Perhaps one of the most important pioneers of social justice was social activist and Baptist Minister Martin Luther King, Jr. His speech presented in 1963, “I Have a Dream”, sparked a new wave of social change. This essay will summarize the King Biography, and then analyze and react to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech “I Have a Dream.” On January 15, 1929 in rural Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born to Michael King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. King was the middle child of three, an older sister named Willie Christine, and a younger brother named Alfred Daniel Williams King. Originally born Michael King Jr, Martin Jr. adopted the name Martin Luther following his father who took on the name in honor of the German Protestant
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His amalgam of both peace and a demanding urgency come together to strike the nerve of those responsible for removing the chains that have been placed on American citizens of color, and his ability to see through the murky waters of racial injustice seek to give hope to his fellow African Americans. Martin Jr.’s peaceful approach is most effective because it does not come with any hint of apathy towards America’s condition and how it must be dealt with. His words still drip with passion and urgency for change, and not just over a stretch of time. Martin Jr. intended for America to take immediate action. As quoted by Martin Jr, “This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.” (589.) He knew that a mere tapping-on of the racist characteristics of society would not be enough to wake those who had fallen victim to the disease of white supremacy. Martin Jr. made sure that white America was aware of the African Americans’ discontent with segregation and racial injustices. Martin Jr. calls for unification and brotherhood between God’s people. He does not surrender to the lines drawn between races by those who refuse to accept equity. Martin Jr. lit the torch and provoked the race to genuine social
His amalgam of both peace and a demanding urgency come together to strike the nerve of those responsible for removing the chains that have been placed on American citizens of color, and his ability to see through the murky waters of racial injustice seek to give hope to his fellow African Americans. Martin Jr.’s peaceful approach is most effective because it does not come with any hint of apathy towards America’s condition and how it must be dealt with. His words still drip with passion and urgency for change, and not just over a stretch of time. Martin Jr. intended for America to take immediate action. As quoted by Martin Jr, “This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.” (589.) He knew that a mere tapping-on of the racist characteristics of society would not be enough to wake those who had fallen victim to the disease of white supremacy. Martin Jr. made sure that white America was aware of the African Americans’ discontent with segregation and racial injustices. Martin Jr. calls for unification and brotherhood between God’s people. He does not surrender to the lines drawn between races by those who refuse to accept equity. Martin Jr. lit the torch and provoked the race to genuine social