...step even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout his life Martin Luther King Jr. wanted equality and everyone to live together as one nation. Dr. King took what was in his heart and used it to change America. He believed that all people were created equal, even through times of discrimination he worked to bring the people of the United States of America together. Martin Luther King Jr. worked hard for what he believed in to fulfill his dream and change America for the better. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and a social activist who worked for the equal rights of African Americans. He played a key role in forming the equal civil rights we have today. King drew...
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...Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, ‘“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter’” (Luther and Melvin). Martin Luther King Jr., the man with a dream, fought through discrimination to enable United States citizens to live more peacefully. Due to his work during the Civil Rights Movement and his tragic death, Martin Luther King, Jr. left a legacy of equality in America. As a child Martin Luther King, Jr. experienced racial discrimination first hand. Due to his skin color, King’s “friends” refused to play with him at a young age (Dubovoy). King stood emotionally wounded for the rest of his life, when his own best friends betrayed him. King did not want his children or anyone to feel discriminated against due to their...
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...Literary Techniques of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech Literary Techniques of Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech Introduction Martin Luther King, Jr., a prominent civil rights leader, delivered a powerful speech at the historic March on Washington. The speech uses several literary techniques to engage the listener. In the speech, King especially likes to use repetition and metaphor to convey his ideas. These devices are the foundation of King?s unique and effective style. Repetition In I Have a Dream King uses repetition throughout. Repetition is a good tool to use to reinforce an important idea. In Dorothy Seyler?s Read, Reason, Write, she states: ?Some repetition of key words and phrases will occur in well-written and unified essays. Some writers, though, go beyond this technique of unified writing and use repetition to produce an effective cadence, like a drum beating in the background, keeping time with the speaker?s fist pounding the lectern for emphasis.? (58). King?s speech is a perfect representation of this. I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons...
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...Reflective Assignment The Political Nonviolent Activism of Martin Luther King Jr. I will focus on the life and the nonviolent political activism of Martin Luther King Jr. King Jr. is a world-renowned figure for his nonviolent pursuit of justice, equality, liberty and freedom for all, he worked tirelessly for racial equality and civil rights within the United States of America and his values of beliefs have been referenced the world over in similar pursuits. He is most well known for a speech he gave on the steps of Washington D.C.’s Lincoln memorial in 1963 entitles “I Have a Dream …” at the “March on Washington”. Section 1 (a) Montgomery Bus Boycott In the city of Montgomery Alabama 1955, it would not be surprising to see buses segregated by race; in fact city law to enforce it. When entering buses whites entered and sat at the front filling towards the rear, blacks entered and sat at the rear filling toward the front. If there were no more seats the next black person onto the bus was to stand, when the next white person got on the closest row of black people to the front were required to stand (Clayborne 224). The boycott began after a number of black women had been arrested for not vacating seats, the most recent before the boycott being Mrs. Rosa Parks (Phibbs). The boycott was organized and led by a number of now prominent civil rights activists along with Martin Luther King Jr., including but limited to: Ralph Abernathy, a leader of the American Civil Rights...
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...Martin Luther King, Jr said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Civil disobedience is part of our culture. People stand up for themselves when laws, rules, or just when things are unfair and unjust. Martin Luther King, Jr is a prime example of civil disobedience. In his “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” he describes his own thoughts on civil disobedience through real life experiences. David Thoreau is also a main figure in civil disobedience from his letter, “Civil Disobedience.” He talks about what he did to stand up for what he felt was right. There is a couple of reasons to believe in civil disobedience , one it can bring attention to main topics and also create real change in society. Civil disobedience is only...
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...Martin Luther King, Jr.: His Life and Battle for Freedom Allan M. Ysunza Kaplan University SS310 Exploring the 1960s: An Interdisciplinary Approach Dr. Ronald K. Bolender March 09, 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr.: His Life and Battle for Freedom In my unit 5 project I will discuss the life of Martin Luther King Jr. I will define how his personal ideologies might have contributed to his assassination. I will discuss the implications of his assassinations from a sociological perspective. All through the discussions, I will explore his life and journey as freedom leader and his will to gain justice via nonviolent and peaceful protest against racial discrimination and oppressions. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was destined to be a preacher like his father and after seminary became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama at the age of 25. King believed that black and white people should resist laws that they thought unjust. If necessary, he thought, they should disobey such laws. But King also said that they should be ready to accept punishment for breaking such laws. In some cases, they should even go to jail. He had grown up with the injustices in the South, and it did not take him long to join in the fight. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 in response to Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her seat. He was arrested, but ultimately ended racial segregation on...
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...African-American men and women, along with whites, organized and led the movement to fight against injustice. The eight resources below provide information about several historical leaders that made an impact on the Civil Rights Movement. These resources may be used to create assignments to help students develop a deeper understanding of the Civil Rights Movement. Furthermore, students will benefit from meaningful classroom discussions about these heroic leaders. Important People There are numerous well-known historical figures that influenced the Civil Rights Movement leading up to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is probably one of the most powerful leaders involved in the fight for civil rights. Coretta Scott King worked and marched alongside her husband, Dr. King and continued his fight for justice after his death. In addition, Thurgood Marshall became the first African-American judge on the Supreme Court appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play Major League Baseball which contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement. African-American, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man in 1955. Collectively, these heroic leaders merged the separate worlds of whites and African-Americans together as one. Informational Books There are numerous biographies written for children that recognize...
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...The Leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. Abstract The visionary leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. influenced a nation, and ultimately affected a dramatic change in the area of Civil Rights. The achievements he accomplished in the arena of Human rights still serve as a platform for social change today, even decades after his death. Martin is hailed as a classic Charismatic and Transformational Leader, whose masterful rhetorical skills and personalized leadership empowered many Americans to stand up and claim their rights as American citizens. This paper will provide an analysis of Martin Luther King’s leadership style, and speak briefly about its development. We will discuss his background and the factors that greatly influenced his success as a leader. We will also cover Martin’s application of influence tactics, such as rational persuasion and inspirational appeals, and reveal an almost textbook ideal of leader, follower and situation dynamics. In general, we will discuss his vision and finally pinpoint the factors that ultimately led to his rise in power. “Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.” Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President. Introduction Of all of the leadership styles that have been studied, observed and researched throughout the ages, Charismatic and Transformational Leadership, are cited as being the most powerful. Martin Luther King Jr. is definitely one of the most charismatic and transformational...
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...What happened to the Dream? Dr Martin Luther King Jr wanted freedom for all colors, black and white. He wanted everybody to be consider equal. "I have a dream" by Dr Martin Luther Kings Jr is a presuasive speech because he uses appeal rhetoriacal devices and tone. Dr Martin Luther King Jr uses appeals to show emotions on how he felt and to show reasioning to tell people how life is. "One hundred years later the life of the negro is still badly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination." We are still divided as a nation, balck and whites still till this day have not taken accountability that rascism still exist in the world today. Martin Luther King jr felt the American dream was nothing more that a racial experiences of life. Dr. King referced different intentices that proved that balcks are not equal. "Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horros of police brutality. Blacks were beaten, spit on and killed because of there color....
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...Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. King was the middle child of 2 other kids. His mothers and fathers names were Michael King Sr., and Alberta Williams King. Kings’ family was from a sharecropper family and they lived poor. Kings’ grandfather was a rural minister and moved to Atlanta in 1893. He took care of the church called Ebenezer Baptist Church where king became a Pastor there until his father died in 1931. Although King and his family grew up in a poor community they still were in a secure and loving environment. King began his education at the Yonge Street Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia. He was enrolled in David T. Howard Elementary School and he also attended the Atlanta University Laboratory School and Booker T. Washington High School. Because of King’s high examinations, his junior year of high school he advanced to Morehouse College only being 15 years old because he skipped ninth and twelfth grade. He graduated Morehouse College with a B.A. degree in sociology and enrolled in Crozer in Chester, Pennsylvania. While still at Crozer he also studied at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was elected president of senior class and won the Pearl Plakfer Award of the most outstanding student. In September of 1951, Martin Luther King began doctoral studies in Systematic Theology at Boston University. Martin Luther King Jr. was an exceptional leader because through his intelligence and determination...
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...Differences of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. for Racial Equality America in the 1960s was marked by an era of unfortunate segregation, violence and unrest towards African Americans in the country. They faced often-brutal violence and a government that had forgotten them in regards to human rights. Blacks needed something to be done about the harm and inequality they were facing at the time. Fortunately, two men in particular rose to the occasion to fight for what they believed in. They focused on achieving the same goal of a better society for Blacks. However, they differed greatly in regards to how they sought to complete this goal. While Malcolm X often viewed the problem as a war and wanted to ensure that his people would have the means and the power to fight back against the harmful Whites. Martin Luther King Jr. believed it would be more beneficial to both parties if the violence ceased to exist. The struggle for racial equality caused Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. to seek separate and contradictory methods of achieving what they felt was right for African Americans. One main difference between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. was their distinctive childhoods. The two men were raised under dissimilar circumstances and environments. It can be supposed that the way they grew up directly relates to the views they had on the racial problems and the way they dealt with them. Malcolm X (1925 – 1965) had a terrible way of life as a child. The potential for...
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...influence the African American community. Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X two men having experienced different things in their lives held different beliefs and morals and influenced people based upon those things. Martin Luther King Jr., came from a Baptist home with a fairly easy childhood, he was educated when he was younger and attended Morehouse College, an all black college, where he had several role models that shaped his beliefs. Malcolm X, on the other hand, experienced a hard childhood and used drugs and committed other crimes in his early adult years. While in prison he found a father figure in Elijah Muhammad and joined the Nation of Islam. There are many differences between Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X in the way they acted and influenced the African American community. This paper will look to describe their differing views and analyze their actions and their lives. In most cases a person’s childhood has a lasting affect on the rest of a person’s life. In comparing Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X this seems to be the case. Martin Luther King Jr., was born January 19, 1929 and was raised by a strong supportive family. He had a somewhat privileged life and “never experienced the feeling of not having the basic necessities of life.”[1] His father “was a community leader in Atlanta and pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church” and his mother “was a school teacher and an accomplished pianist.”[2] Although King was well off economically he was also...
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...FALL 15 FALL 15 Martin Luther King, Jr.: Charismatic Leadership in a Mass Struggle Dr. Mark Allen Organizational Behavior/Leadership (MBA-552) Harkaran Singh Hara & Aras Azarbay Martin Luther King, Jr.: Charismatic Leadership in a Mass Struggle Dr. Mark Allen Organizational Behavior/Leadership (MBA-552) Harkaran Singh Hara & Aras Azarbay 08 Fall 08 Fall Abstract The paper examines the myths associated with the life and leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the African-American Civil Rights movements of 1950s and 1960s and scrutinizes King’s depiction by the mass media as the sole significant leader of the struggle. It also examines the charismatic label associated with King’s name, his exceptional oratory skills and also his weaknesses as leader. The paper further discusses the contributions of King towards the civil rights struggle and also suggests us not to forget the contributions of leaders to the movement and the social factors which led to King’s rise. It also suggests some lessons we can learn from King’s life and relates his beliefs and methods to various scholarly works. Finally, it reflects upon the role of charismatic leadership and how it relates with transformational leadership styles in today’s business environment. About the Author This article which was originally published in the Journal of American History, 1987 is written by Dr. Clayborne Carson, who is a professor of American History at the...
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...Answer the following questions regarding Gandhi, King and Mandela: What Made Non-Violence Work? Any suspicion of plagiarism will result in a non-submission of assignment. Failure to complete assignment by the start of the fall semester or suspicion of plagiarism will result in a 5% loss of class average for the first semester grade. Read the background essay to gain more knowledge about these men. Answers should be typed. Plagiarized responses will receive no credit. Document D Questions: 1. What non-violent tactic is being threatened by Gandhi to protest the salt tax? 2. What is civil disobedience? 3. Provide an example of civil disobedience. 4. Inference: Why did Gandhi write the letter to Lord Irwin, telling him in advance what he intended to do? 5. What are the risks of civil disobedience to society? Document E Questions: 1. What is a lunch counter sit-in? 2. Is a lunch counter sit-in an example of civil disobedience? Why? 3. Explain the difference between a strike and a boycott? 4. How does King justify breaking the law at his trial? Examine the Picture 5. What can you tell me about the sit-in and the times from Blackwell’s photo? Explain. a. b. c. Document F Questions: 1. Does the document provide evidence that Mandela supported civil disobedience? Explain. 2. Did Mandela believe that acts of civil disobedience must be non-violent? 3. Under what circumstances...
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...Answer the following questions regarding Gandhi, King and Mandela: What Made Non-Violence Work? Any suspicion of plagiarism will result in a non-submission of assignment. Failure to complete assignment by the start of the fall semester or suspicion of plagiarism will result in a 5% loss of class average for the first semester grade. Read the background essay to gain more knowledge about these men. Answers should be typed. Plagiarized responses will receive no credit. Document D Questions: 1. What non-violent tactic is being threatened by Gandhi to protest the salt tax? 2. What is civil disobedience? 3. Provide an example of civil disobedience. 4. Inference: Why did Gandhi write the letter to Lord Irwin, telling him in advance what he intended to do? 5. What are the risks of civil disobedience to society? Document E Questions: 1. What is a lunch counter sit-in? 2. Is a lunch counter sit-in an example of civil disobedience? Why? 3. Explain the difference between a strike and a boycott? 4. How does King justify breaking the law at his trial? Examine the Picture 5. What can you tell me about the sit-in and the times from Blackwell’s photo? Explain. a. b. c. Document F Questions: 1. Does the document provide evidence that Mandela supported civil disobedience? Explain. 2. Did Mandela believe that acts of civil disobedience must be non-violent? 3. Under what circumstances might have Mandela supported...
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