The My Hero Project - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King was born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. In a time where segregation and discrimination were the norm, Dr. King sought to find equality for fellow African Americans, and for all.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has inspired people around the world with his message of peaceful resistance and racial equality. Dr. King, himself, was greatly influenced by the success of Mahatma Ghandi's nonviolent protests in India. The dream of Dr. King lives on in those who continue to work for racial equality, in heroes like Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela, Malika Sanders, and Marian Wright Edelman.
In 1964, at the age of 35, Dr. King became the youngest man ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Four years later, on April 4th, 1968, Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. But his dream did not die and his call for equal rights for all has been heard around the world.

What follows are quotes from visitors and heroes who consider Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. their hero...

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Malika Sanders is a voting activist striving for racial equality.

"August 28th [2003] marks the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington. This anniversary spotlights an event that served as a catalyst of the issues we are still faced with today. Issues of militarism, voting rights and reparation."

Moses Farmer,Global Kids Leader from New York

“Listening to excerpts from his powerful speech against the Vietnam war meant a lot to me. It made me think about the current war in Afghanistan, where the use of violence has been justified as a means towards peace."

Marian Wright Edeleman, renowned lawyer,author,and children's rights advocate

“That I, a young black girl, could be and do anything, that race and gender are shadows, and character, self-discipline, determination, attitude and will are the substance of life.”

Nick Campbell of Juneau, Alaska

“My hero is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because Llewellyn, Reece and I could not be friends if Dr. King didn't stand up for himself and the whole world.”

Ly from San Jose, California

“He has taught us that we are all equal in every way, no matter what color of skin we have. He enlightened the people with his bravery to stand up for what he believed in."

Collette from San Jose, California

“He is a hero because of his motto to not give up; for the dream he had that helped his people (blacks) and for his ability to use nonviolence to get what he wants. He was a great man who stood up for what he believed in.”

Kaitlin from Montvale

“While fighting for equality between the races, he helped Americans realize their intolerance. He was a social reformer, an author, a receiver of numerous awards, a parent, and a leader. He fought for justice and freedom for Americans of African descent."

Yuhan from Montvale

“Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of impressive moralistic presence who devoted his life in the crusade for equality for the poor, disadvantaged, and racially oppressed in the United States.”

Rev. Rosemary Bray Mc Natt, renowned author, editor, and minister

“Before the car drove away, he turned and looked out the window, right into my eyes. He smiled and waved, and so did I. I can still remember that smile, still feel it, though it was more than 35 years ago. Later, Dr. King led a march on downtown Chicago, a march that my whole family attended, dressed in our Sunday clothes. It was my first protest march, though definitely not my last."

The 40th Anniversary of Dr. King's "I Have a dream" speech

“Forty years after Martin Luther King Jr.'s `I have a dream' speech helped spur civil rights legislation, lawmakers remembered him in a ceremony of song and prayer.
...The march grew out of an increasing sense of discontent and frustration with the pace of progress on civil rights. "

RELATED LINKS
Martin Luther King, Jr. Guestbook: Read guestbook entries by other My Hero users from around the world, and input your own entry!

The Washington, DC, Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial

The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia, is the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of America’s greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace.

EXTRA INFORMATION

RECOMMENDED READING

Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Clayborne Carson
I Have a Dream
by Martin Luther King, Jr., James M. Washington (Editor), James Melvin Washington (Editor), Foreword by Coretta Scott King

Martin Luther King
by Rosemary L. Bray
Martin''s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Doreen Rappaport

My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers
by Christine King Farris
The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Speech that Inspired a Nation
by Drew D. Hansen

More Featured Freedom Heroes


Abraham Lincoln was a U.S president who fought for the abolition of slavery while keeping the country united.	Alexander Solzhenitsyn was a Russian novelist and dissident who won the Nobel Prize for Literature.	Angela Davis is a leader, author, and professor who has fought for decades for human rights.	Art Miki founded the National Association for Japanese Canadians to help redress Japanese rights lost during WWII.

Aung San Suu Kyi has dedicated her life to freeing Burma from a repressive dictatorship and creating democracy without violence.	Bill Bradley once a pro-basketball player now is a politician who advocates reform to make America better for all.	Cesar Chavez was a tireless advocate for migrant farm workers.	Chief Joseph led the Nez Perce tribe in an effort to keep its homeland.

Clara Shortridge Foltz was the first woman to practice law in California.	Constance Motley became the first African-American woman judge on the largest federal trial bench in the US.	Craig Kielburger believes kids can change the world.	Crazy Horse bravely fought for the freedom of the Sioux Nation.

Daniel Pearl was a Wall Street Journal reporter who reported the news with courage, integrity, and intelligence.	Deborah Sampson dressed as a man so that she could fight in America's Revolutionary War.	Declaration of Human Rights established the basis for human rights beliefs and practices all over the world.	Desmond Tutu worked to end apartheid in South Africa.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream" was the civil rights speech that moved the world	Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Congressman John Lewis talks about how Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired him as a young man during the Civil Rights Movement	Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet is known as the 'Mandela of Cuba' because he bravely defends the rights of Cuban citizens.	Eleanor Roosevelt was a champion for freedom and devoted her life to gaining rights for others

Eleanor Roosevelt was a dedicated and strong voice for her husband, FDR, and for the United States.	Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a pioneer in the movement for women's rights.	Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is a leader who is bringing change and hope to Liberia.	Emmeline Pankhurst fought tirelessly for women's suffrage, and succeeded.

Fadela Amara is recognized throughout France as a champion of women's rights.	Frances Ellen Watkins was a prolific author and poet who devoted her life to speaking out against slavery.	Fred Korematsu bravely protested the Japanese-American internment.	Frederick Douglass courageously spoke out against slavery and became a trusted advisor to Abraham Lincoln.

George Washington was the first President of the United States.	Harriet Tubman organized the Underground Railroad and helped lead slaves to freedom.	Inez Milholland Boissevain : a brief but spectacular life dedicated to women's suffrage.	Inge Sargent is a Burmese princess devoted to human rights for all.

Iqbal Masih was a brave advocate for child labor laws in Pakistan.	James Reeb risked his own life as a brave civil rights crusader.	Jane Akre & Steve Wilson won the 2001 Goldman Environmental Prize for their courageous journalism.	Janet Jagan was the first female president of Guyana and dedicated her life to building the independence of a nation.

Jessie Daniel Ames worked openly and actively on behalf of racial justice.	John Adams worked as hard for peace for the United States as he did for its independence.	John Lewis has worked for civil rights for all for over 40 years.	Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta is Kerry Kennedy's hero because of his human rights work in East Timor.

Jose Marti is considered the father of Cuba's battle for independence.	Joseph Ki-Zerbo works to help Africans retain control of their country's agriculture.	Joséphine Baker , popular African American dancer in France, fought for civil rights and freedom against the Nazis.	Judy Feld Carr secretly helped thousands of Jews escape from Syria.

Kailash Satyarthi is determined to end child labor practices around the world.	Kofi Annan is an honored freedom and peacemaker hero.	Lyndon B. Johnson was John's great grandfather and the 36th President of the United States.	Malcolm Little known as Malcom X, was a warrior in the fight against racism.

Marian Wright Edelman is one of the country's leading advocates for children.	Martin Luther King, Jr. Peaceful freedom fighter and civil rights activist	Mary Harris Jones worked to free men, women, and children from industrial slavery.	Medgar Wiley Evers worked to end racism in America

Mohammad Hatta was a central figure in Indonesia's fight for independence.	Mohandas K. Gandhi used non-violence to free India from British rule.	Morris Seligman Dees is the co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center.	Moses led the Jews from slavery and gave them religious laws.

Nellie McClung believed in equal rights for all women	Nelson Mandela is a peacemaker and a freedom hero.	Nelson Mandela is Muhammad Ali's hero because he understands what it means to fight against enormous odds	Osceola led the Seminoles in their battle for independence.

Paul Revere risked his life for the freedom of the American colonies.	Qasim Amin was a forerunner in the fight for women’s liberation in the Islamic world.	Quaid-E-Azam helped to create the nation of Pakistan and obtain significant political rights for Muslims	RAWA promotes women's rights through non-violent action.

Rev. James Reeb worked for equal rights for all	Reverend Peter Nguyen Van Hung works to end human trafficking of Vietnamese women workers and brides.	Robert F. Kennedy was a voice for the powerless and advocate for human rights.	Roger Nash Baldwin A pioneer in the struggle for civil justice.

Rosa Parks made history when she refused to sit in the back of the bus.	Ruby Bridges bravely led the way to desegregation of schools as a child.	Sir William Wallace was a freedom-fighter for the Scottish people in the early 1300s.	Sojourner Truth born into slavery, worked for the freedom of all.

Susan B. Anthony led the early Women's Suffrage Movement.	Susie King Taylor was a pioneer in the struggle for African American women's rights.	The Dalai Lama is the religious leader of Tibet and an emblem of Tibet's hopes for freedom.	The Greensboro Four protested segregation with a sit-in at Woolworth's lunch counter.

The Little Rock Nine bravely fought discrimination to attend an all white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas.	Thomas Jefferson helped the American Colonies achieve independence from Britain.	Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.	Tiananmen Square discuss freedom and democracy at Tian An Min Square.

Vaclav Havel despite censorship, wrote plays that helped keep the hope of freedom alive....	Varian Fry helped thousands of refugees escape from France during WWII.	W.E.B. Dubois was a leading 19th century writer and scholar.	William Wallace was a late 13th century freedom fighter for Scotland and Ireland

Winston Churchill was one of the first to recognize and warn others of Hitler's danger to freedom and human rights.

More Featured Other Heroes


Bob Hope had the rare ability to bring laughter everywhere he went.	Eunice Kennedy Shriver dedicated her life to raising awareness and creating opportunities for the intellectually disabled.	FilmAid International educates, informs and to brings hope and joy to thousands of refugees.	Frances Moore Lappe is a passionate and pioneering thinker, world changer, and activist in many movements.

Grace , a championship-winning Special Olympics athlete, teaches us to reach for our dreams, in spite of limitations.	Jim Coplin inspires his friend, Shauna, by the way he lives his life.	Liz Murray against all odds believed in herself and persevered in her studies to become a student at Harvard.	Martin Luther King, Jr. Peaceful freedom fighter and civil rights activist

Mohammed Bah Abba invented a refrigeration device that is not dependent on electricity.	Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls has opened up opportunities to South African girls.	Pat Tillman will be remembered for his bravery and love of country.	Ron Reagan Jr. has the courage to speak out for what he believes.

Rudy Giuliani gained international attention and honor for his heroism on September 11, 2001.	Sherry Lansing , one of Hollywood's top executives, resigned in order to do more humanitarian efforts.	The Concept of Heroes is the topic of Elie Wiesel's essay, published in My Hero Extraordinary People on the Heroes Who Inspire Them	Young Heroes Children from all walks of life can be heroes

Last changed on:7/2/2004 9:04:42 AM

RECOMMENDED READING
Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Clayborne Carson	I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr., James M. Washington (Editor), James Melvin Washington (Editor), Foreword by Coretta Scott King
Martin Luther King by Rosemary L. Bray	Martin''s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport
My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers by Christine King Farris	The Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Speech that Inspired a Nation by Drew D. Hansen

"August 28th [2003] marks the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington. This anniversary spotlights an event that served as a catalyst of the issues we are still faced with today. Issues of militarism, voting rights and reparation."

“Listening to excerpts from his powerful speech against the Vietnam war meant a lot to me. It made me think about the current war in Afghanistan, where the use of violence has been justified as a means towards peace."

“That I, a young black girl, could be and do anything, that race and gender are shadows, and character, self-discipline, determination, attitude and will are the substance of life.”

“My hero is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because Llewellyn, Reece and I could not be friends if Dr. King didn't stand up for himself and the whole world.”

“He has taught us that we are all equal in every way, no matter what color of skin we have. He enlightened the people with his bravery to stand up for what he believed in."

“He is a hero because of his motto to not give up; for the dream he had that helped his people (blacks) and for his ability to use nonviolence to get what he wants. He was a great man who stood up for what he believed in.”

“While fighting for equality between the races, he helped Americans realize their intolerance. He was a social reformer, an author, a receiver of numerous awards, a parent, and a leader. He fought for justice and freedom for Americans of African descent."

“Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of impressive moralistic presence who devoted his life in the crusade for equality for the poor, disadvantaged, and racially oppressed in the United States.”

“Forty years after Martin Luther King Jr.'s `I have a dream' speech helped spur civil rights legislation, lawmakers remembered him in a ceremony of song and prayer. ...The march grew out of an increasing sense of discontent and frustration with the pace of progress on civil rights. "

“Forty years after Martin Luther King Jr.'s `I have a dream' speech helped spur civil rights legislation, lawmakers remembered him in a ceremony of song and prayer.
...The march grew out of an increasing sense of discontent and frustration with the pace of progress on civil rights. "