Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was best known for his role in the Civil Rights Movement using non-violent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. He was an American Baptist minister, activist and humanitarian who became one of the greatest orators in American history due to his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington in 1963. Later he would expand his focus to include fighting against poverty and the Vietnam War.
From a young age, King Jr. inherited his resentment for the social injustice from his father. His father was quite strict and would beat him, telling him that “he would make something out of him if he had to beat him to death.” One of his first experiences with segregation came when King was just a boy and befriended a white boy whose father owned a business nearby. They were forced to stay apart as they got older and had to go to different schools. King suffered from depression throughout much of his life and tried to kill himself at the age of 12 after his grandmother died.
In high school, King started to foster his oratory skills. He was a part of his school’s debate time and won first place in an oratorical contest in his junior year. He continued to witness further civil injustices during his life which infuriated him greatly. Eventually, King led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as its first president.
King would continue fighting against social injustices for the rest of his life. In 1964 he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. After he was assassinated in 1968, King would later receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. A federal holiday would be named in King’s honor as well as hundreds of streets being renamed as well. It is a great honor to dedicate a star in the name of this noble man. “I Have a Dream” that his words will continue to inspire greatness in others.
View or Dedicate a star near Martin Luther King Jr.'s Star at YourStarForever.com
Posted on June 8, 2015 by Ryan Hart
