MLK Jr. Essay Contest: High School Division Winner

Essay by Julianna Everson, Worcester Central School

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an African American minister and an activist. He was born on January 15, 1929, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He passed away on April 4, 1968 due to an assassination. He was known for many things in the past and still is to this day.

King is recognized for his speeches that have changed many individuals’ perspectives on equality for African Americans. A speech many individuals may recognize to this day is “I Have a Dream.” King not only fought for himself but hundreds of other African Americans. King performed his speeches in front of numerous Caucasians, which was a huge concept knowing that many white people were already against the idea of African Americans being treated equally. King gave up what he had left to attempt to get his word across peacefully the whole time, and he often organized groups and marched through the streets with signs as well as speeches.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” As an activist, this was an extremely strong quote. It can mean numerous things to many individuals but, in my perspective, this quote is simply saying that we as people have a choice and can make a decision. For instance, King decided not to follow the regulations. He knew what he wanted and what would benefit not just him but all African Amercians. He hoped Caucasians could put our differences aside and grasp how to be respectful, including treating African Americans equally, or we can suffer in despair and imprudently.

In King’s mind, we have two options: be cooperative, or not accept each other and have that leading to bigger issues. King never wanted to fight or argue, or even make individuals look foolish. King simply wanted Caucasians to understand African Americans’ mindsets and perspectives on these simple topics of inequality that Caucasians would consider normal.

In addition, at the end of the day we are all people capable of completing the same actions. Furthermore, King would never surrender; he was arrested 29 times. While many arrests resulted in his quick release, King’s longest sentence was four months for sitting and waiting for his food at a restaurant right where he grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite the fact these protests seem little, he spread the idea all over, such as in his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” which was presented in Washington, D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial. According to researchers roughly 250,000 people attended the speech, and millions more heard it over the radio and on television.

Individuals my age can build unity, empathy, and understanding within our schools and communities with King’s teachings by the inspiration of listening to his famous quotes or speeches. Once we dig into a quote or speech and break certain points down, as I did with the quote I was presented with, the words become clearer. Then, as you understand, you get to know the individual while also understanding our history and how we as people have evolved. We can then realize the little things that were done were, in reality, big accomplishments. Most accomplishments, if not all, did not benefit one person but benefited many individuals in a positive, life-changing way, meaning permanently fixed, and helped us today figure out how to deal with situations and equality.

Most of King’s famous speeches and quotes were followed by a stand or protests. When King got his word across, he never once gave up or backed down; he kept going and going. I think he taught great life lessons and set great examples. When I think about growing up, I look at individuals that would be great examples. I know King is, and was, a great role model to many, many children and even adults.

If anyone were to ask me why are you so respectful and a great problem-solver, I would simply say my mother raised me right, but King taught us very important lessons: If you know it is right, fight for it, and if there is a choice, choose peace.