Martin Luther King Jr. & His "I Have A Dream" Speech

Martin Luther King Jr. & His "I Have A Dream" Speech

Vocabulary

• Influential (adjective) - Having the power to change or affect what other people think or do.

  • Example: My older sister was very influential in my decision to go to college.

• Advocate (verb) - To publicly support or speak in favour of an idea, plan, or group.

  • Example: Many environmental groups advocate for laws to protect nature.

• Relentless (adjective) - Continuing in a strong, determined way without stopping or getting weaker.

  • Example: Despite the heat, the runners were relentless in finishing the marathon.

• Inspire the masses - (verb phrase) To make large groups of people feel hopeful, excited, and motivated to do something positive.

  • Example: The story of the local hero helped inspire the masses to volunteer in the community.

• Content (of character) (noun) - The inner qualities, ideas, and values that make up a person.

  • Example: The content of his speech was more important than how loudly he spoke.

• Character (noun) - The combination of qualities (like honesty, courage, kindness) that makes a person who they truly are inside.

  • Example: She is known for her strong character and always doing the right thing.

• Stand up against (verb phrase) - To actively resist or oppose something you believe is wrong or unfair.

  • Example: The students decided to stand up against the unfair rules at school.

• Injustice (noun) - Lack of fairness; a situation where people are not treated equally or right.

  • Example: Denying someone a job because of their background is a great injustice.

• Segregation (noun) - The practice or policy of keeping different groups of people (like races) separate from each other.

  • Example: During segregation, certain restaurants were only allowed for white people.

• Unjust (adjective) - Not fair or morally right.

  • Example: It felt unjust that only one person was blamed for the team's mistake.

• Demonstrate (verb) - To clearly show, explain, or prove something using examples or actions.

  • Example: Can you demonstrate how to use this new phone app?

• Movement (noun) - A large group of people working together over time to achieve a specific social or political goal.

  • Example: The women's rights movement fought for equal opportunities in work and society.

• Prominent (adjective) - Important, famous, or easily noticeable.

  • Example: The mayor is a prominent figure in our city.

• Prestigious (adjective) - Respected and admired because of high quality, importance, or success.

  • Example: Harvard University is considered a very prestigious school.

• Enormous (adjective) - Very, very large; huge.

  • Example: An elephant is an enormous animal.

• Grant (verb) - To formally give or allow someone to have something, like a right, permission, or opportunity.

  • Example: The principal decided to grant the students' request for a longer lunch break.

• Nonviolent (adjective) - Using peaceful methods, without fighting or physical force, to achieve change.

  • Example: The protesters held a nonviolent sit-in at the city hall.

• Tragic (adjective) - Causing great sadness, usually because it involves death, suffering, or disaster.

  • Example: The sudden death of the young actor was tragic.

Martin Luther King Jr. & His "I Have A Dream" Speech

Martin Luther King Jr was one of the most influential men in American history and. Born in 1929, Dr. King was a Baptist minister who became the main voice of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. He advocated relentlessly that all people should be treated equally, regardless of the color of their skin.

"I Have a Dream" Speech

Dr. King is most famously remembered for his "I Have a Dream" speech. He gave this speech in 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where hundreds of thousands of people gathered peacefully. In his speech, Dr. King inspired the masses by sharing publicly his vision for the future. Which as he stated, was a future where people would "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." This speech gave hope to millions and is still remembered today as a call for equality and justice.

His Purpose and Passion

Martin Luther King Jr.'s main purpose and passion was to stand up against racial injustice and segregation – the unjust system that separated Black people from white people in many parts of America. He saw the unfair treatment of African Americans and dedicated his life to achieving equal rights and equal opportunities for black Americans. He believed deeply in creating a fair and just society for everyone, while insisting on using only peaceful methods to achieve his goals.

A Brilliant Mind

Dr. King was not only a passionate leader but also very intelligent. He was an excellent student who even started college when he was only 15 years old. He later earned his Ph.D. at the famous Boston University. He relied on both his intelligence and powerful speaking skills to demonstrate and explain the need for civil rights and inspire people to join the movement peacefully.

Selflessness and Sacrifice

Dr. King's character was demonstrated in many ways.

One of the most prominent examples of this was In 1964, when Dr. King won the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent work against racism. He selflessly donated all the prize money (over $54,000) to help fund the Civil Rights Movement.

Another example can be seen by understanding how dangerous it was to fight for civil rights during that period of time. Dr. King was arrested nearly 30 times for participating in peaceful protests and challenging unfair laws. Dr. King was incredibly brave and courageous through his willingness to risk his own freedom for the cause he believed in.

Overall…

Martin Luther King Jr.'s impact on the United States and the world was enormous. Dr. King contributed significantly to the grant of basic human rights as well as voting rights to African Americans. He proved that nonviolent protests could be a powerful and effective force for change.

Dr. King never let his purpose and passion fade, still today, Martin Luther King Jr. is honored every year with a national holiday in the America, which is celebrated on the third Monday of every January. While Dr. King was tragically murdered in 1968, his dream of an equal society between different races lives on.

Reflective Questions:

• Did you know about Martin Luther King Jr. before?

• How would you describe Dr. King?

• The article says Dr. King used nonviolent methods. Why do you think he chose this way to fight for change? What are the challenges of being nonviolent when facing unfairness?

• Dr. King believed people needed to stand up against unfair treatment. What are some ways people can peacefully stand up against things they believe are wrong today?

Conversational Questions:

• Who is the most famous person in the history of your country?

• What were some big challenges in the history of your country?

• Is there anything you want to change about the world today?