Essay on Martin Luther King and the 1962 March on Washington

Historians offer different perceptions of the significance of Martin Luther King and the 1963 March on Washington. Without examining this event within its historical context the media publicity and iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech can easily overshadow progress that was already underway in America. It was insisted by prominent civil rights activist Ella Baker, ‘the movement made Martin rather than Martin making the movement.’ What is important not to overlook is the significant change that took place in the United States during the previous 100 years. Such that, many influential figures in support of racial equality opposed the March. The Civil Rights Act proposed by President Kennedy in 1963 was already in the legislative process.†¦show more content†¦The reality in 1965 was that there was still a long way to go in the fight for equal educational opportunities, career prospects and property. Although it could be argued that other factors played a mor e substantial role in achieving civil rights, the significance of the March cannot be discredited completely. What is important not to overlook is the sheer volume of people who participated in the March and the media coverage it received, from this the argument for it being a turning point in the fight for racial equality can be understood more comprehensively. A key factor in the March’s success can be attributed to technological advancements. The mass expansion of television meant it was now possible for images of the United States to be beamed Worldwide, and this understandably had an affect upon the country’s image and reputation. This was especially significant after the Second World War, the United States had emerged as one of the World’s leading Superpowers and wished to portray itself as a democratic nation built on the principles of freedom and liberty. However, now countries across the World were receiving images in stark contrast to America’s popular image. America was finding itself more exposed to criticism from the international community as it became more apparent that the freedom America had fought for was not being extended to its own citizens. A well known expression states that an image tells a thousand words. This was aShow MoreRelatedMartin Luther King Jr Life1015 Words   |  5 PagesMartin Luther King, Jr. Chronology   1929 | Born on at noon on January 15, 1929.   Parents: The Reverend and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Sr.   Home: 501 Auburn Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia.   | 1944 | Graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and was admitted to  Morehouse College  at age 15.   | 1948 | Graduates from  Morehouse College  and enters Crozer Theological Seminary.   Ordained to the Baptist ministry, February 25, 1948, at age 19.   | 1951 | Enters  Boston University  forRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement in 20th Century America1738 Words   |  7 Pagesin 1909 by WEBB Du Bois. Along with Booker T Washington, an ex-slave, Du Bois was one of the early crusaders for equality. The NAACP published its own newspaper and set out to defeat the ‘Jim Crow’ laws. They defeated laws that segregated housing in Louisiana and helped establish the right for African Americans to sit on juries. The NAACP paved the way for future groups, such as CORE, to end racial discrimination. WEBB Du Bois and Booker T Washington were both for ending racial discrimination althoughRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement Essay967 Words   |  4 Pagesand years to finally be thought of as equals. They fought to earn their civil rights which is where the movement got its name from. There are many names that stand out when you think of the Civil Rights Movement, for example, Martin Luther King Jr. who lead a march to Washington and gave the f amous â€Å"I have a Dream† speech, and there is also Rosa Parks who refused to sit in the back of the bus and render her seat to a white person. They are all interconnected in one way or another, with each of theirRead MoreA Short Biography of Martin Luther King Jr.1479 Words   |  6 Pagesspeeches ever delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. He helped to pave the way for civil right in America. His actions inspired a courageous movement that lives on, even today. Alberta Williams and Martin Luther King, Sr., are the parents of Martin Luther King, Jr.; he was born on the 15th of January in 1929, in the city of Atlanta, Georgia.King was the great-grandson, grandson, and son of Baptist ministers, which was why he also became a Baptist minister. At a young age, King became aware of the unequalRead More Martin Luther King Jr. as the Greatest Civil Rights Leader Essay1080 Words   |  5 Pagescivil rights leaders, I personally believe that Martin Luther King was the greatest of them all. What king achieved during the little over a decade that he worked in civil rights was remarkable. There are few men of whom it can be said their lives changed the world from wikipedia. Using Mohanda Gandhis philosophy of nonviolence King gained the power of many citizens respect which lead him in success in, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Birmingham Protest March, and breaking the barrier to allow black peopleRead MoreEssay on The Life of Martin Luther King Jr.1244 Words   |  5 Pagesworld. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born to Alberta and Martin Luther King. Alberta Williams King was born September 13, 1904 in Atlanta, Georgia. Martin Luther King, Sr. was born December 19, 1899 in Stockbridge, Georgia. Martins dad was a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. His mother was a school teacher. His siblings were Christine King Farris born September 11, 1927, and Alfred Daniel Williams King born July 30, 1930. Martin was the middle child. Martin Luther KingRead MoreMartin Luther King, Jr.s Speech, I have a Dream, Led to Change in Civil Rights1732 Words   |  7 PagesMartin Luther King, Jr.’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech on August 28, 1963 led the way for a much needed change in America’s Civil Rights Era. Martin’s life brought about much needed change to allow black people to have equal opportunities. Martin Luther King, Jr. came from a long line of Southern Baptist Preachers. His father and grandfather’s influence led the way for him to also become a Baptist preacher. The man he was came from his strong convictions in the word of God. This gave him the courage andRead MoreMartin Luther King Essay1440 Words   |  6 PagesWas Martin Luther King the King of the Civil Rights Movement? Martin Luther King was an African-American Civil Rights activist, whose aim was to obtain equality between the races. He believed that this was best done using non-violence (inspired by Gandhi), and so he preached peace. Although he is widely recognised as the main face of the Civil Rights Movement, there were others who contributed in a crucial fashion to the progression of this movement. Rosa Parks, for example, ignited the match whichRead MoreWas King a Pan-Africanist? Martin Luther King and the African Liberation Movements3962 Words   |  16 PagesHist 101. 12/14/12 Was King a Pan-Africanist? Martin Luther King Jr. and the African Liberation Movements. By Kenechukwu Nwosu The King-era civil rights movement coincided closely with the peak of freedom struggles on the African continent. When the Montgomery bus boycott began in December 1955, all but four African nations were under colonial rule; when King delivered his last public speech on April 3, 1968, thirty-six African countries had gained their independence. Most scholarship on King’sRead MoreThe American Civil Rights Movement Essays1529 Words   |  7 Pagessegregation and discrimination. The Civil Rights Movement began in the southern states but quickly rose to national prominence. It is of popular belief that the civil rights movement was organized by small groups of people, with notable leaders like—Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and even John F. Kennedy—driving the ship. That is partly correct. The Civil Rights Movement, in its truest form, was hundreds of thousands of people organizing events and protests, working together to ensure that