“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Dr. M. L. King, Jr
by Kaliyah Frasier, 12
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was an American Baptist minister and an activist. Also, he was the most visible spoken person that led the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-1950s in the United States; until he was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
Dr. King’s Dream was to no longer have racism in society; this shaped America by encouraging people not to judge people by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
Yes, this means people that look like me, I am proud to be 30% Cameroon, Congo, and Southern Bantu, 15% Mali, 9% Ivory Coast/Ghana, 37% Benin Togo, 2% Germanic Europe, 1% England, Wales and Northwestern Europe, 1% Africa South and Haitian. My aspirations were inspired by Dr. King fighting for Equality and Justice for all Americans.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a brave man. He fought for desegregation, Labor rights, equality, and peaceful nonviolent protest. Our new Vice President Kamala Harris; walked the same bridge in 2018 that Dr. King did in 1965.
The peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery state capital reminds me of the Black Lives Matters Marches in 2020 held all over the world. Some of the BLM marches became violent, police officers drawing guns on protesters some getting arrested and thrown in jail.
It’s been Fifty-five years since then and we as a nation haven’t moved to pass the color of our skin. Then it’s the riot for me on January 6, 2021, on and inside the capitol in Washington DC. which makes me think that there are two different United States of America. We still have poverty where Americans are sleeping in the woods even on cold nights.
A group from Trinidad came to our church a few years ago. They were surprised that Americans sleep in the woods. They had to go see it for themselves. That is unheard of in their country they stated. Everyone thinks America is the land of “milk and honey” symbolizing being rich. He will always be remembered when you drive in urban neighborhoods Dr. King’s name can be seen on street signs.
