A Plan and a Dream
Life these Days
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to talk to people these days? So many people in the world have their own beliefs and motivations, making it hard just to approach someone and start a conversation. Then there are people on the internet, who argue about even the smallest things. Human nature has always tended toward conflict in some form, but it seems that nowadays, it’s impossible to go a day without encountering some argument or fight.
What if I told you that there was a man who disliked these ideals? What if I told you that this man believed we, as humans, should not care about others’ differences and instead walk hand-in-hand in peace? You might think that such a belief could only come from a child. But we’re not talking about a child—we’re talking about Martin Luther King Jr. So, who was he? Why is he important? And why are people still talking about his dream to this day? Also, how do I get this tattoo off? Well, don’t worry—we can answer three out of the four questions.
It all Started with a Dream
Born on January 15th, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was named after a pastor whom his father respected. As a Baptist minister, his father was in charge of the children's moral and religious education. His mother was an American civil rights organizer, which was quite common at the time. Martin Luther King Jr. himself worked as a paperboy and dreamed of becoming a fireman. Even as a child, Martin knew that there was a divide in his nation. For years, America had dealt with the consequences of racism. People of different ethnicities were given different rights, which created a cultural divide. Even today, America still struggles with racism. Martin King saw this and sought to heal this divide in the best way he knew: preaching and speaking out.
A Signal Voice can Erupt Thousands.
Martin Luther King Jr. followed in both of his parents' footsteps, becoming a Baptist minister and social rights activist. He became a leader of the Civil Rights movement with his peaceful protests and inspiring speeches. His message of equality and fairness resonated with almost the entire nation, and soon, Dr. King’s vision was beginning to become a reality. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the most important speech of his career: the “I Have a Dream” speech. It is arguably the most popular and most significant speech Dr. King ever delivered.
“I Have a Dream”
“Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. . . . I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, . . . one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. . . With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. . . . And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews, and Gentiles, Protestants, and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’”
sniff sniff, I'm not crying, your crying!
Champion the Dream
Unfortunately, not every historical figure lives a full life (shocker, I know). On April 4th, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and wounded. This led to his untimely demise at the age of 39. James Earl Ray was the one who shot Martin at the scene of the crime. He pled guilty and spent 29 years in jail until his death. Today, Martin Luther King Jr. stands as a beacon for civil rights in America and equality. He and his dream serve as a reminder of how we should respect one another—not based on race, belief, or ideals, but based on actions. That is why, here at MLK-365, we are committed to spreading his message across the world so that everyone can learn about his dream. By passing it on to the next generation, we will continue to champion the dream for years to come.
