Preview

Individual Sacrifice: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
314 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Individual Sacrifice: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The success of a society is reliant on individual sacrifice. Ambitions driven by selfishness are detrimental to a community. Numerous instances of human history and literature have demonstrated the importance of limiting self-interest.

The consistent tribulations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exemplify the significance of self-sacrifice. To combat racial prejudice, King ingeniously led a protest movement that was characterized by non-violence. However, such pacifist protest required taking risks and forgoing self-interests. Despite being detained in a Birmingham jail, King remained relentless in his movement against racial discrimination. Even when his home was bombed, jeopardizing the safety of his family and personal belongings, King rejected

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    As sure as the pendulum swings one way, it must swing the other. As sure as people yearn for freedom, they will rise against any obstacle to obtain freedom. In a world which subjectively denies the liberties granted in the constitution to a negro and oppresses a him for having a darker hue of skin, a unique individual who yearns for freedom like no other, Martin Luther King Jr., arrives by birth on January 15th, 1929 in the towering city of Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of twenty-five, King finds himself as a minister at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Not only does King establish a crucial rank as a minister, but he is also well known to be a humanitarian, activist, and above all, a robust leader in the American Civil Rights Movement.…

    • 1236 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr. became an influential voice of the African American population due to his non-violent, peace driven protests against inequality. In the midst of a peaceful demonstration leaders deemed King a threat, placing him behind bars for parading without a permit. King defends himself against four clergymen portraying the peaceful demonstrations a burden to the public. King writes, “Letter from Birmingham Jail” conveying corrupted leadership in America effecting African Americans. His writing bursts with examples of ethos, pathos, and logos ensuring nation-wide attention to the oppression taking place.…

    • 1198 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr. is known for his nonviolent approach to gain freedom for the African American community. He gained much respect and has become a figure to appreciate. At a time of so much oppression, he refused to abide by the Whites and wanted to abide by both Whites and Blacks. In his famous letter at Birmingham Jail, he addresses the topic of acting now and acting with the full support of everyone. In this way he is similar to Malcolm X who also wanted the Africans to stand up against the oppressors.…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail was written in response to the violent racist terrorist attacks toward the African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as to respond to the criticism he received about his work in a respectful, yet powerful way. He was arrested and sent to jail while participating in a non-violent anti-segregation march because he had no permit. Treatment of African Americans were unfair and un-American and Dr. King had enough of the way African American’s were treated and in his letter wrote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to injustice everywhere.” In order to spread freedom throughout Birmingham, Dr. King followed through with a plan built on facts, negotiation, and non-violent direct action mainly in the form…

    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    On January 15, 1929 a very important person was born, even though they didn't know it at the time. It was Martin Luther King Jr., he had done a lot of great things over his life. Martin is a very important person in our history of civil rights movement.…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the most know being the Montgomery bus boycott, that began when Rosa parks refused to give up her seat because of the color of her skin. Even in his non-violent protest he was arrested many of times in Alabama, Gregoria, and Florida. Even while incarcerated he did not give up, while in Birmingham jail he wrote his infamous “I have a Dream” speech that he delivered in Washington to over 200,000 people. King’s speech overflowed with love and passion, as he expressed his dream for a world where we all live in peace. It inspired many and continuous to inspires years later, it gave people hope.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    According to Martin Luther King Jr, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase”. Martin Luther King Jr. is a very inspirational man who changed the world because of one speech! Martin Luther King Jr. is my role model. He has a lot of courage and leadership to do what he has done!…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Martin Luther King’s “A Letter from the Birmingham Jail,” he states "In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham." Despite advocating for equal rights, treatment, progression, and peaceful protests King was considered an “extremist” at the time. Extremism is something that has a negative connotation, but he demonstrated that an extreme stigmatization of the African American community was necessary despite its unpopularity to many. Despite the oppression and the violence he faced, he advocated for peaceful measures. Thus, he embodies pluralism belief’s…

    • 620 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While Estelle’s selfishness leads to an inauthentic and unfulfilling life, Martin Luther King’s selflessness does the opposite. His altruism is evident when he stands up for others who are being treated unjustly, even though he personally is not affected. In his letter from Birmingham jail he writes, “Just as the Apostle Paul left his little village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to practically every hamlet and city of the Greco-Roman world, I too… must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid” (King 1). It is because of King’s selflessness that he leads a fulfilling life. He changes the lives of African Americans for the better, and continues to be an inspiration to millions. His altruistic qualities contrast the non-existent ones of Estelle.…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The idea of human nature has changed over time in many aspects, but throughout history and literature, self-interest has stayed as a foremost motivation in human actions, thoughts, and mannerisms. Needs to gain more power, more land, or more substance has caused people of all times and cultures to use forms of acquisition to quell these thirsts. Even at different times in history, this idea of selfish satisfaction proves true. As evidenced through literature in different time periods, authors show self-motivation through their characters.…

    • 480 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While incarcerated in a Birmingham jail for leading a peaceful march in Birmingham against racial segregation, King begins this letter acknowledging the recent criticism of white clergymen in Birmingham calling his actions "unwise and untimely." King uses logical appeal to make his case. In an unemotional straightforward tone, he explains that he is president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the organization had been invited to Birmingham, the most segregated city in America, to help battle injustice; thus, he has a right to be there and he is not merely an “outsider” causing trouble. He defends his teaching of nonviolent means to fight injustice. With a personal and emotional tone, he illustrates the oppression of African-Americans and stresses that now is time for the victims to demand the end of prejudice. He clarifies that "justice too long delayed is justice denied;” therefore, his actions are not untimely. Martin Luther King…

    • 561 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    ­Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15,1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. Martin's birth name is Michael Luther king Jr. after his father's name. MLk's mother was a schoolteacher named Alberta king and his father was a Baptist minister named Micheal Luther King. MLK's father changed both their names Michael to Martin to honor the German Protestant Martin Luther. MLK had an older brother named Alfred Daniel Williams King. Also, a sister named Willie Christine King.("Martin Luther King Timeline." Martin Luther King Timeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2013.)…

    • 1434 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Self Interest Motivates

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Humans have always wondered what drives them to make the choices the make. One of the theories people have come up with is that self-interest primarily motivates mankind. This theory is defended in the actions of Luba and her suitor in Angels of Bergen-Belsen, the decisions made by Ilsa Hermann and Hans Hubermann in The Book Thief, and the struggles with death in Night.…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Accordingly, it’s the primary goal of this brief article to differentiate the concepts of self-interest and selfishness: to praise the concept of self-interest as the catalyst of moral action, therefore worthy of admiration; and thus to admonish selfishness as the instigator which often leads to immorality and inconsiderate hedonism. Consequently, containing these two sentiments from one another in order to redeem the term self-interest and to specify its appropriateness becomes an intellectual…

    • 1077 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was known for his doing the civil right movement in 1960’s. Dr. King was a peace maker the ultimate peacemaker, despite having his life threatened and his family being attacked. His home being bombed were his wife and children lived and he himself was being humiliated at times under constant violate threats but never retaliated. I love this word because I don’t like drama, war, destruction. When I think about this word and the people who are very essence of the world. In my view most of American President strive to be a Representative for the word. Being a peacemaker describing to be strong in having a greater purpose in life with a understanding that go behind human…

    • 124 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays