Leadership

Leadership
As I sit in geography class talking about racism, violence, and segregation around the world I think about one man who had really changed the world and stopped segregation. That man’s name is Martin Luther King Jr. He was known for his many great speeches like “I Have a Dream” and “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” Martin had tried his best to get rid of segregation without violence. Martin became more involved with the Civil Rights Movement because of a courageous woman name Rosa Parks.
Rosa took a seat in the “Black Only” part of the bus which is in front of the bus. A white man got on and found that all the seats in the white rows were filled up. The driver of the bus told the blacks that they had to give the white man a seat. Rosa Parks refused and said “I have had enough; I want to be treated like a human being.” She still would not budge when she was demanded. The driver threatened to call the police and she told him to “Go Ahead”. She was arrested for refusing to give up her spot to the white man.
This got many black people motivated to stand up and so they decided to boycott the Montgomery buses. There was violence all around just because the blacks were boycotting the buses. You could see water hoses being sprayed, police men and their dogs attacking innocent, unarmed black people. The smell of blood and sweat wafted the air along with the sounds of yelling, sirens, and barking. You could also feel the pain inflicted upon the innocent black people and feel the hand cuffs tightly strapped around your wrists. Tons were arrested and were taken to jail. Martin Luther King Jr. had been one of the people. Martin’s house had been fire-bombed, he and his family received death threats.
Inside the jail were many prisoners both tall and short. The prison guards held guns and batons making sure that no one stepped out of line. They stood and walked around looking as tough as fierce grizzly bears. The stench of body odor and sweat hit many newcomers like a herd of elephants. While inside Birmingham jail Martin wrote a letter and in that letter it talked about the meaning of the Civil Rights Movement. King wrote saying that “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here; Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Later he was released and he marched to Washington D.C. he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” in front of millions around the world. The roar of the people was like a roar of a lion only ten times louder. Martin’s voice was heard by the millions of people everywhere.
After the speech on Washington D.C., Martin continued speaking out. He gave his last on April 3 in Memphis, Tennessee. The next day he was assassinated on the balcony of his motel room. The shot was heard by those nearby. Everyone was shocked; riots broke out in the country. Millions watched Martin’s funeral on TV. Many cried and were filled with anger. I come back to reality remembering I am in geography. I think to myself was Martin’s work of stopping racism and segregation wasted? Or was it the beginning of a New World.

Submitted by Anonymous

Leadership