King Jr Individualism

Improved Essays
Imagine a world comprised of objects whose solitary ability is to breath in and out in order to remain alive. A world where empathy, personal relationships, and benefiting the greater good are foreign concepts. Staying alive is opposing death, but living is embracing life to the fullest. Living is risking everything for a plight larger than one’s own. Martin Luther King Jr. was willing to endure violent attacks, vicious threats , and risk his life for the possibility of an America where race did not affect equality. Dr. King did not merely state, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity”, his courageous actions conveyed the message.
This quote represents an ideal that every individual should espouse. It drives a person to question the importance of their own “individualistic concerns” compared to more widespread issues. People are constantly consumed by their own minor struggles, while ignoring the serious problems that are ripping through society. Martin Luther King Jr.’s inspiring words motivate “confine[d]” individuals to step outside their comfort zone and change the world by confronting paramount issues like segregation.
…show more content…
Dr. King’s words convey that living is not found within an individual, but discovered through the destruction of obstacles, the creation of new friendships, and an appreciation for the plights of others. Viewing the world through a one perspective lens restricts an individual from seeing the rawest parts. However, remaining open-minded means voyaging down a grueling path and sacrificing individual concerns for the greater good. Martin Luther King Jr. was willing to venture down this strenuous route in hopes that equality would be the light at the end of the dark and dangerous

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children” (King). Martin Luther King Jr was a non-violent and yet fiery leader who spoke with passion. Through his words he was trying to ignite the passion within his audience and that they could bring the long cherished dream of equality true.…

    • 1335 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr. led the way towards the end of racial segregation by his irrepressible drive to achieve social change. During his lifetime he endured many acts of discrimination to which he responded by peaceful protest and strong pieces of writing. One example is his letter written after his imprisonment in Birmingham jail because of a coordinated march against segregation. The purpose of his letter was to respond to the clergymen that labeled the march unwise. Martin Luther King uses ethos, logos, and pathos to argue to the clergyman that the strategy of peaceful resistance against discrimination is necessary.…

    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    From MLK’s speech, one could say there was a strict message of equality. He wished for equality for all colored people across America. This was displayed through his use of ethos, pathos, and logos throughout his speech. Despite the faults in the character of his personal life, many took the use of these literary tools as promises and hope for a better future set about by the language King chose. He states “There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until all of color are set equal.”…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    His family, though the same religion as Dr. King, was targeted by numerous racist groups, and his father and uncles were murdered by white men by the time he was six-years-old. Their childhoods shaped their mentalities completely. Dr. King saw the world and social change with optimism. He had faith America could and would band together, would meet love and social harmony as an equal nation under God. He understood humanity’s inherently evil nature, but he never lost his assurance or his faith.…

    • 1294 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Martin Luther King’s “Letter to Birmingham Jail” is incredibly persuasive. It forces the reader to truly think upon Dr. King’s arguments regarding the clergymen 's pleas to discontinue fighting for equality in the area of that time period. He reinforces how these men have underestimated his reasons for being put in jail and explains how seldom he replies to those who can’t see eye to eye to his vision and goals. He explains how these men may be generally good citizens; their criticism is just a fundamental aspect of how scared they are for him.…

    • 1008 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One of Dr. King’s rhetorical methods of encouraging peace in his community is his exemplary…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    "I have a dream that one 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," were the words once spoken by Martin Luther King Jr. His vision was that one day, “little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” These notions are being regarded in our everyday lives. He spoke with ethos, pathos and logos- appealing to a variety of cultures.…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I’ve Been to the MountainTop” that’s the title of one of the most well known speeches ever by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. I’ve Been to the MountainTop is a speech that has many different purposes and meanings. The speech was one of Dr Kings most powerful and emotional he ever wrote.…

    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Letter To Birmingham Jail

    • 881 Words
    • 4 Pages

    By presenting numerous examples of incidents and circumstances which he finds disturbing, Dr. King proves that he is adequately informed regarding the issues he is discussing. He explains that he is prepared to progress with honor and respect. Dr. King might argue as a lawyer more than as a preacher, but his passionate rhetoric suggests that he is fighting not for a legal victory, but for the fate of humanity, for the future of justice universally, and for America’s…

    • 881 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In his speech “Impasse on Race Relations,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached nonviolence and peaceful protest to a group of Canadian college students. His arguments, although clear and logical, are now outdated. Black Americans and white people no longer “collaborate for human dignity.” Dr. Martin Luther King was a very wise man. I, along with anyone, could tell that he was intelligent as I read this speech.…

    • 1010 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Well known American Baptist minister and activist, Martin Luther King Jr., optimizes the call to action for his fellow community to resist the unjust laws of the time in his speech, I’ve Been to the Mountain Top. When this speech was delivered, the act of discrimination was worsening, calling for a reform by the colored community. At that point many small victories had been made but Martin Luther King was not satisfied. In this speech, Martin Luther King emphasizes the issue of injustice and the need for immediate change. King specifically creates his exigence by relaying to the audience that the sole purpose of his message is to motivate people to act in a calm manner and stop to create change in the altered world (I’ve Been to The Mountain Top).…

    • 1750 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Martin Luther King, father of justice and freedom. People saw him as the glowing light in the dark of their bright future. That’s how much King meant to the people. He created faith and hope in people’s mind. Because he believed without self-hope, we are just like animals preying on others for the hunger of justice.…

    • 1219 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Dr. King aligned the past, the present and the future intending to end his speech with hopes and promises of a change that was to be conducted with peace and equality, in perfect harmony to humane relations. Martin Luther King through his speech moved a crowd of 200,000 people; his assembly of words and rhetorical strategies managed to advocate humanity in the face of social color blindness. His words still live and continue to inspire thousands…

    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Even though we often pride ourselves today for having come so far, regarding discrimination and equality, it is clear in many ways that the world is still a prejudiced and unjust place. We cannot continue to allow people to remain ignorant. The mindset that an individual person cannot trigger a reaction great enough to change the world is one of the biggest parts of what is stopping us from getting better. People such as Coretta Scott King don’t allow themselves to remain ignorant to the injustices happening around them and they use their voices to do whatever they can to help.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream and he let the world know August 28, 1963. During that time whites and Blacks were segregated and Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about how sick of tired of being sick and tired he is with America. America was built for all people as it said it should be, and needed to let go of all anger, betrayal, and hatred so we can become one nation. He believed we may not see it today but eventually one day the color of your skin would not judge who you are and we can all live together without discrimination.…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays