The global impact of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Americans pay homage to Martin Luther King, Jr. every January. While King was a renowned leader for his role in the American civil rights movement, his legacy extends beyond American borders. King began to speak about global issues after receiving the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, visiting countries in west Africa and toured South America. King also spent a month in India, where he was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’ s use of nonviolence when protesting British rule. King spoke out against apartheid in South Africa and condemned the use of nuclear weapons against Japan during World War II. He also was a critic of the Vietnam War. As a Christian minister, King’ s first priority was to promote the teachings of Jesus Christ, and King felt an obligation to do God’ s work around the world.
Segment taken from Martin Luther King, Jr.’ s“ I Have a Dream” speech given at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C., on August 28, 1963, as part of the March on Washington.“
“… Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friend. 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 up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
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