Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speech Analysis

Martin Luther King Jr. was born January 15, 1929. He was a social activist that lead boycotts in a non-violent manner. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted equality and peace. He was faced with many obstacles through his time but still managed to remain humble and kind. MLK was also faced with judgement by other activist who wanted the same thing but did their protesting with violence. Although these two groups wanted the same thing, Martin Luther King Jr. wanted his protest done in a peaceful approach. Martin King Jr. is known for his powerful speeches, “I have a dream” was one of the most infuencial speeches that Martin had to empower others. (The King Center, 2014).

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King Jr. was a middle child, with an older sister and younger brother. Martin and his siblings grew up in a nuturing home. His father, Martin King Sr. was a pastor so Martin King Jr. and his two siblings grew up religious. Martin Luther King Jr. was very educated and religious. He skipped 11th grade and started college at Morehouse in Atlanta in 1944. Making him a 15 year old college student. Martin King Jr. had a lot on his plate. While in college for his doctorate degree, Martin met his wife, Corretta Scott. Both read
their vowels June 1953 and later had four children. By 1955 Martin Luther King Jr. had earned his Ph.D., married, and had a family. All by the age of 25.

Although Martin Luther King Jr. had his college degrees, a wife, and a loving family he still fought for equality. Colored people were treated unfairly and were badly abused because of the color of their skin. On December 1, 1955, a woman named Rosa Parks was taking the bus home from work. The driver of the bus noticed their were white men with no seats and asked the colored people to move to the back of the bus and give up the seat they were in. All but Rosa sat up to give their seat to the white men. Rosa Parks was then arrested for refusing to give up her seat. Once activists, like Martin Luther King heard the story he knew something needed to be done. So he lead a boycott. “The bus boycott would be 382 days of walking to work, harassment, violence and intimidation for the Montgomery's African-American community.” (Biography.com Editors, 2016).

August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. continued his peaceful approach for equality. “the histoic March on Washington drew more than 200,000 people in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial. It was here that King made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, emphasizing his belief that someday all men could be brothers.” (Biography.com Editors, 2016). Along with other memorable speeches Martin Luther King Jr. made a difference for colored people. It did not happen right away and took many years to be accomplished. Slowly but surely all of his hard work and dedication would soon pay off and colored people would get the respect they equally deserved. Colored kids could drink from the same water fountains as white kids, classes were mixed, and bus drivers no longer made colored people give up their seats.

On April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King Jr.
was assasinated by a sniper. Martin King Jr. was on a balacony at the hotel he was staying at when he was murdered. The day before Marting King Jr. had given one of his speeches. “I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as people, will get to the promised land.” (Martin Luther King Jr.,1968). He was growing older and wiser. The protest and damages caused an affect on him and his family but he did not give up. Martin Luther King Jr. is the only person to have his own holiday that is not a president. He is remembered by many and has statues and is also talked about in schools. His speeches are remembered and honored to this day. (The King Center,
2014)