The third Monday of January, also known as Martin Luther King Day, is when we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a prominent leader of the Civil Rights movement, which sought to bring equal rights, justice, and equality to African Americans. He played a vital role in organizing the March on Washington in 1963. Over 200,000 Americans marched in the capital during this event to support the Civil Rights Act and end employment discrimination. It was at the March on Washington that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. presented his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream.”
Martin Luther King was a very intelligent man with many wise words, but one quote that sticks out to me is, “If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” This quote emphasizes reliance and determination in the face of challenges that seem hard or impossible. It is teaching his audience that no matter what, do not give up. There will always be another way. This message has always meant a lot to me because the challenges in my own life have shown it to be very true. This quote from MLK Jr. is a message to encourage people to persevere regardless of what obstacles might stand in their way. This complements the saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” highlighting that our determination and inner strength empower us to forge a new path that previously did not exist. The diction of this quote is motivational and inspiring because it promotes progress despite hardships in life. As the sentence continues, the movement methods become slower and weaker in a sense; however, it never suggests stopping. It says the opposite. It doesn’t matter how tiny the forward movement is; it is still an improvement. Speed is not important, as long as there is some sort of growth in your progress. A small forward movement will always outrun a sedentary attempt. This quote always sticks out to me because he uses such simple ideas and creates such an iconic and powerful metaphor.
Martin Luther King Day is celebrated as a national holiday to encourage people to reflect on how far our country has come regarding racial equality and social changes, forged by Dr. King. On this day each year, many Civil Rights leaders and politicians hold marches, rallies, and speeches. MLK Jr. was born on January 15th and devoted his life to using nonviolence to bring an end to racial segregation in the US. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work. Unfortunately, he was assassinated in 1968. This is when the idea of Martin Luther King Day was established because his supporters sought to create a national holiday to honor the life of Dr. King. However, it was not passed by legislation to become a federal holiday until 1983.
