Martin Luther King Jr's Impact on the Civil Rights Movement Essay

King knew that many would criticize his actions, but it wasn't until his fellow clergymen deemed his activities to be "unwise and untimely" that King felt compelled to provide his point of view (1). In response to the comment about his protests being untimely, King passionately responded, "We have waited more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights" (2). How long is long enough? For the oppressors, there will never be a suitable time for negotiation. People will always stand idly by while their negro brothers and sisters are mistreated because they merely desire to maintain the status quo. Change is frightening. In Dr. King's words, "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue" (2). Discussions that would have never been considered in the past were at last coming to fruition due to King's tension generating protests. The African American population will be denied their constitutional rights no

African American people have come a long way from the illiterate slaves, who were once picking cotton in fields, to powerful political leaders. A prime example would be President Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States of America. But first we must ask ourselves, how did this occur? Who lead African Americans to better living standards? Civil rights leaders, such as Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks, just to name a few. However, among these great names in history, there is one that stands out, and that man is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King gave hope to those in need with his awe inspiring sermons he performed at the church his grandfather founded. He changed foes to

Tis the day that I shall proclaim my speech of my dream. My dream is what I’ve stated earlier. Martin Luther King Jr. shall fight for civil rights in the land of the “free”. My crowd arrive, not just a black majority but everyone from every race surrounds me showing a message to Congress that skin colour doesn’t make a difference ; everyone should be treated equally.

On August 28th 1963, Civil Rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr. made his infamous “I Have a Dream” speech. In the speech, King confronts the mistreatment of the African American community and the lack of free will they contain in society. Throughout the mid-1900s, the Civil Rights Movement took place, influenced by centuries of cruelty towards the African Americans.. The most influential speech in the modern era was said in front of thousands of Civil Rights activists who all shared a common goal; to fight for the respect and to be treated as equals within the United States.

The "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. is still important today because it has been one of the greatest demonstration for freedom in history. It mentions the Emancipation Proclamation which gave hope, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution promise life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for everyone which is something we don't think about towards everyone when we associate with respect until today. He says we have to learn that we are all God's children. This is important today because it shows how we are all the same and it's a religious argument and religion is very present in our society, more than we think. "We must not allow our creative protest

The Civil Rights Address was one of the most influential speeches President John F. Kennedy has ever presented to the American people, and was one of many of his many accomplishments during his presidency. America was experiencing racial discrimination and racial inequality, and Americans needed a leader who would unite them. John F. Kennedy was a sincere, honest, inspirational individual whose duty was to influence equality to Americans. President John F. Kennedy’s address inspires and pulls on the passion of Americans; he wants all Americans to promote and protect and protect the rights that all men are free, he addresses this a sectional issue and that and our task; our obligation, is to make that revolution, and that everyone in

He hoped to see a change in society and a world free of discrimination. Martin Luther King’s uplifting “ I Have A Dream” speech impacted the majority of the US and gained much support (Garrow). The crowd of over 250,000 people praised King after the speech ended. Due to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

used communication to acquire civil rights and overcome inequality. When slaves were free, they began to look for work. However, the white society believed that blacks were still to be treated unequally because of their color. “Growing up in Atlanta surrounded by WHITES ONLY signs,” (Archer 123) Martin persisted to not let it get to him. By 1954, Martin lead the Civil Rights Movement. His adequate way of speaking was soon to be heard by nearly 250,000. In 1963, King’s “I Have a Dream” speech amazed the audience. “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.” His speech was a major turning point and led a few Americans to see these powerful words and make use of them. “ By the end of Freedom Summer, the civil rights movement had achieved some major goals. It required school desegregation “as quickly as possible,” forbade the use of different voting requirements for blacks and whites, and made discrimination in public places illegal” (Archer 163). This shows that King’s speech helped inspire and achieve civil rights for African Americans using

The Civil War amendments of 1865-70 gave the blacks some of these rights, but over three quarters of a century later, the American public still failed to see them as “equals”. However King recognised that he had to get to the top to change this mentality of white Americans. Through the use of the media and his own knowledge of the law in regards to civil rights, King occupied high moral and political ground, giving the civil rights movement some much needed coverage. It is argued that King was lucky in that his preaching’s and speeches were confirmed by events happening in the United States, which as a result increased peoples faith and belief in MLK.

On August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech to more than 200,000 people during the March on Washington. King's speech was one of the most influential during the era of the Civil Rights Movement and is to this day recognized as a masterpiece due to its effect on the audience as well as for its eloquence and language. Many components went into this passionate speech that portrayed King's hopes for racial equality and a brighter future made the speech as moving as it was. It is doubtful that any person can guess that this speech was written without forethought regarding what goals King wished to accomplish in this speech. Martin Luther King Jr.'s eloquent language was perfectly suited to his audience, both his

     The march on Washington D.C. was a turning point in the passionate battle for civil rights. Years of segregations and mistreatment of the African-Americans had pushed them to the edge. King knew that he had to say something to calm his people and make sure that their demonstration did not turn into a violent one. He said a hundred years ago, or as King affectionately referred to it, five score ago, Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address in a war to free the African-Americans from the tyranny of slavery. But despite the bloodshed they were still not free. King too touches on the fact that the fore fathers some one hundred and eighty seven years ago said that all men are created equal and entitled to liberty. King went on to say his people would not just go away and were not just blowing off steam. That these changes

I have a dream was one of the most powerful and influential speeches of all time, it not only created the realisation that the Negro was not free, it persuaded that of white people to make a change for the benefit of the African Americans. The African American civil rights movement was creeping forward but two individuals created a greater atmosphere for the reinforcement of the movement, sure William Wilberforce abolished the slave trade for Britain in 1807, and that was just the start, but 203 years later the African Americans are now equal. It took time but nonetheless it happened. In essence the African American civil rights movement was Martin Luther king’s dream, and that dream has come true.

Martin Luther King jr. was one of the most influential persons of the 20th Century. He is the father of the modern civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is recognized around the world as a symbol of freedom as well as peace. King practiced everything that he preached, he did not preach or speak values that he himself did not follow. He established himself as a pastor that was not afraid of hard work, guiding the middle-class congregation to public service. For example, Peake, Thomas R. author of "Martin Luther King, Jr.” states, “He encouraged his parishioners to help the needy and to be active in organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)”. I think that kings motivation

Martin Luther King Jr. begins his speech remembering the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order given by the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It was to guarantee freedom to black Americans. However, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. argues that since the proclamation, freedom never came. King says, “one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination” (Baym & Levine 585). Dr. King was breaking these manacles and chains through his peaceful protests. He inspired millions of people to stand for equality for all

     The famous speech, “ I Have a Dream”, was held in 1963 by a powerful leader of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. He was born January 15,1929 the son of an Atlanta Pastor. Martin Luther King Jr. always insisted on nonviolent resistance and always tried to persuade others with his nonviolent beliefs. In 1963, King spoke from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and almost 200,000 people attended his speech. All his listeners were Civil Rights supporters who rallied behind him and the people who watched his appearance on television. King traveled the country making speeches and inspiring people to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He organized non