The situation of the racial segregation in the southern states of America in the year 1900 was difficult, because the life of the black and white citizens was separated: there were park-benches for whites and benches for black people. There were separate restaurants, on their doors was written: „Coloured people undesired!“ The schools were separated, too. Black people got a job only for subordinate work, for exemple: janitor, maid, servant, dish-washer,...
Michael Luther King was born in 1929 as the son of a Baptist minister in Atlanta Georgia. Later he had his name changed to Martin. He grew up in a black middle-class family. He was an intelligent child and an excellent student. He started to study at the age of 15 years. First he was intereset in medicine and law, but finally decided to follow his father into the Baptist ministry.
In 1946 he was 17 years old and became a Baptist minister. At this time he learned for the first time about Mohandas Gandhi’s ideas about non-violent protest. While studying for a doctorate at Boston University in the early 1950’s, he met Coretta Scott, a music student. They got married in 1953 and had four children. The first of his four children, called Yolanda, Marty, Bunny and Dexter, was born on November 17, 1955.
The Montgomery Bus-Boycott
King’s first protest against the racial segregation was the bus-boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. In December 1955 the now legendary African- American Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger and was arrested. During the boycott King overcame arrest and other violent harassment, including the bombing of his house. He was a talented leader and speaker. After the success of the Montgomery bus boycott, King began to actively campaign for civil rights for blacks in America. Martin Luther King gave the US african- american people hope of a better life. He fought for economy and social equality.
The end of the of the boycott was, that the state forbid the racial segregation in the public transport. After this boycott King the black people respected King as their leader.
One of the prominent ideas of Martin Luther King’s philosophy was non-violent, passive resistance. King was affected by many Gandhian principles, as well as his Christian background, to lead to this view of things. He believed that if there is a bad system, instead of fighting it, you should simply refuse to cooperate. If you cooperate with the bad system, you agree with it and you too are a part of it. As well, your oppressors will not know that it is evil if you cooperate. If you fight against the system with violence, they will respond back with more violence and nothing will be solved. So, non-violence, non-cooperation is the only way to fight, according to Martin Luther King.
I have a dream
In August 1963 he organized the historic „March of Washington“: 200’000 black and white people demonstrated by the Lincoln Memorial. Several speakers held a speech. The greatest impression was by Martin Luther King with his speech „I have a dream“. His dream was equal rights and a better life for US blacks.
The murder
Sometimes King spoke about the possibility that he would die soon. In a speech on April third, 1968 he said: “I’ve been to the mountain top and seen the Promised Land. The next day Martin Luther King was killed in Memphis, Tennese. More than 100.000 people went to his funeral. His wife and family now believe, that the US goverment wanted to silence him.
Since 1986 every third monday in the month of January is the American national day, to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King jr.
I’ve often heard the name Martin Luther King. I saw in the internet four reports about him. I found all very interesting, and so, I chose King for my biography.
I think Martin Luther King affected very much the way of thinking in America. He was only 39 years old, when he was shot, but he changed much in the life ot the black and white people