Chronicle

The PASCAL ChronicleHistoryMartin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil rights in AmericaCivil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929, never backed down in hisstance against racism. He dedicated his life to achieving equality and justice for all Americans of all colours.King believed that peaceful refusal to obey unjust law was the best way to bring about social change.Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out for justice to African Americans, for an end to racial discrimination, andagainst the laws that embodied it and the many subtle behaviours and assumptions that were supported bythose laws. Racial discrimination in the USA had resulted in countless unnecessary and unjust deaths, andthe despair and hopelessness of generations. By that time “coloured” people or as we call them now, withthe correct term, African Americans, were strictly separated into “coloured” people and “white” people.It was a period in American history where even the trains, restaurants, restrooms, specific areas wereseparated into two because of the racist ideology that was carried on during that time. Martin Luther Kinggave his "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington. The march drewmore than a quarter million people lobbying for congressional passage of a civil rights bill. They gatheredaround the Lincoln Memorial to hear the speakers. When King spoke, he effectively defined the Civil Rightsmovement and the struggle for justice with these famous lines: "I have a dream that one day this nationwill rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all menare created equal'." Using many techniques in his speeches, such us repetition of words especially with thephrase “I have a dream”, imagery and many more he probably became the one activist who gave greatspeeches and had a massive effect on every person’s personal perspective towards racism in America.Some of his achievements were: Congress (the law-making body of the United States) passed the CivilRights Act in 1964. This was the most comprehensive piece of American civil rights legislation since theReconstruction (1856–77; a twelve-year period of rebuilding that followed the Civil War). It outlawed racialdiscrimination in public places, assured equal voting standards for all citizens, prohibited employer and unionracial discrimination, and called for equality in education.Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, by a man with the name James Earl Ray,who shot him with a rifle. Dr. King was shot on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee.James Earl Ray was put to death shortly after. Martin Luther King Jr. will be forever remembered. MartinLuther King helped many people back then as his will to fight for the Civil rights made him a powerfulspeaker and a man of great spiritual strength. Other than a great speaker and a man whose will was tofight for justice he helped many people. One of the most important people that he helped was Rosa Parkswhen she refused to give up her seat in Alabama. He was a great man because what he did for the peoplemade a huge difference in America and the results even exist today.Stephanie Costa 5IB64