How Martin Luther King Jr's Influence Shaped American People

Martin Luther King was the most well-known advocate for social justice and racial segregation against black people all around the world. He first ever encountered discrimination just from being black was when he got separated from his white friend at the age of six. Then further down the track, he got treated unfairly on a bus ride after winning a contest about equal rights in Georgia by needing to stand up for a white passenger instead of taking a seat. These situations are what really started to make Martin fight for the injustice of segregation. He then decided to commit his whole career in pursuing the dream of non-white people to have equal rights no matter where and who.

After obtaining his doctorate from Boston University's School of Theology in 1955, in the same year, he led one his most significant and news- breaking event which was the Montgomery bus boycott ride. On December the 1st, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and intended to stay put, she later got charged multiple fees and fines that created such a commotion that King started to lead a campaign for the racial segregation black people were given on transport vehicles. The movement lasted about 380 days ending on the 20th of December 1956 with it is quite a successful campaign that was considered the first effective demonstration against racism in the U.S. Most black leaders from the capital city of Alabama lent their support by advertising and sending notices about the boycott movement in newspapers and social gatherings such as the Church. After 13 months of protesting and mass meetings, the U.S supreme court decided that segregation or any racial injustice on transported, especially buses was banned.

The little rock nine was another event that helped make equality happen for African American people, which involved nine students who were segregated until President Eisenhower intervened and allowed all nine of them to attend Little Rock Central High School in 1957. This event caused a foundation to be made that promotes the ideals of justice and educational equality.

During his protesting against white supremacy, he faced lots of outrageous and unfair actions that tried to crush his dream of justice for black men, women and the children of the future. His home once got bombed and, in the situation, he got stabbed a few times, as well as getting arrested while desegregating the city of Birmingham and uncountable more times in his lifetime. Mentally, he wasn't that positive and suffered from depression since there was so much tension between white and black people. He believed in actions that required no violence which made other black American leaders create an alliance that was called the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). During his act of fighting for civil rights, he had to get some higher power of some sorts that could change the laws and regulations that restricted Martin's race of having poor faculties and lifestyles. The federal government was the only available and effective way to reach his goals of an equal rights world. The SCLC held a lot of pressure upon the federal officials to allow voting rights and civil rights until there were passed in 1964 and 1965.

Since he needed more support from not just protesters but some other leaders, Luther took a five-week trip to deepen his understandings about Gandhi's principals and teachings. Since Gandhi himself died, he unquestionably discussed the problems in the U.S and how to ultimately fight for equal rights. Gandhi was his main inspirer due to his thoughts of handling injustice with no violence but instead powerful words and statements that can influence others effectively. After coming back to his homeland, he tried to protest in Albany, Georgia during the early 1960s but was evidently unsuccessful. In 1963, Martin tried to desegregate the most segregated city in America, Birmingham. During his actions of fighting for civil rights, he eventually got arrested but no violence was intended according to the laws. But in Albany, the people who supported him got treated with lots of violence such as water pumps and police dogs to decrease the growing numbers. Since the movement was televised, many concluded that they would support the king and his dream for America as a whole, to the point that King was invited by President Kennedy himself to allowed endorsement for the cause.

On August the 28th, 1963 King delivered his speech called ‘I have a dream'. About 250,000 people gathered around Lincoln Memorial in Washington as well as millions more watching on live television finally hearing his so long required dream of equality and freedom for all segregated black people that will live on forever, especially in the United States of America. King also mentioned how much of difference African Americans are treated in multiple industries economically, and the lifestyle that it's caused them to be in never-ending poverty.

Just after a month of king saying his speech there was a bombing at the Birmingham Baptist Church. Hearing this the world was stunned, but most of all Martin knew there had to more done to make people release his envisions of society and how they act towards each other. At the funeral, he addressed more than 8,000 mourners that cried for the four innocent schoolgirls killed. In 1964, Luther had won the Nobel peace prize, as the youngest recipient at the age of 35 which spread more notice of his power and ideas of segregation to African American people. His next big campaign was to change voting rights in Selma, Alabama. He marched with 2,000 people but then it grew 30,000 people in a total of five days marching. It created such a commotion that the government and officials removed numerous rules supporting the restricting of African Americans not being able to vote before August of that year.

After handling the South, he went on to North of America and decided his whole family to move to Chicago the ‘ghetto area' in 1966. At first, he really had a hard time getting people behind his cause even though he was as a well – known advocate for the majority of America. The city authorities agreed on placing laws that allowed fair housing but later changed their mind to stay with the inequality laws. There was an outbreak of people who supported more aggressive movements as well as his message is true to his belief of non- violence solutions that evidently decreased his popularity.

Unfortunately, Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated by James Earl Grey while marching in Memphis to support sanitation workers from striking due to unfair payments and being treated horribly. But his strong beliefs and teachings have not been forgotten but instead has been known to be the most influential person in the civil rights movement. His famous speech called ‘I Has a Dream' was such a recognized text worldwide by many to the point of being the greatest speech in American History. He was quite successful for eradicating superiority of the white race and other injustice issues against African Americans restricting them from having an equal lifestyle as other races. Since all these campaigns and protests were led by Martin Luther King, many of it was recorded to detail so many in the future can see his non-violence ways when it comes resolving social injustice and segregation against a certain race. After his death king received lots of recognition by receiving awards such as the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004.

To conclude, Martin Luther King Jr is an internationally well-known advocate for civil rights. He has accomplished many things that have led to the abolishment of segregation in America, for example, the Montgomery bus boycott ride, protests in Alabama (Birmingham), 'I Have a Dream speech', campaigns in Selma and rallying in Chicago's ghetto areas. Racism would heavily be agreed upon when it came to schooling, jobs, housing and other social topics that involve everyday actions no matter age or gender if Martin ever encountered discrimination when riding the bus coming home. Since he is such a significant figure black history month exists, which includes recognition of everyone who got involved in the civil rights movement as well as other memorable African American figures who fought for their race. Without King, the world would be so corrupted in racism towards all races in every aspect to the point where they might become socially regarded as slaves. His speech ‘I have a dream' was such an effective device that change people's views on black people that we know recognize each other as equals.