Many have heard of Martin Luther King Jr., who fought for the rights of black citizens in the United States, but few people know how his life developed and what contribution to history was made by a Baptist preacher. Monuments have been erected in honor of the civil rights activist, streets named, and songs were written. And, perhaps, if not for the tragic murder, Martin would have changed the life and stream of thought of even more people. The below research aims to show that Martin Luther King had a significant impact on society, providing evidence from his development as an equality activist, his activities and achievements, and the way Martin’s life was ended.
Martin Luther King was born on December 15, 1929, in Atlanta to a Baptist pastor. The future wrestler took exams as an external student, and at the age of 15, he won a public speaking competition. At one time, Martin doubted which profession to give preference to – medicine or law, everything was decided in favor of the ministry of the church, which influenced the education and literacy of the future leader. In 1955 he graduated from Boston University and received a doctorate in theology. In 1953, King married Coretta Scott. The couple became known as some of the first African American Baptist leaders. After the death of her husband, Coretta continued his work. They had four children who also became social activists and fighters for human rights (Carson).
As a pastor in Montgomery, Alabama, King led the protests against skin color separation on public transport. At that time, there was a ban for people of color: it was not allowed to sit at the entrance of white passengers. In case of disobedience, proceedings could follow at the police station. The protest in 1955 turned into a bus boycott that lasted 385 days and was led by King (History.com Editors). As a result of these actions, Martin Luther King achieved the recognition of the illegality of such a division by the authorities and became widely known as an ardent spokesman for civil rights. It should be noted that during the protests, a bomb was planted at the King’s house; by a lucky chance, no one was injured. King also held sitters in public places; several times, Martin was charged and arrested, but he was released in the absence of substantiated charges.
His speech “I have a dream” brought great fame and recognition to Martin. In 1964, Martin was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to racial reconciliation (“Martin Luther King Jr.: Biographical”). Many people have noticed and continue to notice the extraordinary personality of Martin Luther King, which is expressed in Christian concepts that were the basis of his speeches. The position of the leader was based on Christian love, in which he believed unconditionally. He struggled with the problems of unemployment, hunger, and poverty among the black population but did not have time to draw up a plan to address such issues. King’s views were multifaceted: he also opposed the Vietnam War, which considerably affected the societal consciousness of the time.
On April 4, 1968, at 6:01 pm, King was fatally wounded by a sniper while standing on a balcony in a Memphis motel. The bullet went through the right side of the neck and throat, then, passing through the spinal cord, stopped in his shoulder. He was urgently taken in serious condition to the hospital of St. Joseph, where doctors opened his chest and performed a direct heart massage. At 19:05, the death of Martin Luther King was announced. At the autopsy, doctors said, the 39-year-old equality fighter’s heart was like that of a 60-year-old (History.com Editors).
Given the above research, it might be concluded that Martin Luther King had a substantial influence on society. It is evident from his essential struggle against racism, the Noble Peace Prize, and his global recognition. Moreover, if he had not been an influential person who directed the public mind, there would be no assassination undertaken against him.
References
“Martin Luther King Jr.: Biographical.” The Noble Prize. n.d. Web.
Carson, Clayborne. “Martin Luther King, Jr.”Britannica, 2021. Web.
History.com Editors. “Martin Luther King, Jr.” History.com, 2021. Web.