2012). Traditionally, as mentioned before, the idealistic image for these women is the guitar bodies; Which are the full hips, thighs, and buttocks accompanied by small breasts (Forbes 2012). With the influence of telenovelas and magazines, the optimal body type has drastically changed. Similarly to the American culture, the bodily pressures that our society presents its young women with come from the media.

Argentina on the other hand, is known for having extremely thin models. This culture is also known for having limited clothing sizes for women. In other words, there are very minimal options for plus-size women. In 2005, in the majority of stores, there were no sizes larger than a U.S. size 8 (Forbes 2012). It is estimated that 10% of adolescent girls in this society experience some form of an eating disorder (Forbes 2012). This is a direct result of the thin ideal that this society presents female adolescents with.

Modern Japanese values are shifting from collectivism towards individualism and personal freedom (Brokhoff and Mussap 2012). Collectivism views entail a society of conformity and obedience. The more individualistic views are the focus on appearance and physical self-improvement. The modernized culture of Japan has adopted modern media which promotes appearance values that differ from their previous generations (Brokhoff and Mussap 2012). This leads to the promotion of unrealistic body expectations for young Japanese females. This social structure has also been implemented in what could be referred to as a “shame culture; To add to this, it is predicted that this is the reason body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in Japanese girls is associated with the need for social approval and general appearance self-awareness (Brokhoff and Mussap 2012). Once again, these researchers suggest that the more connections that are made between body dissatisfaction, cultural differences, and the influence of social media, ultimately the more information we will have for creating a solution in the future.

Other researchers Ann-Marie Lew and Traci Mann discuss similar topics such as cultural pressures stemming from the media and its correlation to body dissatisfaction. As most research states, the mass media portrays an unrealistic body image of women; The adolescents who are beginning to mature are then expected to fit into these ideals to be considered beautiful. Numerous studies have been performed examining the relationship between upward social comparisons with idealized media imagery and the result of increased body dissatisfaction (Lew and Mann 2007). A proposal these researchers had was women with higher levels of body dissatisfaction can protect themselves from the negative effects of media exposure by comparing themselves in writing with media images of fashion models in non-appearance dimensions (Lew and Mann 2007). In other words, individuals who can handle the pressures of society without letting their self-image be altered as easily should continue their daily routines as far as social media; However, those individuals with lower self-esteem should alter their routines to reduce exposure.

As described above, research has shown the prevalence of this problem. It is important to understand the possible solutions to the thin ideal that has been suggested throughout the different articles. One is to become aware of the problem and alter social media tendencies accordingly. Another is to normalize plus-size models. The most logical solution to this ongoing problem would be to erase the stigma of thin, so-called beautiful, models and incorporate models who are average to plus size. In doing so, this allows the females growing up in a media-filled society to see other body types that are still viewed as model status.

Social media causing body dissatisfaction among individuals is a relatively new issue our society is facing. To put it into perspective, Friendster was one of the first major social networking sites which was launched in 2002 followed by Facebook in 2004. Seventeen years later the consequences are now noticeably catching up to the users. One may ask why the itch to erase the thin ideal is happening now opposed to years ago when it was first shown. Evelyn Wang, the senior vice president of Wet n’ Wild’, a drug store makeup brand, suggests an answer to that question; “It’s the fear of doing something differently. What if you do it and no one responds? It’s happening now because there’s been a buildup in demand from consumers who don’t want to see something unattainable or unrelatable. And the brands that are brave enough to do it are getting the acknowledgment and positive responses on social media” (Cheng 2017). Considering social media has become a driving force and undoubtedly an influencer to its users, it is crucial to promote these new and effective campaigns.

Brianna Marquez, a plus-size model for Wet n’ Wild, provides Glamour with a personal story expressing the effects the thin ideal has had on her adolescent life. She begins by declaring the hope of having more visibility, and more access to visual language and vocabulary around different types of beauty. She goes on to explain that this can empower the next generation to feel better about themselves. Marquez admits to growing up with shame surrounding her body. She continues by saying if she saw more women who looked like her in campaigns, everything would have been different (Cheng 2017). This is a first-hand example clarifying the importance of the issue that most girls are faced with. However, the quicker we as a society can reverse the trend the more hope there will be for the future generations of girls.

When expressing the different ways of raising awareness for a topic heavily influenced by social media, hashtags play a huge role in spreading the word. For example, Wet n’ Wild promoted the hashtag #BreakingBeauty which is ultimately trying to rewrite the standards of the term beautiful for women to acknowledge. Dove started another hashtag, #BeautyBias which is another endeavor to educate the general public on the bias that is shown throughout mainstream media. When the adolescent girls of society continue with their regular media routines, they should be able to see body positivity. Major companies such as Dove Beauty and Wet n’ Wild use hashtags on their pages and post pictures, ultimately taking the first step of combating this issue that growing girls are faced with- exposure to the thin ideal.

Fighting for Civil Rights Jeffrey Zhang What do civil rights mean? It is the civilian rights we have. Let’s go back to the past when it was segregation, where blacks and whites had a wall between them. That was a bad time. Now, when we look at it, we say how cruel it was and how horrible it was. But if you lived as a white back then, what would be your mind? You would probably think segregation was a good time. Today I will be talking about Ruby Bridges, Sylvia Mendez, and Martin Luther King Jr. These people fought for the Civil Rights Movement and shaped what is called today.

Ruby Bridges is a black person who went to a white-only school, William Frantz Elementary, at age 4. At that time, if blacks went to this school, it had some nasty side effects. This is because many parents were against integration, creating a harsh environment. On the first day of school, Ruby was crowded by a bunch of angry parents. My first support for Ruby Bridges is when she kept going to the white school. If I was Ruby, I would leave, the first day. Ruby would have done the same thing. She knew though, that she could rise above the rest and go to the white school. She stood up and shaped so much of the integrated schools today. Without her, this world would be so much different. Second, Ruby had an integrationist teacher. Although it was a one-man race in Ruby’s classroom, she had a friendly environment to work with. This contributed to at least 30% of her thoughts for staying in the white school. If the teacher wanted the schools to be segregated, Ruby’s probability of quitting would raise by a huge margin. Finally, Ruby took all these insults like she was a sponge soaking up water. One lady decided to make a coffin of Ruby, which translates to “You’re going to be poisoned”. It started a fire full of fears. Ruby was so scared and really didn’t want to go to the white school. But she knew what was right. Keep going to the white school, because Ruby deserved it. Ruby Bridges is such an inspiration for today and really defined the Civil Rights movement.

Sylvia Mendez is a Hispanic lady who was segregated from the white school for three years. Her family fought for Sylvia and her siblings’ education. Sylvia’s family went through so much to get this result. First, she was bullied on her first day of going to the white school One white kid said Sylvia belonged in the Mexican school. Sylvia, and all the other Mexicans did not deserve to be treated poorly. Sylvia and her family fought so much to get this far. Second, Sylvia’s family had so many people on their side. Then non-integrationists became outnumbered. Sylvia’s family didn’t just get the people. They earned the people. Sylvia’s family went to everybody they could to get an answer to why the schools are segregated. There was no good result until the court case happened. The court person said things that were anything but true about the Hispanics. Sylvia Mendez was an inspiration for the Civil Rights Movement and really fought for today. She even went on to win an award!

Martin Luther King Jr. Was a powerful Civil Rights activist who gave his heart-touching “I Have a Dream” speech in front of so many people. Martin Luther King Jr. was sent to Birmingham Jail and wrote the famous “Letters from Birmingham Jail”. But sadly, Martin got shot by James Earl Ray in April 4, 1968. This, of course, was a tragic death for everybody worldwide. Martin put a bomb in segregation and destroyed it. First, he had white friends. Martin was taking big risks by having white friends. Why is that, you may ask? It is a result many people really hating blacks and whites together and might harm a black and a white that are together. The bad people could even kill people or bomb houses. That’s not all. Secondly, Martin’s “I Have a Dream” speech was sincere to the heart. He impacted everyone not just because of the words, but how he read those words. Martin first read the words by paper but realized that his speech was more than a few pages of paper. He threw the paper away and read by the heart. Martin expressed himself, and every single bit of himself. Martin didn’t hesitate to say how he supported desegregating the community. Martin was a brave man. He didn’t care about how people would judge him. All he cared about was the community, and how the community lived.

Summary on Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. turned into the overwhelming pioneer in social equality development to end racial isolation and separation in America during the 1950s and 1960s (Martin Luther King Jr., March 21st), and was a main representative for peaceful techniques for accomplishing social change. His expressiveness as a speaker and his own charism—joined with a profoundly attached assurance to set up uniformity among all races in spite of individual hazard—won him an overall after. He was granted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and was chosen by Time magazine as the “ Man of the Year.” His ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, which is presently viewed as among the extraordinary talks of American history, is much of the time cited. His accomplishment in arousing the drive for social liberties, be that as it may, made him the objective of traditionalist segregationists who accepted immovably in the prevalence of the white race and dreaded social change(Martin Luther King Jr., March 21st). The significance of Martin Luther King is that he was the representative, the dependable nonentity and at last the saint for a development that changed the world by characterizing an essential idea of human and political association that is up ticked the degree of civilization around the world (Carter, 2019).

King’s goal of ending racial discrimination started by plotting out a movement of smaller goals that included neighborhood grassroots campaigns for equal rights for African Americans. In 1955, King got connected with his first major civil rights fight in Montgomery, Alabama, where transports were racially disconnected (Martin Luther King, March 23rd).

It was there that Rosa Parks(Martin Luther King, March 23rd), an African American woman, wouldn’t void her seat in the vehicle so a white man could sit in her place. She was caught for her civil noncompliance. Parks’ catch, an arranged system expected to begin a grassroots advancement, winning with respect to catalyzing the Montgomery transport boycott. Parks was picked by King as the face for his campaign because of Parks’ worthy outstanding associations with the system, her work and her marital status. Earlier in 1955, Claudette Colvin, a 15-year old African American youngster, had been caught for a comparable bad behavior; regardless, King and his civil rights companions didn’t feel that she would fill in as a practical face for their civil rights fight. Rosa Parks added to the image that King expected to show the world a crucial system in his close by battles (Martin Luther King, March 23rd).

With Parks in jail as an overcomer of Montgomery’s racism(Martin Luther King Jr, 2015), King had the alternative to develop a suitable response to her catch that incorporated the entire system. King amassed Montgomery’s African American social order to boycott the city’s open transportation, mentioning comparable rights for all inhabitants on open transportation there. Following a year-long boycott, a United States District Court overseeing in Browder v. Gayle restricted racial segregation on all Montgomery open buses. In various habits, the Montgomery transport boycott initiated a national fight to discard racial detachment, with King driving the way (Martin Luther King Jr, 2015).

The accomplishment of the Montgomery battle drove Dr. King and individual African American civil rights activists to shape the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957 (Martin Luther King Jr, 2015), whose procedure was to saddle the moral position and sort out the power of dim heavenly places to coordinate serene battles for civil rights change. “With King as its leader, the SCLC’s initial focus was to lead localized campaigns of desegregation in Southern cities like Albany, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; and St. Augustine, Florida that mirrored the Montgomery campaign.” In the entirety of the urban systems, King and a tremendous number of SCLC activists advanced toward express objectives: finishing segregation in only one zone, for example, burger joints, transports, schools, or shops(Martin Luther King Jr, 2015).

By causing the nation to see segregation, King transformed into a middle organizer, one of the ‘Enormous Six’ (Martin Luther King Jr, 2015), of the eminent 1963 March on Washington, which mentioned political and fiscal value for all Americans. It was an open entryway for King and his accessories to put their inclinations and objections before the nation’s capital, as conveyed by King in his prominent ‘I Have a Dream’ talk (Martin Luther King Jr, 2015). The March on Washington not just prompted the entry of fundamental civil rights request, at any rate it in addition permitted King to advocate for other human rights purposes like desperation and laborers’ rights

The heritage of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. includes compelling choices, great activities and unfaltering movements of philanthropic rights that reach a long way past civil rights development. A leader of all people (Carson & Lewis, 2020), Dr. King never picked fear, however consistently picked courageousness and assurance when battling for civil rights even with mistreatment, obliviousness and savagery. He would not permit jail, viciousness or the danger of death’s influence on his end crucial. Rather, he remained close to his objective of accomplishing rights for all through peaceful fights. Dr. King kept up a dream for a progressively assorted America where all individuals appreciated the advantages of balance (Carson & Lewis, 2020). During when the restriction executed enactment that retained rights from ethnic minorities and communicated disdain through beatings and killings, Dr. King kept on taking the more respectable option. He understood that brutality would play into the plan of the resistance (Dr. King’s Legacy, March 24th). He realized that a vicious counter would fit precisely into the accepted shape that many had framed with respect to civil rights activists. Hence, he continually lectured that peacefulness will eventually permit the restriction to win. Dr. King additionally comprehended the effect of binding together the majority in the push for one shared objective. Independently, accomplishing any huge advancement would be a test. All in all, he and other civil rights activists could influence approaches and impact change across the country. Dr. King’s leadership added to the general accomplishment of civil rights development in the mid-1900s and keeps on affecting civil rights developments in the present(Dr. King’s Legacy, March 24th).

Summary of his Biography

Martin Luther King Jr. transformed into the mind-boggling pioneer in the social uniformity advancement to end racial disengagement and partition in America during the 1950s and 1960s, and was a principal delegate for serene methods for achieving social change. He was allowed the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and was picked by Time magazine as the “Man of the Year.” His “I Have a Dream” discourse, which is by and by saw as among the remarkable discussions of American history, is a great part of the time referred to. He was caught on more than different occasions and had his home assaulted. Tragically, he was

How he had an impact on the world (legacy)

Similarly as with the lives of other major authentic figures, King’s life has been deciphered in new manners by progressive ages of researchers, a significant number of whom have caused to notice the urgent job of nearby black pioneers in the African American dissent developments of the 1950s and ’60s. Perceiving that grassroots activists, for example, Rosa Parks, Fred Shuttlesworth, and others arranged the path for King’s ascent to national noticeable quality, biographers and students of history have scrutinized the view that Southern black dissent developments depended on King’s appealing direction. For instance, however, he frequently minimized his commitment to the Montgomery transport blacklist, King’s persuasive initiative and his addresses assisted with changing a neighborhood fight over transport seating into a truly significant occasion. All the more by and large, investigations of King have proposed that his most huge commitment to the cutting edge African American opportunity battle was to connect black goals to extraordinary, broadly shared equitable and Christian beliefs. King likewise spoke to the hearts everything being equal, in this way fabricating well known help for civil rights change. His methodology of stressing peaceful dissent and interracial collaboration empowered him to battle adequately against the Southern arrangement of legitimized racial segregation and separation, however it likewise demonstrated insufficient during his last a long time as he tried to beat racial and monetary issues that were national in scope.

The historical significance of your event, how it shaped other events/happenings in this and other movements

Martin Luther was the representative of the individuals who, in a surprising grassroots development, practically self-impelled, were changing the symbol for the idea of ‘inadequacy,’ around the world. He was new out of school, taking his first occupation at a congregation in Montgomery. The congregation women had hand-picked an experiment they’d been sitting tight for as the impulse for a transport blacklist. Rosa Parks had been captured for declining to leave her seat to a white man . Individuals had enough living with that outrage and a large group of others in the Jim Crow south.

There is a theory about long oppressed populaces. They change in basic manners, adjustments to those conditions that make them exceptionally uncommon — extraordinary qualities. Right now, was never any military reaction or procedure accessible with which to manage what appeared to be an unfavorable dilemma. They were assigned with a permanent ‘marker’ as an unapproachable rank. Accordingly, a one of a kind methodology was built up that, no doubt, had saturated the DNA, culture-wide. Yet, what before long became evident was that he was the ideal individual to be speaking for them. He was somewhat shocked from the start, yet acknowledged his destiny and gave himself to this mass awareness.

What happened to that was an unpretentious however incredibly amazing change in the importance of one straightforward word — the word ‘racism.’ In the present-day utilization, not even racists can stand being called bigot. That is extremely progressive. You can take a gander at comparable situations around the globe, where comparative injuries have been caused on defenseless individuals and there are no practically identical words. Rather, words like ‘triumph’ or ‘bosses’ are bandied about by those praising their prosperity over what they consider to be inherently undeserving subhumans.

The significance of Martin Luther King is that he was the delegate, the trustworthy nothing worth mentioning and finally the holy person for an advancement that changed the world by portraying a fundamental thought of human and political affiliation that is up ticked the level of civilization around the globe.

What issue was he fighting for/how he solved it?

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man who battled for civil rights for all residents. He was a minister who instructed everybody that they should be peaceful regardless of what others did to them. When King went to class, the schools were isolated (white individuals went to one school and black individuals to another school). Most places (transports, cafés, parks, theaters, and so on.) in the southern states were isolated.

On transports, black individuals needed to sit in the rear of the transport and surrender their seats to white individuals. On December 1, 1955, a woman named Rosa Parks wouldn’t surrender her seat on the transport to a white man. She was captured. King required a blacklist of the transports. This blacklist kept going longer than a year and the transport organizations were requested to end segregation on their transports. Martin Luther King got celebrated during this time.

He was an extraordinary speaker and turned out to be notable everywhere throughout the world for his addresses. In 1963, his discourse ‘I Have A Dream’ was given in Washington, D.C. to in excess of 200,000 individuals who had come there to request civil rights for everybody in America. His talks and his work prompted the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which disallowed segregation. He likewise got the Nobel Peace Prize for his work.

Numerous individuals couldn’t help contradicting King. Some white individuals imagined that black individuals ought not be dealt with similarly and they made it hard for them to cast a ballot, to go to any school they needed, to be dealt with well and be busy working. Some black individuals figured King should utilize any route conceivable to get changes going. Some youthful black individuals figured they should utilize viciousness against the brutality of the white individuals. In any case, King consistently instructed that, in any event, when they were assaulted by others, they ought not retaliate. He said that would just prompt more difficulty and that it would be against the goals of Christianity.

Works Cited

1. Carson, Clayborne, and David L. Lewis. “Legacy.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 11 Mar. 2020, www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr/Legacy.
2. Carter, Linda. “Historical Significance.” Quora, Jan 21, 2019, https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-historical-significance-of-Martin-Luther-King
3. Tavaanatest. “Martin Luther King, Jr: Fighting for Equal Rights in America.” Tolerance, 11 June 2015, tolerance.tavaana.org/en/content/martin-luther-king-jr-fighting-equal-rights-america.
4. “A Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” MLK 50, mlk50.civilrightsmuseum.org/dr-kings-legacy.
5. Martin Luther King, aenet.esuhsd.org/Citizenship_lessons/connie/mlk_q.html.
6. “Martin Luther King Jr.” HistoryNet, www.historynet.com/martin-luther-king-jr.

The United States is a country where everything makes it great through its prosperity of the economy, and this country stands out as an independent nation. Everything involving the laws, the constitutions, the government, and the freedom of people is presented through the will and pride of its people: American citizens as a whole. An independent nation is what the world sees America as, as it demonstrates this in every aspect, from how the country pursues its development through the American Dream, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, etc.

America is a freedom nation that is described in its national anthem as “The land of the freedom and the home of the brave”, which claims to be the land of the free because men are free here to do whatever they wish, the remaining words “We are the home of the brave” demonstrate Americans are courageous, as shown by the history of their pioneers who settled vast open lands. This country represents the principles of independence and freedom, which allows people with different ethnic, backgrounds, genders, and colors to gather together as one nation. As a non-American, I feel that the best part of living in America is the opportunity to live within the American Dream, which is one of the most significant components of what makes America great in the eyes of the world. The American Dream is a common universal phrase where freedom and opportunity both lead people to reach their impossibilities at work. In other words, the American Dream plays a definite motive for hardworking people to achieve their goals. When people have opportunities and passions, they become motivated and start to recognize what they need to prepare to pursue their dreams. America is the country that allows this dream to people because not many countries throughout the world have an idea for their people like this.

Besides, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the freedom to become who we want to be are all factors that make America great in the eyes of the world. Americans should be grateful for they are a part of a nation that guarantees liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness. America has been built upon an idea of democracy and freedom, which shows the uniqueness of the nation. This country is blessed with all the great big things such as technological advancements, high security, high standards of living, more opportunities for social mobility, and much more. For 240 years, patriotic Americans and all successful leaders have worked hard to establish this nation. Americans waged wars against poverty, fought for their moral values, created the world’s largest economy, and made sacrifices to make this nation as great as it is today.

The world sees the United States as a patriotic nation that loves its country. The flag of the USA is not seen only on Independence Day or public or national days. Instead, they display their flag everywhere in the country. America is also an economically wise nation. Americans care about global perception as it helps them grow economically. Tourism, foreign direct investment, and international trade are helping in investing in the country’s economy.

Americans are considered the most liberal and open-minded people in the world. It is probably because of the diverse population and the civil rights movement in the state. Within the last few years, American culture has become extraordinarily modernized and spread out all over the world. Americans share nationalism, a sense of pride, and love for their country. America is the ideal country for someone looking to live without fear of their government, where America’s values are based on the Constitution and Bill of Rights to protect their freedoms and beliefs. People can practice religion freely, show their beliefs of what they believed about their country, and raise freedom of speech or votes for the government. Living in a nation that allows freedom, opportunity, and dreams to come true is why the United States is perceived as an exceptional and unique country.

As a foreigner coming to America, I find considerable differences in the standards of living. The roads are clean, the traffic rules and signs are accurate and precise, and things can be easily bought from the big American stores that have a variety of things. The truth is that this great American nation has achieved greater social equality and equality of rights than any other society. One of the American values is equality. According to the Constitution, “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union”, which is a pronouncement that implies a group of individuals coming together to speak with equal voice and authority. Equality is an important principle because it is a fundamental truth in the universe. Equality is about ensuring that each person has an equal and same level of opportunity to fulfill their lives and to prove his or her own skills. This point carries on the meaning of social equality as a state of affairs in which all types of people have the same representation in certain respects, including freedom of speech, civil rights, human rights, property rights, and equal access to social mobility. America allows freedom of speech, which is a principle to practice human rights. It establishes how all human rights are involved in a specific society to help citizens live and behave well to their own will. The ability to express each own opinion and speak freely is essential to bring about change in America’s society. Another aspect that makes America great in the eyes of the world is the voting system. The United States of America is a society built on the principles of democracy. Every citizen donates immense significance to the voting system. Voting and democracy are very important in America because it provides people an opportunity to voice their opinion and vote for what they believe in, it acknowledges the faith and power each citizen has to play its part in deciding their fate along with the state. Moreover, votes matter to a great extent in determining the future of America. It is very significant because it is characterized by the participation and intent of the citizens through a proactive electoral process.

In summary, the world’s view of America is primarily to see it as a land of opportunity, a great nation because it believes in democracy, freedom, and the right to a good life. In a country where individuality and independence are preached endlessly, America establishes itself as a wonderful country with great opportunities for freedom, high security, and high standards of living.

“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by his own admission, was a man constantly torn between competing forces, movements, and even identities.” (Moreland, 25) He was a civil rights activist who had a dream and desired a need for the American nation to have equal freedom and be united. He began a campaign, known as the civil rights movement, by his strong belief in civil disobedience and nonviolent protest. In the “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. establishes his argument by enacting himself as authority for the audience, presents and states facts of racial discrimination, and addresses emotional appeal in order to advocate for immediate action to take place.

King establishes authority and credibility on the issue of racial discrimination and injustice. He starts off his letter with “My Dear Fellow Clergymen.” He does this to assure them that he isn’t better than them nor they are any better than him. Also, by the knowledge of the audience, he echoes his situation relating to scholars by having a reasonable tone and being comprehensive. King references to important figures such as Neihbur, Paul’s epistle in the Bible, and Thoreau who refuses to pay taxes and has civil disobedience. Socrates who is Plato’s teacher and laid down life for cause of truth and his dialectic is his methodology. Equally, he referenced to theologian Paul Tillich by implying on page 8 “Paul Tillich has said that sin is separation.” King strongly disobeyed segregation laws in which it caused the separation of people. On the other hand, he references to Jesus from the Bible. By ascertaining one of Jesus teachings, “love your enemies, bless them that curse you and pray for them that despitefully use you.” (12) He explains that Jesus was an extremist in love, in response to him being called an extremist. Along with acknowledging the clergymen as “men of genuine goodwill” on page 2, “… I feel that you are men of genuine goodwill and your criticisms are sincerely set forth…” This can be identified as borderline flattery as King sets common ground and agrees only where he can agree. Concessions support people’s rights and allow them to be aware of how others perceive. “We, therefore, concur with your call for negotiation.” (5) King agrees to have negotiations and they agreed as well such as taking the down racial signs from the stores in Birmingham. Sadly, the signs weren’t taken down, “As the weeks and months unfolded we realized that we were the victims of a broken promise. The signs remained.” (3)

Subordinately, King creates and states his facts clearly of the issues. On the first page on paragraph 2 he implies, “We have some eight-five affiliate organizations all across…” Furthermore, he explained his reason being in Birmingham and him serving as president for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference acquiring full knowledge on the issues. Moreover, stating the categorical argument of Plato and the Justinian Code known as “Gods Law”. The indicated code is a law that is only a good law if it participates in God’s law. He also stated a categorical argument by mentioning, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” (2) Following, the 1954 supreme court decision, a federal law which ruled against segregation. King had full knowledge of it by articulating “Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, it is rather strange and paradoxical to find us consciously breaking laws.” (7) Also, racial profiling was widely seen all around the nation over existing local Birmingham. “When your first name become “nigger” and your middle name becomes “boy” (however old you are) and your last name becomes “John,” when your wife and mother are never given the respected title “Mrs.;”. (6) Then, King appeals to the sense of community by stating and talking about agitators. “Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outside in this country.” (2) Generally speaking, King does not want anyone to feel like an outsider. He advises people to be prepared due to them getting attacked referencing to them to make an ultimate sacrifice. King defines the term nonviolent direct action on page 4, “…seeks to create such crisis and establish such creative tension that a community that has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.” People were brutalized and did not fight back, Bull Connor referenced as Mr. Connor on King’s letter is the main figure which poses white hatred and opposition in power. “When we discovered that Mr. Connor was in the run-off, we decided again to postpone action so that the demonstrations could not be used to cloud the issues.” (4) King and his movement wanted Mr. Connor overthrown and avoided him.

Once King laid out his argument then he plead to emotional appeal in order for the clergymen and citizens to step forward and make a change. He explains discrimination and injustice, “When you are harried by day and haunted by night the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tip-toe stance never quite knowing what to expect, and plagued with inner fears and outer resentments…” (6-7) King is stating how he and other negroes live their life’s traumatized and with immense fear due to being singled out day by day. He also explains the events he’s observed on page 6, “But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and father at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim…” This gives full detail for one to envision what people went through. King’s uses imagery to illustrate the audience to understand the pain and emotion he went through during hard times. He did this to keep the audience reading in order to justify his argument for the fellow clergymen. Additionally, King describes how disheartened he is with the church “But the judgement of God is upon the church as never before. If the church of today does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authentic ring, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century.” (17) King is in panic and urges for the church to make a change before people lose faith and change their behavior. In other words, people would lose their norms and the church would then be identified as “an irrelevant social club.” This would most definitely make the clergymen take immediate action due to the insulting reference King made. At the closing of the letter, King hopes that the nation will come to an agreement and end racism. “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities…the radiant stars of love and brother hood will shine over our great nation with all of their scintillating beauty.” (20) In other words, if his wish becomes accomplished by the individuals the dark clouds of the storm will end and the sun will come out and enlighten the nation.

Martin Luther King Jr. establishes himself as a credible writer in his letter by stating facts and supports them with experiences he had himself and witnessed by the use of ethos and logos make a well-rounded argument. He shares compassion and emotional appeal in hope for a change by the use of pathos. He had an utmost dream to make the nation equal and have a better future by ending racial discrimination and segregation. An individual who demonstrates goodwill, the person behind rhetoric such as this national hero, Martin Luther King Jr. makes it stupendously great.

During the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King Jr. believed that the involvement of America in the war was unjust. King thought that America was too focused on a war that didn’t involve them. He thought the war became harmful to not only people in Vietnam but even civilians in America, innocent people had died when they shouldn’t have. King had said that America had diverted attention away from the programs to aid poor people and focused more on Vietnam. Finally, he felt that there would’ve been a precedent for America, and that they would have to step into every war they weren’t involved in.

Martin Luther King had said the war was “accomplishing nothing”, and he disliked the war. “The bombs in Vietnam explode at home—they destroy the dream and possibility for a decent America.”[Link] King believed in peace and had led an anti-war march, leading 10,000 people on April 10, 1967. King was convinced that the Vietnam War was one of the most unjust wars in history. He also thought it would be morally correct to have a peaceful, non violent war, immediately. King also thought there was too much money being spent inefficiently without second thought.

King believed that there needed to be a better balance in Financial Priorities and the Vietnam War, because King felt like they were only focusing on Vietnam. “Millions of dollars can be spent every day to hold troops in South Vietnam and our country cannot protect the rights of Negroes in Selma.” [Link] King felt like there was a need for a great concern about peace and how that would help better America if there continued to be someone who spoke out. King believes that America shouldn’t abuse their power and harm the innocent in Vietnam although they might disagree with the rulers there.

King gave the ‘Beyond Vietnam’ speech stating that America had sent out poor unequal black men and sent them to Southeast Asia, promising freedom but they didn’t even had freedom back home. “The war was doing far more than devastating the hopes of the poor at home…We were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem.” [Link] King believed that the war diverted attention away from the programs that aided the black poor. He had also saw three main problems in the nation which was poverty, racism, and the Vietnam War.

In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr. had believed that the war America had been forcefully involved in was unjust and unnecessary. He had thought that there was too much money being spent when it was useless. Their attention had been primarily on the Vietnam War instead of their people and how they’re living. Many innocent people had died from Vietnam and even the poor in America. Not only had the innocent died, but America had sent people to fight and be free but gave false hope because they weren’t even free where they lived currently.

Often times, some of the most impactful moments are not planned, nor do they come in the best of tidings. This is no exception for Robert Kennedy’s words on the assassination of Martin Luther King Junior. The speech, which was largely improvised moments before it was given, was initially intended to be a routine stop for Kennedy’s presidential campaign trail. “Then, a rumor began circulating that someone had tried to assassinate Martin Luther King, Jr., but that he had survived” (Evans). However, to the predominantly African American group gathered in Indianapolis, the news of King’s death was nothing but a rumor. “Kennedy was very late, which was not unusual for political rallies, and people started to get restless” (Evans). Kennedy recognized the importance King held in the community and thought it was hardly a time for self endorsement. Robert Kennedy’s words on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death was extremely influential because of its emotional effect on the audience, its connection to the civil rights movement, and its ability to connect people.

One major reason Robert Kennedy’s words on Martin Luther King’s death was so influential was the emotional impact it had on its audience. That night over one hundred riots broke out across America. In Washington DC, riots became extreme. Over a dozen people died, and the destruction caused by rioters remained in DC well into the 1970s. Martin Luther King Junior had been a symbol of hope throughout the Civil Rights movement. When that symbol was killed, especially at the hands of a white man, many people viewed this as the end of justice. The racial divide that MLK had fought so tirelessly to destroy was reignited in one night. That night in Indianapolis, there was no rioting. The Hoosier crowd listened intently to Kennedy’s words, holding on to what he said. The silence was intimidating; nobody knew what to expect. “They pleaded with Kennedy not to go,” said Rosenwald, speaking of all the campaign aids and family members included on Robert’s trail. They considered it too dangerous, the crowd would not take well to this news given by a white man. Residents near the rally site had seen angry men carrying weapons and cans of gas. The attendees went home that night with King’s mission in mind. Kennedy’s ability to galvanize the people into compassion, rather than anger. Robert Kennedy had convinced them that the way to honor MLK was not to fight for him, but rather carry on his philosophy of peaceful protest in the pursuit of change.

Another reason why Robert Kennedy’s Martin Luther King speech was so influential was the connection it holds to the civil rights movement. At the time it was given, the nation was working hard to pass the civil divides that separated Americans. Martin Luther King Junior was a major leader in the civil rights movement. Before King came around, the progression of civil rights was “turbulent, and the year before had been a violent one” (Stack). King preached the art of peaceful protest and encouraged others to bridge the gap rather than separate others. These ideas were so important; as peaceful protest made it possible to finally get the equal rights they were fighting for. However, the assassination of Martin Luther King Junior held back what he was fighting to accomplish. King was killed by James Earl Ray, a notorious racist who showed great disgust toward civil rights. This was so symbolic for individuals striving for equal rights; it showed the close-minded people they were trying to defeat were biting back. Ray killed the one man that those seeking change looked up to more than anyone. Robert Kennedy, however, reminded the audience in Indianapolis that King would not have wanted them to let this divide them. Kennedy said to carry on his legacy by praying for our country, and the people went home as mourners rather than rioters.

One last reason why it was so inspirational was its ability to connect people.

It has been said many times that Robert Kennedy was the only white person who could have given that speech. “Kennedy learned that King had been shot as he boarded a plane for Indianapolis. When it landed, a reporter told Kennedy that King was dead” (Rosenwald). He understood what this meant to others. His sympathy for others stemmed from the assassination of his brother, John F. Kennedy, only a few years earlier. In the speech, Kennedy says, “I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man.” By the time of this speech, it was widely accepted that John F. Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963 while riding in a motorcade in Dallas. Oswald was similar to James Ray, in the sense that they both held a deep hatred for the liberal ideas John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King were attempting to enact. Robert’s words considering the death of his brother resonated deeply with the audience, as it was “…addressed, for the first time in public” (“Robert Francis Kennedy”). Robert Kennedy had a level of understanding for African American people that many people, even his brother, did not have at the time. “He was the only white man who had the credibility and the courage to go into the black community and talk about Martin Luther King and acknowledge what he represented and mourn for him” (Stack). He was understanding to all people. The speech resonated with that audience to the point where they did not blame one group of people for what happened. Kennedy encouraged them to not turn on one another at this time, even though it would be easy to put blame on others. He said that they needed to pray for each other, and look out for each other together as a country.

Robert Kennedy’s words on the death of Martin Luther King Junior had an undeniable importance in history due to the fact it connected people, its historical significance, and its impact on the audience. Robert Kennedy helped connect the country at a time when it would have been so easy to seclude others. Robert Kennedy was one of the only people that could have done this, and this this proves its significance to history.

Works Cited

1. Evans, Mary. “I Was There For Robert Kennedy’s Electrifying Speech about MLK’s Murder.” History, AUG 31, 2018. https://www.history.com/news/robert-f-kennedy-speech-martin-luther-king-assassination-1968
2. Ollhoff, Jim. Civil Rights Movement. Abdo & Daughters, 2011. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,geo,url,ip&geocustid=s8475741&db=nlebk&AN=393568&site=eds-live&scope=site.
3. “Robert Francis Kennedy.” Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, May 2019, p. 1. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,geo,url,ip&geocustid=s8475741&db=khh&AN=134523657&site=eds-live&scope=site.
4. Rosenwald, Michael S. “‘That stain of bloodshed’: After King’s assassination, RFK calmed an angry crowd with an unforgettable speech.” The Washington Post, April 4, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/04/03/that-stain-of-bloodshed-after-kings-assassination-rfk-calmed-an-angry-crowd-with-an-unforgettable-speech/
5. Stack, Liam. “When Robert F. Kennedy Told an Indianapolis Crowd of King’s Assassination.” The New York Times, April 4, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/us/king-rfk-speech.html

Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated on 4th April 1968. He was an activist who organized peaceful demonstrations to seek for the freedom and the rights of the minority populations in America particularly the people of color. Before and after him, there were other activists killed in America but his assassination stood out among many others because fifty years later, its impacts could still be felt (Seeger, and Reiser). America is still under recovery after the death of Martin Luther King as can be seen through incidents of economic injustice, racial inequality and peace issues within the society. The beloved community that King wanted to make better seems to have returned to its original status. This assassination was a big turning point for America. There is so much history before and after it happened (Frank 195). It is also one of the America’s most famous, memorable assassinations that we have had. The American society changed a great deal after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr especially in terms of the plight of the people of color.

At the time of his assassination, King was struggling to attain racial and economic equality for not only the people of color but for all people in society with a major concern of vulnerable and discriminated persons (Seeger, and Reiser). However, after his assassination, little has been done because today, people are still struggling for racial equality in America. There are possibilities that the racial discrimination incidents have intensified in the fifty years after his death because other activists and organizations have not been as passionate as King was while presenting his point about racial and economic equality (Hofstetter 175). Many people of color still have it rough in American society as a result of the constant incidents of racial discrimination that they often experience. It appears that King died with his freedom ideologies and the struggle for racial equality stopped with him.

In one of his famous speeches before he died, King had a dream that someday a person of color may govern America among other issues he mentioned in the dream. In 2008 when Barrack Obama was elected president of the United States, many people believed that King’s dream had been fulfilled (Seeger, and Reiser). At least in that incident among many other incidents there was a positive change towards the liberation and freedom of the people of color at least after the death of King. For the first time the majority of the people of color started feeling like they belonged to the nation as citizens and not as slaves and a minority (Frank 195). After the election of Barrack Obama as the first black president of the United States, so many people believed that their lives had changed (Fairclough). The women and boys and other persons may confess that the era of Barrack Obama brought hope to the people of color about their freedom and equal rights.

The efforts of King during his time were more than civil rights movement but more of a national political mobilizing agent that drew the attentions of other people to help in constructing an all inclusive society (Cook). The issues he addressed during his time were necessary for the society because they were focused at building America into a new place with prosperity for all people (Seeger, and Reiser). The fact that King was to some extent fighting for the rights of all people in society through is human rights movements also made his movement strategic and helpful for the better of the all people including the white people some of who took part in killing him. Conversely, after his death, nothing has happened to change the unfair economic composition for both the people of color and the white people (Cook). The struggles prove that the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr influenced the progress of the nation in different ways such as stalling its growth.

King was not only a dreamer but he implemented some of the ideas he believed would have changed America. Through his dream to combat civil war for instance saw him denounce the Vietnam War exactly a year before his assassination (Seeger, and Reiser). He was a noble man who was mindful of his nation in different ways that would have helped in making the nation better had he not been assassinated. Had he not been assassinated, the world would have been such a different place. With the peaceful mentality with which King works, who knows if he was still alive, if we would have had our society go a different way.

The other reason that proves that the assassination of King was impactful for the nation and other parts of the world was the fact that he joined the Black Power activists to denounce the Vietnam War before breaking up with the then president Lyndon B. Johnson because he wanted to create an-anti poverty crusade that would also involve the issues of the people of color, gender and class among other discriminative factors (Seeger, and Reiser). He was observant enough to realize that his friendship with the president would jeopardize his idea for improving the lives of the vulnerable people in society and so he avoided him to create better lives for other people (West). Nevertheless, the sacrifices he made seems to be in vain because the modern-day society is challenged by higher incidents of discrimination in terms of race, class and gender among other means of discrimination. The failure by the nation to acquire equality in its sensitive sectors like the economic sector proved that the assassination of King was impactful for the growth of society.

The other reason that made the assassination of King more significant in the history of the nation is the fact that immediately after his assassination, twenty-five cities in America exploded in violence and several soldiers were ordered to guard the White House in Washington (Seeger, and Reiser). It was also the one time that activists like Carmichael called for a revolution openly because they believed that the nation needed a change in order to stop such incidents like careless killings. The impact of the violence on the economy of the United States could still be felt today where several economic challenges result from the difference in state ideologies (Frank 195). The havoc did not settle well with the nation and for that reason many people suffered from within the nation.

Even through the civil rights movements seemed to lack direction after the death of King for lack of a leader, the plight of the poor and other vulnerable people in society pushed other activists to revive the course and seek democracy (Seeger, and Reiser). The movements intensified but they lacked the energy with which King implemented on them hence it was quite difficult for the movements to assert the necessary pressure on the government and other responsible organizations to ensure equality in society (King). As the nation mourned him, elections were nearing and all leaders attended his funeral except the president (Cook). The majority of the speeches at the funeral called for a change in the American society such that people would have equal rights. The call for equality turned out to be a way of remembering him although his intentions and targets had unfortunately failed.

It could also be true to claim that the assassination of King was meant to show the leadership system in America. The leaders of the nation wanted to maintain a system of power, which King was a threat to hence he had to be eliminated (Seeger, and Reiser). The culpability of the nation became evident when for instance, Presidents Nixon rode on the law and order that flourished the nation after the death of King into power. The system proves that there is a particular style of leadership that King threatened through his fight for equal rights for all people without discrimination (West). Had King not died, the leadership system would have changed but it is still used today because it gives more powers to the leaders than it considers the citizens and that is the reason why it is preferred by many people.

Many people have been assassinated in America especially activists but their deaths have not been as impactful as that of Martin Luther King Jr who was assassinated on April 4th 1968. He was an activist who organized peaceful protests while fighting for the rights of the people of color and other vulnerable people in society. The impacts of his death could still be experienced today through the struggle for freedom and the incidents of discrimination against the people of color. After his death, greater violent protests were experienced in twenty-five states of the United States like never before. Although his ideologies vanished with him, it was important that the civil rights movements continued with the struggle for economic freedom and against racial discrimination at least as part of his remembrance. The other valuable thing about his assassination is that some of his dreams like that of a black American president was fulfilled with Barrack Obama as the president hence his ideas rein.

Works Cited

1. Cook, Robert. Sweet land of liberty?: the African-American struggle for civil rights in the twentieth century. Routledge, 2013.
2. Fairclough, Adam. ‘Was Martin Luther King a Marxist?.’ History Workshop. Editorial Collective, History Workshop, Ruskin College, 1983.
3. Frank, Gerold. ‘An American Death.’ (1972): 195.
4. Hofstetter, C. Richard. ‘Political disengagement and the death of Martin Luther King.’ The Public Opinion Quarterly 33.2 (1969): 174-179.
5. King, Martin Luther. The Words of Martin Luther King. Fount Paperbacks, 1985.
6. Seeger, Pete, and Bob Reiser. Everybody says freedom. WW Norton & Company, 1989.
7. West, Cornel. ‘Dr. King weeps from his grave.’ The New York Times 25 (2011).