Martin Luther King Jr., Essay Example

At the age of 15, Martin Luther King Jr. would complete high school and then pursue his B.A. degree at Morehouse College, which he would put on the map as a historical African-American institution.  King’s legacy would earn him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.  As the youngest African-American to receive the honor, there is no question as to the prominence and legacy in which King left behind in his life he gave to civil rights.

The Baptist minister and social activist continues to be known as a leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement.  Equal freedom and civil rights was central to his aims, where he attempted to secure them not only for the discriminated upon African-Americans in the United States, but essentially for all people, regardless of race or color.  He extended his influence, by way of moving speeches, boycotts, and methods of non-violence towards civil rights and other issues within this, including racism, discrimination, and segregation.

At the core of Dr. King’s beliefs, relative to the movement, was equality.  King did not distinguish between black or white, or the color of one’s skin.  This was not the issue for King.  The issue was found in the unequal treatments of blacks and whites, where the latter would be given better schools and cleaner environments, of course not even touching on one’s inherent civil rights.

King’s legacy is firmly founded in the defense of African-Americans in the United States.  King truly believed he stood up for all people, as injustices threatened all people, as all people are equal.  Of course King met a great deal of adversity for the movement in which he lead, which would cost King his life.  His stand for all people in the United States has continued his great legacy as a leader and social activitst.