OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY WHICH AMERICAN LEADER HAS PROVIDED THE GREATEST VISIONARY LEADERSHIP?

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

     You are one man standing in a mass of faces, of every shade and hue, sprawling from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to around the reflecting pool. Here, everyone has finally come together and put aside their differences. The electrifying words "I have a dream" ring throughout the crowd and in every heart the same harmony is being struck. It is a time of change, peace, and hope.

     Only Martin Luther King, Jr. could have such an impact in America's society. His efforts to end the Jim Crow Laws not only gave African Americans more freedoms, but helped to end discrimination on every level. Although he suffered many hardships, like time in prison and threats, he continued to push forward for what he believed was not a wanted, but an absolutely needed, change. Using non-violent tactics inspired by Gandhi, he proved a point that could not have been made any other way.

     Growing up in Georgia, King was able to see the oppression that African Americans and other minority groups faced first hand. Instead of simply standing on the sidelines, he chose to take decisive action. However, as a preacher, he could not condone violence. All of his efforts started out peacefully to show the respect that King had for every human being, even his enemies. His efforts started with the organization of the Montgomery Bus Boycott which ended racial segregation of Montgomery buses, but King didn't stop there. Soon he founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which was aimed at leading marches across strategic cities in the Southern U.S., including the famous March on Washington in 1963. "Bloody Sunday," although showing Americans the cruelty found in the nature of many and becoming a turning point in the movement, was not endorsed by King who foresaw the danger. He headed a march two days later that didn't violate any of the government's wishes, marking his integrity. In 1966, he went so far as to move the campaign to the north starting in Chicago.

     These marches weren't King's only contribution. His writings and teachings reached throughout the US, convincing many that the Civil Rights Movement was the most important issue of the time period. Enemies tried to keep him down by putting him in prison, but this only strengthened his cause. After the Jim Crow laws ended with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he actively opposed the Vietnam War and fought for economic aid to the poor.

     King's legacy will live on forever in the hearts of Americans. His loving and respecting character in the face of injustice inspires all to fight for what is right. Courageously, he pushed aside the urge for violence and battled peacefully for the greater good of all. With perseverance that caused him great personal strain, King was able to see his dream fulfilled and a new definition of equality placed in America's history. The bullet that marked his assassination was like a bullet to America's soul, and forever his life will be celebrated and remembered.