Martin+Luther+King,+Jr.

“It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world; it’s nonviolence or nonexistence. That is where we are today.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. (Carson). This quote was asserted by the one and only Martin Luther King Jr., the man who changed America. Living during a period where there was much inequality, King strove for justice and equality for all African Americans. As a result of King’s unwavering efforts to create true equality within the United States, his legacy continues on forth to this very day. To this day, Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a man who is the symbol of equality and justice.
 * Introduction **

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of many problems that shaped him into who he is today. He was born around 1920 to around 1968. Mr. King was very religious; he was a Christian and a public speaker to many churches all around the United States (Carson). He was very known well for being an African American to change the world. He was a smart and caring man that everyone looked up to and wanted to be friends with. Martin Luther King, Jr. was very active in movements to help improve the world. His family was very caring and loving; his father was an active Baptist. This is one of the reasons why he grew up to be an activist as well (The Unfinished Dialogue). Not only was Martin Luther King, Jr. an activist, he was a veteran activist. This means that he has participated in wars, and strives for excellence. He was a civil rights advocate and one of many leaders. He inspired others to do what they wanted in life. His first child was born a few weeks before Rosa Parks's arrest (To Walk in Dignity). He was a rather calm man, and not into the whole violent act. Because he was a motivational speaker, he was forced to travel back and forth a lot. This caused him to have a very limited amount of time with his family and time to lead the events that he started (Honey).
 * Personal Background **

Martin grew up with his father and grandfather who were both committed to protestant social gospel. This caused Martin Luther King, Jr. to grow up influenced by social democratic politics. One of the many reasons why he is loved and admired by others. Also, because Martin Luther was a kind hearted man, he also supported hospital strikes. Despite the situation being either good or bad, he encouraged many others to do what they please (Jackson). In total, Martin Luther King, Jr. had four beautiful children with his wife. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in America as well as his children. He was well respected and appreciated by his peers and followers (McCabe).


 * Personality Traits **

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Martin Luther King, Jr. was a very friendly and optimistic man that worked hard to achieve his desired goals. To start off, Martin Luther King, Jr. was very intelligent and knowledgeable. He participated in many strikes and protests; he was also a very active man in very tough decision making situations. A role model is what many called him, for many men and women looked up to him due to his kind heart and wellbeing (Carson). Mr. King was very understanding to everyone that was around him. Not only was Martin Luther King, Jr. friendly and outspoken, he happened to be very wise as well. By trying to make others happy and satisfied, he proved to be a strong leader in many citizens eyes. He was a strong-willed man who did not take no for an answer and tried everything he could to make something possible (The Unfinished Dialogue). =====

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Martin Luther King, Jr. was a hard working man who put all dedication into making something achievable. He was extremely positive, even about situations that he thought would not go in his desired direction. Being a positive leader, with both awareness and appreciation, Martin Luther King, Jr. persuaded many people to support his decisions and beliefs. He was a very convincing man that many citizens put their trust into. Even though he was judged and told differently by other people, Martin Luther King, Jr. was courageous by ignoring the comments and striving for what he believed in. He appreciated every single thing he had in life and made the best out of everything. By making bold decisions and using wise words in speeches, he was called a leader among many of his followers. He was the type of leader that was generous and swell, which made people love him even more (To Walk in Dignity). =====

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He was dedicated to all his choices and encouraged many others to aim for what his or her ambition was. As he called himself, he was a dreamer of shattered dreams. He was honorable, mature, and heartening (Jackson). Martin Luther King, Jr. was determined to make not only his own, but everyone else’s dreams come true. He made bold choices that would help his fellow companions benefit and feel satisfied at the same time. Not only was he wise, he was brave as well. Without Martin Luther King, Jr. making the choices that he did, the world would not be at the place it is now (McCabe).By being both decisive and optimistic, Martin Luther King, Jr. lived up to his supporters’ expectations. He fulfilled his promises and supported many causes that helped make the world a better place to live on (Honey). =====

Martin Luther King, Jr. faced many problems on his road to success. He lived in the stage of racism, which caused him to struggle with the African American struggle also known as racism. One of the many complications that Martin Luther King, Jr. had to face was self-doubt. Even though he looks confident, he always had something in the back of his mind that caused him to doubt himself. He faced many critical judgement to his face by others, and fear. Martin Luther King, Jr. was afraid his hard work would be for nothing and it would all go to waste (Carson). Adding onto his obstacles, he lived during the age of Depression. Mr. King was jailed as well due to his revolts and strikes that he either participated in or lead (The Unfinished Dialogue). To say that Martin Luther King, Jr. lived a simple life is far from the truth, he faced many issues. He has had his life, and even his family threatened. As said so himself, he gets so busy sometimes that he hardly has time to breathe. Because he has been jailed, he was forced into trial as well (To Walk in Dignity). There are many more troubles that this strong willed man had to face. For one, he struggled for the right to unionize and also struggled for more human rights for blacks. Martin Luther battled conflict pressures as well as battled for freedom. Because of all the battles that he lead and engaged in, the violence between whites and blacks increased even more (Honey).
 * Obstacles **

Martin Luther King, Jr. struggled a long hard journey to get to the point he is today, honored and respected. He was forced into segregation and exploitation in which he was taken advantage of and tortured by the enemies he made. Martin Luther King, Jr. basically had no political independence, he lived poorly and in a harsh society. These things did not stop Martin Luther King, Jr. from stopping what he worked so hard for, he continued his actions even if his own human rights were threatened. He encouraged respect for black person hood and motivated many with his powerful, meaningful words (Jackson). His actions did not go unnoticed, Martin Luther King, Jr. was beaten and cursed at for his behavior. The situations get really serious, some as to where at one point, his house got bombed by people who did not exactly support his ideas. Martin Luther King, Jr. chose to walk a dangerous road full of obstacles to fight for what he believed was right (McCabe).

Martin Luther King, Jr. is a man who has done much to change the history of the world he loves and cares for. Because of his burning passion and dedication to his goals, today there is a day that is named after this strong willed man to honor his great work. Other than leading strikes and encouraging others to do what he or she believed in, he also has three published books as well as many spectacular articles. Through his works, Martin Luther King, Jr. has helped others understand the African American struggle from a whole different perspective. He has also delivered many speeches that many citizen’s looked up to and respected (Carson). Martin Luther King, Jr. is known for his hard work and many more; however his “I Have Dream” speech that he delivered before his assassination. This wise spoken man has made many others see the world in a much different point of view. Mr. King believed in non violent resistances, in which caused many tragedies. Because of his bold and daring decisions, Martin Luther King, Jr. is labeled as a positive, black role model (The Unfinished Dialogue).
 * Historical Significance **

In the place Memphis, also known as where his assassination took place, Mr. King is known to be true. Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged many blacks to fight and protest against injustice. Because of all his hard doing, Martin Luther earned voting as well as civil rights for blacks. His heartfelt books inspired others to chase his or her life long dreams (Honey).A famous march in 1958 that Martin Luther has lead is the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This march was quite big and a big deal that many newspapers have published about it. Martin Luther King, Jr. established a Social and Political Action Committee that helped keep audiences politically informed and involved. Many say that his speeches were all heartening, inspiring, exhilarating, and uplifting (To Walk in Dignity). Mr. King did as much as he can for the rights of his people, and tried his best to earn freedom for blacks. One of the many things he has done for African Americans is that he expanded their constitutional and legal rights. His dream of a colorblind America has eventually succeeded in the future through all of his hard work and dedication. Martin Luther King, Jr. is admired and appreciated by countless amounts of folks for keeping a positive attitude through all of his struggles. He also extended the right for all Americans to pursue happiness in the way he or she pleases. Encouraging blacks to continuing fighting for his or her independence is another feature about Mr. King that many admired about this secure man. Backing down after a tough loss was never an option for him; he continued to fight for his authority (Jackson). This man did not exactly free the blacks completely; however he did gain many rights and respect for not only himself, but African Americans as well (McCabe).

Carson, Clayborne. "Paradoxes of King Historiography." //Magazine of History// 19.1 (2005): 7-10. //ProQuest//. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. **SE3** Carson, Clayborne. "The Unfinished Dialogue of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X." //Magazine of History// 19.1 (2005): 22-6. //ProQuest//. Web. 3 Oct. 2014. **SE2** Carson, Clayborne. "To Walk in Dignity: The Montgomery Bus Boycott." //Magazine of History// 19.1 (2005): 13-5. //ProQuest//. Web. 19 Nov. 2014. **SE5** Honey, Michael. "Forty Years Since King: Labor Rights are Human Rights." //Magazine of History// 22.2 (2008): 18-21. //ProQuest//. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. **SE6** Jackson, Thomas F. ""Bread of Freedom": Martin Luther King, Jr. and Human Rights." //Magazine of History// 22.2 (2008): 14-6.//ProQuest//. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. **SE4** McCabe, Suzanne. "We Shall Overcome." //Junior Scholastic// Jan 10 2003: 8-10. //ProQuest.// Web. 18 Sep. 2014. **SE1**
 * References **