Martin Luther King, Jr. was a renowned civil rights leader in the United States of America. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a minister of the Baptist church as well as an activist for civil rights. Martin Luther King, Jr. mainly focused on racial relations among the Americans. According to DeViller (2010), Martin Luther King, Jr. played a critical role in bringing to an end the legal segregation of Black Americans in the United States of America, especially in Southern America. He was also responsible for the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Schraff, 2008). Martin Luther King Jr was the leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He also served as the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) which was responsible for organizing and conducting various demonstrations and protests against social segregation in South America.
Martin Luther King, Jr. attended Booker T. Washington High School. Most of his teachers referred to him as an intelligent and bright student. In 1953, Martin Luther King, Jr. got married to Coretta Scott who gave birth to four children; namely Yolanda Denise (1955), Martin Luther King Jr III (1957), Dexter Scott (1961) and Bernice Albertine (1963). In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize because of his endless efforts to change the lives of African Americans through the creation of social equality in non-violent ways. Martin Luther King Jr also won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as the Congressional Gold Medal several years after his death.
Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in the ageof 39 years (Schraff, 2008). According to DeViller (2010), Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered as one the most lauded African-American leaders in the history of America. He is also remembered for his influential speech called “I Have a Dreamâ€, which he delivered in during a March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.
Leadership Qualities that made Martin Luther King, Jr. a Great Leader
Some of the major leadership traits that made Martin Luther King, Jr. a great leader include patience, bravery, trustworthiness and persistence. Patience refers to the ability to endure or tolerate suffering. Through patience, Martin Luther King, Jr. was able to achieve social equality among black and white Americans, which was one of his major dreams for the United States of America. Martin Luther King, Jr. was able to bring racial segregation and social inequality to an end in the United States of America.
Bravery is being fearless, audacious or courageous. In my opinion, Martin Luther King, Jr. bravely fought for social equality among black and white Americans. Through bravery and gallantry, Martin Luther King, Jr. was able to proclaim his dream to millions of people in the U.S. He was also passionate about seeing his dream for the U.S realized. Despite being an object of observation of the FBI because of his active involvement in politics and activism, Martin Luther King, Jr. courageously fought for social changes in America. Although he was repeatedly attacked, jailed and threatened by state agencies and authorities, frequently harassed by FBI agents, he did not give up for the fight against racial segregation and social inequality. It is also claimed that Martin Luther King, Jr. at one time received a threatening letter from government officials through mail. The letter was meant to make him commit suicide. However, this did not kill his desire to bring social changes in America.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was persistent and determined to realize his dream for America. I would also assert that Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for what he wanted even from the confines of jails. Despite facing many objections from his opponents and government agencies, Martin Luther King, Jr. did not take a break from fighting for what he believed in. He persistently led numerous non-violent protests in Alabama and Georgia to dissent against social segregation and police brutality in the United States.
Last but not least, Martin Luther King Jr was a trustworthy person. Many people who followed him believed in him and had great confidence in his abilities to help the people of America. In my opinion, his followers were confident that he was able to bring racial discrimination and social inequality in the United States to an end. The ordinary citizens of America, sponsors, business associates and other civil leaders who supported his activities, were confident that he would achieve his dream of changes for America.
