Black History Month is a good time to discuss famous black Americans, the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing struggle for equality.
A man of great talent, Martin Luther King Jr. was born to an Atlanta family of preachers and pastors in 1929. A bright and intelligent young man, MLK Jr. entered college at fifteen years old and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology. He would go on to use it, creating a lifetime of reformations to the rights of the African American people in the U.S.A. Throughout his journey, MLK Jr. utilized his religious beleifs and teachings from Indian non-violent protestor, Mahatma Gandhi; by doing so, the thirteen years of Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership resulted in greater improvements in the rights of African Americans than the last 350 years. He participated in and led a multitude of protests, boycotts, and events to further civil rights. These actions, coupled with an unjust system of laws, landed him in jail twenty-nine times in his life. Despite the hurdles in his life, MLK Jr. continued to impact society, publishing pieces such as “A Letter From Birmingham”, and performing speeches, his most memorable being “I Have a Dream”.
The Civil Rights Movement of the early- and mid-1900s sought to improve the lives of African Americans and end racial segregation in the United States. Martin Luther King Jr. was just one of the important figures of this time; others included W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, and Rosa Parks. In 1908, increased racially motivated violence in Springfield led to the creation of an organization run by both white and African-American people. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or NAACP, fought for the elimination of violent practices against coloured people, most notably lynching. Their steps, in court and politics, helped shape the Civil Rights Movement and set a path for great leaders like MLK Jr.
Racial segregation was deemed illegal on July 2nd, 1964. Despite the changes that occurred during the 1900s Civil Rights Movement, people of colour continue to face discrimination and hate in America. Merely three years ago, the country shook with news of George Floyd’s death, and people began to question the equality shown in the police force. Since then, numerous reports of police brutality, racial discrimination, and unfair court sentences have grown in the country. Today’s problems of racial inequality are no less important than those that occurred one hundred years ago. By understanding and sharing the discrimination and inequality individuals of colour face, whether it be in school, work, socially, or online, society can learn to spread awareness about the issue. We can create a better future for everyone in the country and carry on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.