Martin Luther King Jr. Catalyst for Change

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Catalyst for Change

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the greatest civil rights leaders that we all remember today. He influenced all races not just the black community, everyone looked up to him. Our entire country knows of him and everything he did to help African Americans receive equality in a full white community. Today Americans and people around the world view him as a wonderful man that taught peace, nonviolence and freedom through the Montgomery Bus Boycott and giving the ever so famous “I Have A Dream” speech. These actions have created a catalyst for change out of an ordinary man, Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s goals in Birmingham, Alabama was to end racial segregation, little did he know it would be broadcasted out to the whole country. The bus boycott was shown around the whole United States, demonstrated the potential for nonviolent mass protest to successfully challenge racial segregation and served as an example for other southern campaigns that followed. In Stride Toward Freedom, King’s 1958 memoir of the boycott, he declared the real meaning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott to be the power of a growing self-respect to animate the struggle for civil rights. This Boycott made followers believe in King’s teachings of peace and nonviolence. During this boycott he led the March on Washington, which was completely legal, everyone gathered and walked along sidewalks to the white house and kept out of the streets. The Daily Sketch a newspaper wrote, "Their triumph was one of discipline, of good manners and good sense,” about the March. By keeping out of the streets they were doing nothing wrong and being peaceful, many people learned that they are able to get far without inciting violence and keeping peace. King taught not only, that dreams need commitment to come true but also that everyone is entitled to freedom. Freedom to vote, freedom to go to the same places as white people and freedom to live their lives the way they want instead of being cruelly treated. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech on August 28, 1963 to all the civil rights marchers, while at the Lincoln Memorial; this was the same day as the March on Washington. According to U.S. Representative John Lewis, who spoke that same day as the President of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, "Dr. King had the power, the ability, and the capacity to transform those steps on the Lincoln Memorial into a monumental area that will forever be recognized. By speaking the way he did, he educated, he inspired, he informed not just the people there, but people throughout America and unborn generations." Many people listened to the speech, the March brought together the greatest civil rights leaders and tens of thousands supporters. King helped people see that everyone in America deserved equality. Integrity, vision, concern, creativity, results-orientation, courage, and flexibility create a great leader. King has every one of these characteristics and he has demonstrated them through taking great pride in making a change for our country and his people. He is celebrated every year and every day he is remembered by someone. Our country now knows that everyone is equal and everyone deserves to be treated that way no matter the reasons being. People look to Dr. King for influence on making things better, and improving community, society and our country.