“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.”
Martin Luther King Jr. might be best known for his “I Have a Dream” speech, but he had many more words of wisdom for the people of the civil rights era. In April 1968, 49 years ago, this great man was assassinated. Here are 10 things you can do to honor his memory during the month of his death:
- Watch the “I Have a Dream” speech on YouTube.com. Analyze the speech and the rhetoric to see why it was so effective and powerful.
- Study other peace activists who were assassinated, for example, Cesar Chavez, Gandhi or Harvey Milk.
- Talk to someone who remembers the civil rights era. Learn more about the historical context to appreciate what King did.
- Understand civil disobedience philosophies. Read Henry David Thoreau’s essay, “Civil Disobedience,” which inspired many of today’s activists.
- Read other speeches by King. “The Trumpet of Conscience” consists of five lectures he delivered to Canadian audiences about six months before his death, but there are many other speeches you can find online.
- Read his autobiography or a book by his wife, Coretta Scott King. King has many books attributed to him, and there are some that have been published since his death about his life. For a beautiful pictorial, look for the book with photographs by Bob Adelman.
- Visit one of his memorials. Over 730 cities in the United States have named streets after him, but there are many monuments, buildings and galleries that focus on his life. Internationally, he has even more memorials, such as a forest in Israel, a church in Hungary, a school in Ghana and a garden in India.
- Examine racial issues today. Even though it’s almost 50 years since he died for civil rights, there is still a huge divide in America over race.
- What is your “American Dream?” Think about not what you want for yourself, but the America you want to see for your family, your future and your community.
- Make a commitment to civil rights in your own community. Do something to bring King’s dream to fruition. It doesn’t have to be huge; just reaching out to neighbors who are different makes a difference. Change doesn’t happen without someone leading the way.
Martin Luther King Jr. Changed America and the World
Martin Luther King Jr. isn’t just one of the heroes of the civil rights movement in the United States, but internationally as well. Remembering his legacy can help us move forward in the immigration debate, the healthcare debate and during other hot conflicts currently facing our nation. King was a pacifist who believed in non-violent protest. People listened to him.
Was King perfect? No, he was considered dangerous by the FBI. He was called a hypocritical preacher. Many thought he was a communist. King had a thing for the ladies, and it’s suspected he had extramarital relations with a number of women. Does this mean he wasn’t a great activist? Every man has weaknesses. King’s were probably more exposed because of his notoriety.
King has more than 50 honorary degrees. In 1964, when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, he was the youngest recipient of the prize. He was just 35 years old. (In 2014, Malala Yousafzai became the youngest recipient of the prize. She was 17 years old.) King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has his own holiday in January. One of the best places to remember Martin Luther King Jr. is in Washington, D.C., at his memorial on the National Mall.