Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most historically important people in history. Some people only know him as the man who gave the “I have a dream” speech in front of the infinity pool in Washington DC. Though he did give this very important speech, there was still much that he had done that has gone unnoticed by many or maybe has been forgotten over time.
He was the youngest person to ever get awarded a Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35. He was awarded this because of his leadership in non-violent resistance to racial segregation as well as proving that love and acceptance can truly change the world. He was known to break barriers and bring white and African Americans together through peaceful protest and his speech that changed history.
He had led a boycott in 1955 that was called the Montgomery Bus boycott which was started because of the racial segregation on who was allowed to sit on the bus and how the African Americans that traveled on the bus were treated. This boycott ended in the year 1956 and after one year of fighting this mistreatment of colored people and their ability to use public transportation, congress had decided that segregation on public buses was an unconstitutional act which had changed the face of public transport forever.
The SCLC was started shortly after the Montgomery Bus Boycott which had been spread nationwide. This had inspired Martin Luther King Jr. to found the Southern Christian Conference of SCLC. The main goal of this organization was to come up with peaceful protests and ways to make them more impactful. The SCLC had a big impact on further discussions about African Americans rights.
Martin Luther King Jr was loved and cared about by many people. But there was the occasional person who did not agree with his ways or words. In the year 1968 on April 4th, shortly after 6 p.m, he had been shot and mortally wounded on the second-floor balcony at his hotel that he had been staying at called the Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee. He had been rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead at 7:05 pm at St. Joseph Hospital.
There are many ways that people around the world celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. For school many kids around the world have this day off from school. Leading up to the day of celebrating him teachers will show videos of Martin giving his speeches. The reason that most kids have this day off is for children to sit back and reflect on what they stand for, who they are, and what kind of stuff they can do for their community.
Another thing that occurs are parades for Martin. There are many events like this located in the Bay Area including rallies. Many people believe that planting a tree is a good way to celebrate. Planting a tree for Martin is important because of what he said, “A society grows great when men plant trees in whose shade they know shall never sit. Progress, like a tree, needs time to take root.”
In the Bay Area and in San Francisco there are many kid friendly events that you are able to attend. There is a week-long festival that occurs which includes a parade, films played, arts and crafts, and much more. At Old St. Mary’s Cathedral there are concerts dedicated to Martin Luther King.
The Black and Brown Comic Art Festival that includes storytelling of Martin and his purpose.
All of these ways that people celebrate are very important. Everyone should know the story about Martin Luther King Jr. and what he sacrificed for people to understand the importance of being a better person and stepping back and realizing what you are doing.
