Essays

Martin Luther King Jr. was a revolutionary man. He spoke of non-violent ways to create a society of equality that stirred many people's hearts. He reached many people in his speeches and even got to speak to thousands of people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. where he spoke these words: "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.'" The first four words in this line are the most repeated words in a quote of all time. Whenever someone is asked about Martin Luther King Jr., they most clearly can think of these words. He truly believed that all men are created equal and this was what united people to him, but his life was short-lived. He died at the age of 39 on April 4, 1968. He only got to preach to the people of America for a very short period of time. This thought can make one wonder what would have happened if Martin Luther King Jr. were still alive.

When King spoke, he reached people's hearts and minds at the same time. He dug down deep into issues of racial discrimination and presented alternatives of love and equality. Racists struck down his ideas, but others were moved and worked to better society as he wished. King was a loving man, one that wished people would listen and follow him but he did not force them. If King were still alive, more people would have been moved and maybe certain discriminative qualities all over America would have evaporated sooner. People try to say that discrimination is over and no one has been prejudice since the Civil Rights Movement, but they are so wrong. Still today stories over the news can be heard of people killing others unjustly, whether it is from race or pure hatred. Recently, President Obama has spoken on trying to eliminate hate crimes in certain states, and just because the president has to do this means that discrimination and injustice still exists. If King were still alive, the hate crimes may have been lessened and equality would be more present in the United States of America.

People knew that King was being genuine and that his words ringed true. Our country was formed under the idea that all men are created equal and at the time that King was alive and even now people do not treat each other as if it were true. People continue to dream about equality as King did and so many people have been impacted by this one man in history. To think about King still being alive forty years later is a very whimsical thought, but it is worthwhile to ponder because Martin Luther King Jr. was a man full of integrity and it makes one wonder what more impact he could have put on the people of America. Equality can still be pursued if people so choose and King would be please if others have a dream as well.