Essay Life and Work of Martin Luther King Jr. - 2061 Words

Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist from the 1950’s to 1968 with a strong religious background. A strong advocator for all minorities, King did all in his power to end barriers of community; poverty, racism and militarism. The principle he focused more on, however, was racism. King defined racism as prejudice, apartheid, ethnic conflict, anti-Semitism, sexism, colonialism, homophobia, ageism, or discrimination against disabled groups and stereotypes. Later turning his efforts to poverty, King believed that the United States should have equal rights for all men, women and children. Martin Luther King Jr. had a strong philosophy of non-violent protests, called civil disobedience, to which he gained supporters, changing the†¦show more content†¦From there, he attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he received his Bachelor of Divinity in 1951. While at Crozer, King was elected student body president in a primarily white class, and graduated as valedictorian. King’s education allowed him to be seen with professional stature, known for eloquence in his communication. Previously influenced heavily by Gandhi and Frederick Douglass, King began to shift his beliefs to Reinhold Niebuhr’s neo-orthodoxy, which emphasized the complexity of social evil. A classmate of his father’s, Niebuhr mentored King and challenged his liberal views of theology, influencing King’s spiritual development. Studying both psychology and theology, King understood the connections that combined the two, and used them to change words into actions. After graduating from Crozer, King attended Boston University, where he received his doctorate in 1955. While attending Boston University, he met Coretta Scott, who attended the New England Conservatory School in Boston, a singer and dancer. Soon after, in June of 1953, the couple was married. After finishing school, King became a pastor at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Pastoring for many years, King later realized, however, that he was slowly being called away from his inherited calling. In 1960, King founded the National Urban League which provided black migrants with education and employment, allowing interracialShow MoreRelatedOutliers Essay909 Words   |  4 PagesOutlier Essay: Martin Luther King Jr. An outlier is a person or thing situated away or detached from the main body or system. In other words, an outlier is somebody who goes out of his or her way and does something extraordinary in order to accomplish their goal. Martin Luther King Jr. is a true example of an outlier. In the early 1900s, segregation was strongly recognized in the United States, until Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for what he believed in and made a change. 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Despite these obstacles,Read MoreThe Beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. versus Malcolm X Essay1208 Words   |  5 PagesBeliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. versus Malcolm X â€Å"I have a dream, that one day little black boys and black girls will join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sister and brother.† (de Kay 75)†¦Martin Luther King Jr. During the past century, the United States of America has wresled with the problem of inequality between black and white people. Two influential people who helped to combat racism and the inequality of man were Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm