Introduction
Today, the United States is the country that promotes democracy and equality and provides people with civil rights irrespective of their origin. However, it was not always the case, and African Americans suffered from various forms of discrimination in the mid-20th century. That state of affairs was harmful to many individuals, but a few of them only dared to address the problem. Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of them, and he headed the Civil Rights Movement. King made a significant effort to organize non-violent protests to end racial segregation and discrimination, which contributed to his lasting legacy in the US and internationally.
Discussion
In the mid-20th century, African Americans were subject to various forms of discrimination and segregation. These individuals did not have all civil rights, and King wanted to change the situation. He advocated for non-violent protests and organized March on Washington according to this principle (Livingston, 2020). King emphasized the March’s adherence to non-violent activities because he understood that this event was aimed at breaking the accepted norms and beliefs. That is why social masses and the government opposed the March, and King highlighted his peaceful intentions to avoid harmful consequences.
In addition to the form, the protest content was of significance. The March was organized to challenge “segregation, war, and housing, wage, and employment discrimination” (Kearl, 2018, p. 193). As has been mentioned above, African Americans could not utilize full civil rights, and they could not vote, receive equal education, or be employed in the same positions as whites occupied. King understood the harmful impacts of these phenomena and expressed his desire to get rid of these problems in his “I Have a Dream” speech. The latter became one of the most honorable and impactful speeches in American history.
No one can state that King’s activity was useless or that his legacy went unnoticed. One should admit that the Civil Rights Movement ended segregation in public spaces, canceled employment discrimination, and provided minorities with voting rights. These outcomes resulted in the fact that Martin Luther King earned honor both within the US and internationally. On the one hand, Martin Luther King Day was established in 1986, and Americans of all backgrounds and ethnicities celebrate it on the third Monday in January (Weiss, 2019). This holiday is significant because it refreshes the memory that America should be a land of equality, freedom, brotherhood, and opportunity (Weiss, 2019). On the other hand, it is worth stating that King was the youngest person to become a Nobel Peace Prize winner. This fact demonstrates that the international community highly assessed King’s contribution to promoting equal rights in the United States.
Conclusion
The presented information indicates that it is impossible to underestimate Martin Luther King’s role in American history. He was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement and advocated for racial equality and freedom. King highlighted the importance of fighting against segregation and numerous forms of discrimination that still affected American society. Another essential contribution of this figure was that King understood and promoted the necessity to organize non-violent protests to avoid deaths and injuries among participants and police officers. King’s efforts were successful because the Civil Rights Movement ended racial segregation, banned employment discrimination, and made voting rights equal. All these events justify the fact that Martin Luther King is honored in the United States and throughout the world. This person is deservedly considered a personification of the fight for civil rights.
References
Kearl, M. K. (2018). WWMLKD? Coopting the rhetorical legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric, 8(3), 184-199.
Livingston, A. (2020). Power for the powerless: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s late theory of civil disobedience. The Journal of Politics, 82(2), 700-713.
Weiss, J. (2019). Remember, celebrate, and forget? The Martin Luther King Day and the pitfalls of civil religion. Journal of American Studies, 53(2), 428-448.