Small steps in faith

Monday, January 17, 2005

Martin Luther King Jr.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

A strong christian man shot down in the prime of his life We are a better nation because of him and I for one am glad we are celebrating his life today with a national holiday...he deserves it


Martin Luther King, Jr. Quick Facts

American clergyman and civil rights leader
Birth January 15, 1929
Death April 4, 1968
Place of Birth Atlanta, Georgia
Known for Leading the civil rights movement in the United States
Advocating nonviolent protest against segregation and racial discrimination
Milestones 1954 Selected as pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama
1955 Received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Boston University
1955-1956 Led a successful effort to desegregate Montgomery, Alabama, buses
1957 Helped found and served as the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
1958 Published Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story
1963 Wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail," arguing that it was his moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws
1963 Delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech to civil rights marchers at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
1964 Won the Nobel Peace Prize
1965 Organized a mass march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, that created national support for federal voting-rights legislation
1968 Was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee
Quote "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." August, 1963, in a speech to civil rights supporters at the March on Washington.
Did You Know King's nonviolent doctrine was strongly influenced by the teachings of Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi.
In 1964, King became the first black American to be honored as Time magazine's Man of the Year.
King's efforts were not limited to securing civil rights; he also spoke out against poverty and the Vietnam War.



1 Comments:

  • At 10:55 AM, Blogger Unknown said…

    I'm glad he did what he did. Not only so we could have a day off school:), but so everyone could finally be treated equally. He was a great person.

     

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