When you sit back and take in the phenomenal achievements of black history, it is natural to be moved to admiration by a few of the great figures of black history such as Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver and numerous a lot more. But 1 name stands head and shoulders above the rest and that is the name Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King's legacy of change and his call for the end of racism and segregation in American society is without question the voice that has moved America as no other has carried out. For even though many have showed tremendous leadership, Dr. King clearly demonstrated a vision for the future of America in which black and white worked, lived, played and worshipped together as one society not two.
The honor and reverence all American's have for Martin Luther King, Jr. is evident in how honored his name has turn out to be since his tragic death at the assassins hand in 1968. All around this nation, practically each and every U.S. city has named a significant road after the fantastic civil rights leader. He singularly has a U.S. holiday named after him, an honor typically reserved for presidents. He has been honored on the U.S. stamp and no school child gets by way of his or her elementary education with out knowing the key phrases from Dr. King's renowned "I have a dream" speech.
Dr. King's career in civil rights is inseparable from the early struggles of the civil rights movement from the late fifties going forward. Our images of him walking side by side with his individuals unifying them behind his leadership and facing tremendous hatred and racial bigotry to take a stand in America to say with out compromise that racism would not stand in this country any more.
Those images of Dr. King working and marching with other people who shared his courage to step out and make a alter for the greater are indelible on the American consciousness. For Dr. King was not a leader who sent his messages from the safety and comfort of a far away office. No, he was there, within the midst of his individuals, marching on Washington arm in arm with the everyday men and girls of this country who banded together to fight the evils of racism. It took tremendous courage for Dr. King to take to the streets with his men and women like he did and it was a risk that ultimately price him his life. But his courage inspired thousands to be courageous too and be 1 folks, 1 brotherhood who would no longer allow racism to be the rule of law in America.
Dr. King's famous speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on a hot August 28, 1963 has turn out to be so central to our American heritage that it truly is quoted with reverence by scholars, students and all people seeking their own inspiration from this wonderful man. This speech ranks with Kennedy's inaugural speech as well as the Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as words that have inspired this nation as none other have been able to do. It is impossible not to get goose bumps reading these key phrases from that historic speech.
* I've a dream that 1 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.'" * "I have a dream that my four little youngsters will one day live in a nation where they are going to not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." * "Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring-when we let it ring from each village and every hamlet, from every state and each city, we is going to be able to speed up that day when all of God's children-black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics-will have the ability to join hands and sing inside the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Totally free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free of charge at last!"
When reading Dr. King's prophetic words to us all, his suggestions grow to be our ideas and we all become challenged to make his dream come to life. And which is what is truly the definition of a great leader.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy