COLEGIUL NAȚIONAL „GHEORGHE ŢIŢEICA”

ATESTAT DE COMPETENTA
LINGVISTICA
-LIMBA ENGLEZA-

SERBAN ANDREI OCTAVIAN

CLASA A XII-A E

PROFESOR COORDONATOR:
SEANDRU MONICA

DROBETA TURNU-SEVERIN
- APRILIE 2023 -

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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

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I. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

● Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Brief Overview

II. Early Life and Education…………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 4

● Family Background
● Education

III. Montgomery Bus Boycott………………………………………………………………………………………………….. . 6 .

● King's Role and Leadership

● Nonviolent Resistance and Civil Disobedience

IV. Southern Christian Leadership Conference…….………………………………………………………………….. 7

● Founding and Objectives

● Significant Campaigns and Achievements

V. Letter from Birmingham Jail…………………….…………………………………………………………………………. 8

● Context and Background

● King's Philosophy of Nonviolence and Civil Disobedience
● Significance and Impact

VI. March of Washington……………………………...…………………………………………………………………………. 9

● Context and Background

● Objectives
● “I have a dream” Speech

VI. Voting rights and Selma campaign. …………………….…………………………………………………………..10

● The issues of voting rights

● Significance and Impact

VII. Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. …………………….……………………………………………………11

● Events Leading to the Assassination

● Aftermath and Impact

VIII. Legacy and Impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. …………………………………………………….. …………12

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 ● Contributions to Civil Rights and Social Justice
● Influence on Global Movements for Equality
● Remembrance and Commemoration

Introduction
Martin Luther King, Jr. is widely regarded as one of the most influential
figures of the 20th century, whose leadership and advocacy for social justice
continue to inspire movements around the world today. He played a critical role
in the American civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, advocating for
nonviolent resistance as a means of achieving political and social change.
King's leadership and activism contributed significantly to the passage of major
civil rights legislation in the United States, and helped to dismantle legal
segregation and expand voting rights for black Americans. Beyond his activism,
King's legacy also encompasses his powerful oratory skills, which continue to
resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Today, Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered not only as a champion of

civil rights, but also as a symbol of hope and inspiration for those fighting for
justice and equality around the world.

Early Life and Education:

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia,
to a family of pastors and civil rights activists. His father, Martin Luther King
Sr., was a prominent figure in the Baptist church and a leader in the civil rights
movement. King's mother, Alberta Williams King, was an accomplished organist
and choir leader.

King grew up in a middle-class family and attended segregated public

schools in Atlanta. He excelled academically and was known for his public
speaking abilities from a young age. King was also deeply influenced by his
Christian faith and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, who advocated for
nonviolent resistance as a means of achieving social and political change.

After graduating from high school, King attended Morehouse College in

Atlanta, where he studied sociology and was exposed to the ideas of prominent
black intellectuals and activists. King went on to earn a divinity degree from
Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania and a doctorate in theology from
Boston University.

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 During his time in college and graduate school, King became involved in
the civil rights movement and began to develop his ideas about nonviolent
resistance and social justice. He was deeply influenced by the teachings of
Gandhi, as well as the activism of his father and other civil rights leaders like
Ralph Abernathy and Bayard Rustin.

King's early experiences and education helped to shape his vision for a
more just and equitable society, and set the stage for his leadership in the civil
rights movement.

Morehouse College

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Montgomery Bus Boycott
In 1955, Martin Luther King, Jr. became a leader in the civil rights
movement when he helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott in
Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott was a response to the arrest of Rosa Parks,
a black woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger.

King and other civil rights leaders organized a boycott of the city's buses,
calling on black residents to refuse to ride until the buses were desegregated.
The boycott lasted for more than a year, and King emerged as a prominent
spokesperson and leader for the movement.

During the boycott, King advocated for nonviolent resistance and civil
disobedience as a means of achieving social and political change. He spoke out
against the segregationist policies of the city and the state, and called for an
end to the discrimination and violence that black Americans faced on a daily
basis.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a turning point in the civil rights
movement, and helped to galvanize support for the struggle for racial equality
across the country. It also brought King and other civil rights leaders into the
national spotlight, and set the stage for their continued activism and advocacy
in the years to come.

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Southern Christian Leadership Conference

In 1957, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders founded the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to coordinate and unify the
efforts of civil rights activists across the South. The SCLC was dedicated to
achieving racial equality through nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience.

As the president of the SCLC, King played a central role in organizing and
leading civil rights campaigns throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The SCLC
focused on voter registration, desegregation of public spaces and institutions,
and economic justice for black Americans.

Under King's leadership, the SCLC organized a number of high-profile

campaigns, including the Birmingham campaign in 1963 and the Selma to
Montgomery march in 1965. These campaigns were marked by nonviolent
resistance, sit-ins, and protests, and were often met with violence and
repression from police and other authorities.

Despite these challenges, the SCLC and King's leadership helped to bring
about significant advances in the struggle for civil rights. The organization was
instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting
Rights Act of 1965, which helped to dismantle legal segregation and expand
voting rights for black Americans.

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Letter from Birmingham Jail:

In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama for
leading a nonviolent protest against segregation. While in jail, King wrote an
open letter to his fellow clergymen, defending the use of nonviolent resistance
in the struggle for civil rights.

The "Letter from Birmingham Jail" became a powerful statement of King's

commitment to nonviolence and his belief in the moral necessity of civil
disobedience. In the letter, King argued that it was necessary to disobey unjust
laws in order to bring about social and political change.

The letter was widely circulated and helped to galvanize support for the
civil rights movement across the country. It also brought King's ideas about
nonviolence and civil disobedience into the mainstream, and helped to establish
him as a leading voice in the struggle for racial equality.

The "Letter from Birmingham Jail" remains a powerful and influential

statement of King's philosophy of nonviolent resistance and his commitment to
the principles of justice, equality, and freedom for all. It continues to be studied
and celebrated as a pivotal moment in the history of the civil rights movement.

March of Washington

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 In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. helped to organize the March on
Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which was one of the largest and most
significant demonstrations in the history of the civil rights movement. The
march brought together more than 250,000 people from across the country to
demand an end to racial segregation and discrimination.

The March was significant not just because of its size, but also because it
was one of the first times that civil rights activists had succeeded in bringing
together a diverse coalition of people from different races and backgrounds.
The march included not just African Americans, but also white Americans,
Latinos, Native Americans, and others who supported the cause of civil rights.

The march put pressure on President Kennedy and other political leaders
to take action on civil rights. Following the march, Kennedy proposed the Civil
Rights Act, which he had previously been hesitant to support.

At the march, King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which
became one of the most iconic and inspiring speeches in American history. In
the speech, King called for an end to racism and discrimination, and urged
Americans to work together to build a more just and equal society.

The March on Washington and King's "I Have a Dream" speech remain
powerful symbols of the struggle for racial justice and equality in America. They
continue to inspire and motivate people around the world to work for a better
and more just society.

Voting Rights and Selma campaign

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 One of Martin Luther King Jr.'s most significant contributions to the civil
rights movement was his leadership in the Selma Campaign, which aimed to
secure voting rights for African Americans. At the time, Southern states had
implemented numerous barriers to prevent black citizens from registering to
vote, including literacy tests, poll taxes, and other discriminatory measures.

In 1965, King and other civil rights activists organized a series of

marches and protests in Selma, Alabama, to demand voting rights for African
Americans. The first march, on March 7, 1965, became known as "Bloody
Sunday," when state troopers violently attacked the peaceful protesters with
billy clubs and tear gas. The violence was broadcasted on television and
sparked widespread outrage across the country.

In response, King called on people from all over the country to join the
Selma Campaign, and thousands of protesters gathered in Selma for a second
march on March 9. This march was also halted by law enforcement, but King
and the other leaders eventually negotiated with federal officials and were
granted protection for a third march on March 21.

The third march, which was led by King, finally reached its destination in
Montgomery, Alabama, on March 25. The Selma Campaign played a significant
role in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which eliminated many of
the discriminatory barriers that had prevented African Americans from
exercising their right to vote.

King's leadership and bravery during the Selma Campaign helped to raise
awareness about the issue of voting rights and inspired people across the
country to work towards a more just and equitable society. Today, the Selma
Campaign and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are remembered as important
milestones in the fight for civil rights in the United States.

Assasination of Martin Luther King

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 On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the Lorraine
Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He had traveled to Memphis to support the
striking sanitation workers who were protesting for better pay and working
conditions.

As King stood on the balcony of his room, he was struck by a single bullet
fired from a nearby building. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced
dead within the hour. The news of his assassination sent shockwaves
throughout the country and the world, and many people mourned his loss.

The man responsible for King's assassination was James Earl Ray, a
fugitive who had a history of criminal activity. Ray was able to escape to Canada
but was later captured and extradited to the United States. He pled guilty to the
murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison.

King's assassination was a tragic event that had a profound impact on the
civil rights movement and the country as a whole. In the wake of his death,
there were riots and protests in many cities across the United States, and many
people felt that the country had lost an important leader and advocate for
justice and equality.

Despite the tragedy of his assassination, King's legacy continues to

inspire people to this day. His message of nonviolence and his commitment to
fighting for justice and equality have had a lasting impact on American society
and beyond.

Legacy and Impact

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 He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his leadership and
advocacy for nonviolent resistance, becoming the youngest person to receive
the award at the time. King's message of equality, justice, and peace has
inspired generations of activists and leaders around the world, and his
speeches and writings continue to be studied and celebrated today.

King's leadership in the civil rights movement helped to bring about major
legal and political changes, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These laws helped to address some of
the systemic inequalities that had been entrenched in American society for
generations.

King's message of nonviolence and social justice also inspired a

generation of activists and leaders around the world. His philosophy of
nonviolent resistance has been adopted by numerous social and political
movements, from anti-apartheid activists in South Africa to pro-democracy
activists in Burma.

Today, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy continues to inspire people to

work for a more just and equitable society. His speeches, writings, and actions
are studied in schools and universities around the world, and his ideas about
nonviolence, social justice, and equality remain as relevant today as they were
during the civil rights movement.

King's message of love and unity continues to resonate with people of all
races, religions, and backgrounds. His work and his legacy serve as a reminder
of the power of hope, faith, and perseverance in the face of injustice and
oppression. Martin Luther King, Jr. will always be remembered as one of the
greatest leaders and advocates for social justice in American history.

Sources

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1.https://nationalsclc.org/about/history/

2.https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/
2013/08/24/214959748/did-the-march-on-washington-
improve-blacks-economic-outlook

3.https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/selma-and-
civil-rights

4.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.

5.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr

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