Martin+Luther+King+Jr.

Overview
Martin Luther King’s physical stature places him at 5’7 and 173 pounds. His appearance presents a strong; he wears black suits and black ties. Martin Luther is always ready for an audience because he is a Baptist minister. Another feature I forgot to mention was that Martin Luther King Jr. is an African American. At the age of 28 Dr. King became the predominant figure in the Civil Rights Movement. During a time of racial turmoil, Martin Luther King Jr. rose above the slander and peacefully sought out freedom, despite ethnicity. “Christian love can bring brotherhood on earth. There is an element of God in every man. No matter how low one sinks into racial bigotry, he can be redeemed…Nonviolence is our testing point. The strong man is the man who can stand up for his rights and not hit back,” a quote from Martin Luther.

==Critical Issue== The South of America became an ethical battle ground in the 1960s. Places such as Birmingham, Mobile, Tallahassee, Miami, New Orleans, and Montgomery saw a movement much like the abolitionists of colonial America. Rev. Martin Luther King, head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, started this revolution. Through lunch counter sit-ins and bus boycotts, black Americans were beginning the stand up for their rights. Martin Luther King’s efforts did not come without repercussions though. Despite being bombed 3 times, jailed 14 times, and public ridicule, Martin Luther followed his righteous path set by Christ. Because of his determination events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington became inspirational parts of our nation’s history. “Some of you have knives, and I ask you to put them up. Some of you may have arms, and I ask you to put them up. Get the weapon of nonviolence, the breastplate of righteousness, the armor of truth, and just keep marching,” Martin Luther King Jr.

Conclusion/Historical Significance
Because of Martin Luther King’s efforts white Americans began treating African Americans as equals. No longer could you be segregated for the pigment of you skin. TIME Magazine saw Dr. King as a man who, “…reached beyond law books and writs, beyond violence and threats, to win his people—and challenge all people—with a spiritual force that aspired even to ending prejudice in man’s mind.” Martin Luther King was able to thrive off of the adversity he was presented with. He stood for the people as, “…a humble man, down to earth, honest,” said by friend and Atlanta’s Negro Minister Ralph D. Abernathy. Unfortunately, not all strove for nonviolence as Dr. King did. He was assassinated for his beliefs and actions, but these actions unleashed the shackles of his ancestors.