Essay Sample: A Right to Freedom – Martin Luther King

What's the point of trying to get someone to listen to you when in reality what you are saying is not coming from any place of meaning?  Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively or destructively, using words of despair. Words build, lift, comfort and calm. However, words can also destroy, demolish, incite and enrage, criticize, embarrass and demean.

During the 1960s in the United States, Not only the words of African Americans but also their feelings were being neglected by most people. This was the Civil Rights Movement, and multiple leaders influenced people across America and around the world.

During this time many African Americans were oppressed. People of color had to fight for the freedom that should have been gained naturally. However black people not only wanted to be heard but to also be seen. What is seeing a person of color without seeing their color? A person of color was told once 'I don't see your color, I just see you.’ and her response was “If you don't see my color you don't see me.”

Imagine protesting, locking arms with a person just as vulnerable as you, and hearing “we shall overcome”, looking up as you find Martin Luther King discussed the importance of African Americans fighting for their freedom. Some people didn't have to imagine that, some people lived it.

MLK was introduced to be “the moral leader of our nation,” and was trusted for his words by the audience. People today are still inspired by his words which made a huge impact on society. MLK uses ethos to express an inspiring tone to move the crowd to do better things. In this case, ethos is being used to show the audience that MLK can be trusted. paragraph 13, “I have a dream” by Martin Luther King jr. “Justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream,”  king mentions the bible quote as the audience at the time was Christian and very much looked up to god. He uses this quote to indicate that justice is something that needs to be proved.

King inspired the crowd by saying, “the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality, you have been the veterans of creative suffering,” king acknowledges those who have been mistreated for just standing up for what is right—adding to police brutality which is still a problem we face today. Black kids were forced to grow up in a time where they couldn't play with other kids just because whites were taught to feel a certain way by blacks. “I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls,” King said as he didn't want the future generation to grow as messed up as they did. How would you feel not only having to fight for yourself but for your kid's sake?

Living in the 21st Century, it isn't easy to imagine a time in the history of the United States when black students could not attend the same public schools that white students attended. Have you ever attended a new school and were scared to be the new kid? Walking threw the halls knowing no one, getting stares as you walk to class, dressing differently from any other student. That was not nearly as bad as these nine students Melba Pattillo, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Minnijean Brown, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls, Jefferson Thomas, Gloria Ray, and Thelma Mothershed, who was known as The Little Rock Nine. The Little Rock nine were subjects of unspeakable hatred because they were the different new kids.

The Little Rock Nine walked down the halls of their new school being spit at, and or being harassed with horrible words because of their race! These students had to go threw hard obstacles to become who they are today and to everyone who knows their names. The U.S. Supreme Court issued the Brown v. Board of Education, this decision ended with the court declaring all laws initiating schools are unconstitutional. In 1957 after the decision the NAACP registered nine African American students to attend Little Rock Central High, an all-white school. 1957, September 4th, as students try to enter the school they are being told to go home. Later on, on September 23rd those nine students attempted to enter their soon-to-be school only to face yet more problems. As words begin to spread about the nine black students that are in the school, many people gathered outside the school. As there was a concern due to the thought that the police would not be able to control the huge crowd, all that soon to be calmed down when the nine students were removed from the school.

Think of all the harmful words you've heard words on what you shouldn't do or what you cant do. Well, these nine students heard it all, but it didn't stop them. The Little Rock Nine knew they were not wanted in an all-white school, but that didn't stop them. The Little Rock Nine were then accompanied by The Arkansas National Guards to and from Little Rock high school. The Little Rock Nine went threw things no person or students should have ever been through. They have been told things no person or student should ever hear, but that isn't stopping anyone from saying or doing those things. Putting all the problems aside, those nine students didn't just face all that crap for nothing. They changed the future for themselves and many more black students.

All students of color now learn in the same school the importance of the Civil Rights Movement. As part of the Civil Rights movement we are thought how Martin Luther King jr. had the power to provoke, calm, and inspire people everywhere. In 1963 MLK wrote what is now known as The Letter from Birmingham Jail. In this letter, MLK includes valid explanations for what happened in Birmingham and examples of injustice toward African Americans. MLK uses his words to help provoke change in this letter. “dogs sinking their teeth into unarmed nonviolent negros.” this is one-way African Americans are being mistreated.

Old negro women and young negro girls are being pushed, cursed at, and slapped. Old negro men and young negro men kicked and refused to give them food. MLK used these examples of negligence to provoke emotion from people. MLK's words helped to enlighten mistreatment and injustices and bring hope that there would be a better future.

When we are upset and we feel the world is to blame, we look for the words from others to help calm us. Many people looked to Robert F. Kennedy as he shared the news of Martin Luther kings assassination. Kennedy made sure that blacks were not alone in the feeling of grief and sadness  "For those of you who are black and are tempted to be filled with hatred and mistrust of the injustice of such an act... I would only say that I can feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling" Kennedy didn't want people to lash out, he also knew King wouldn't have wanted that either. The power of anyone's words could help anyone in a time of grief.

The simplest words we speak can provoke calm and inspire. During the Civil Rights movement, many people were able to help use the power of words. Many words were also used to harm people, but it is not hard to overcome. Allowing our words to be heard, we could easily change the world.