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The Legacy Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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The purpose of this paper is to discuss the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I will discuss how his leadership has impacted both America as a whole and the United States Army, as well as how Dr. King has influenced my own life as a Soldier, Military Intelligence professional, and leader. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., embodied many of the attributes that we look for in Army leaders today. Dr. King lived a life characterized by moral courage, selfless service, respect for everybody, honor, and integrity. During his time as the de facto leader of the civil rights movement, he was motivated by the plight of blacks throughout the South, both during his own time and for generations before him. Dr. King writes in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” (1963) of his frustration over a gamut of issues: simple but persistent issues like the constant disrespect and taunting that black people faced on a daily basis; issues that affected his own family, like having to explain to his young daughter why he couldn 't take her to a local amusement park; and darker issues like vicious beatings and unprovoked lynchings and murder. His sense of empathy ran deep, for their struggle was his own. Dr. King was a leader with a distinct presence: he was known nationwide as a man with true professional bearing, always carrying himself with dignity. He insisted that both he and those involved in protests and demonstrations “conduct [their] struggle on the high plane of dignity

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