A hero is an ordinary person who does something extraordinary. Heroes are brave, courageous, helpful and go out of their way to make a difference, whether big or small. They fight for what they believe in, even if they are the only ones to do so. If anyone is to be considered a hero, it should be Martin Luther King Jr. He was just a typical African American man that took a stand against racial discrimination, lead nationwide movements that revolutionized civil rights and risked his life to improve millions of others. Martin Luther King Jr’s heroism stood out when he courageously defied the laws and rules for something he believed was right. In the 1950s, America was bursting with racism and hatred towards black people. White Americans
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In 1959, King visited Gandhi’s birthplace in India. The five week trip affected him in a deeply profound way, increasing his commitment to the civil right’s struggle in America. He was inspired by Gandhi’s success in non-violent activism and used these methods in his protests. In 1963, Martin presented his “I Have a Dream” speech, which deeply affected millions of people across America. "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character." — Martin Luther King, Jr. / "I Have A Dream" speech, August 28, 1963. Martin received the Nobel Peace Prize for 1964 and his speech resulted in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The $54,000 that Martin received from the Novel Peace Prize was not kept for himself, but rather donated to the civil rights movement. He never held protests or made speeches for the money and fame — he did it to make a difference and improve the lives of millions. Yet, these actions would put his life and his family’s safety in great danger and …show more content…
On September 30, 1956, while Martin was speaking at a mass meeting, his home was bombed by segregationists shortly after the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Fortunately, his wife and daughter were not injured, but this was just the beginning of what was to come. Thereafter, Martin received countless threats against his family and himself, but he was determined to continue what he started and end racial discrimination once and for all. Although his fierce determination had a huge impact on American civil rights, it would eventually lead to his assassination in 1968. Martin was standing on the balcony of a hotel in Memphis when he was struck by a sniper’s bullet. The killing sparked riots and demonstrations in more than one hundred cities across America. Millions of people in America and across the world grieved his death, as he died at only 39-years-old. His sacrifice to his family and himself made a huge difference in the civil rights movement and truly demonstrated his
In 1959, King visited Gandhi’s birthplace in India. The five week trip affected him in a deeply profound way, increasing his commitment to the civil right’s struggle in America. He was inspired by Gandhi’s success in non-violent activism and used these methods in his protests. In 1963, Martin presented his “I Have a Dream” speech, which deeply affected millions of people across America. "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character." — Martin Luther King, Jr. / "I Have A Dream" speech, August 28, 1963. Martin received the Nobel Peace Prize for 1964 and his speech resulted in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The $54,000 that Martin received from the Novel Peace Prize was not kept for himself, but rather donated to the civil rights movement. He never held protests or made speeches for the money and fame — he did it to make a difference and improve the lives of millions. Yet, these actions would put his life and his family’s safety in great danger and …show more content…
On September 30, 1956, while Martin was speaking at a mass meeting, his home was bombed by segregationists shortly after the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Fortunately, his wife and daughter were not injured, but this was just the beginning of what was to come. Thereafter, Martin received countless threats against his family and himself, but he was determined to continue what he started and end racial discrimination once and for all. Although his fierce determination had a huge impact on American civil rights, it would eventually lead to his assassination in 1968. Martin was standing on the balcony of a hotel in Memphis when he was struck by a sniper’s bullet. The killing sparked riots and demonstrations in more than one hundred cities across America. Millions of people in America and across the world grieved his death, as he died at only 39-years-old. His sacrifice to his family and himself made a huge difference in the civil rights movement and truly demonstrated his