The Biggest Contributor to Civil Rights: Martin Luther

King Jr.
1 As for marking the start of Martin Luther King Jr.’s
“I Have a Dream” speech, the exceptional Civil Rights
(1954-1968) figurehead said, “I have a dream that one day,
this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its
creed... that all men are created equal.” The Civil Rights
movement was a political fight that lasted from 1954 to 1968
against segregation, and for the rights of African Americans.
There are a variety of Civil Rights leaders, but one must
agree that the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., often stated
to as MLK, is the strongest. MLK lead countless boycotts
and movements to end segregation in the United States and
cooperated with several leaders to fight for African
Americans’ . He faced many challenges, but he pushed on
and eventually made a tremendous impact on World and
American history. Although many Civil Rights Leaders
contributed massively, Martin Luther King Jr. passes them
all when it comes to marking a path in the Civil Rights Movement.
2 One of the primary reasons why King is the biggest contributor is because of his “I Have
a Dream” speech (part of the famous March on Washington). Over 250,000 people (about half
the population of Wyoming) took part in this march as an effort to demonstrate the importance of
equal rights. Some of the issues the march hoped to accomplish included an end to segregation in
public schools, protection from police abuse, and to get laws passed that would prevent
discrimination in employment (Ducksters, n.d). The March on Washington was a great benefit to
Civil Rights. Today this speech is called the "I Have a Dream" speech, and it is considered one
of the greatest speeches in history. One famous quote from this speech is "I have a dream that my
four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of
their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!" (Kid’s Biography: Martin
Luther King, n.d). The Civil Rights Act was passed a year later in 1964.
3 Furthermore, Martin Luther King Jr. is the biggest contributor because he led the
Montgomery Bus Boycott. It all started when another Civil Rights leader, Rosa Parks, refused to
give up her seat to a white man. She got arrested by the police, got fined $10, and then spent a
night in jail. Because of that, King organized a boycott of the bus system in Montgomery. They
picked December 5th. According to Kid’s Biography: Martin Luther King (n.d), “They handed
out pamphlets so people would know what to do and on December 5th around 90% of black
people in Montgomery did not ride the buses.”. The boycott was planned in Martin Luther King
Jr.’s church. They created a group called the Montgomery Improvement Association. MLK was
arrested and his house was destroyed. He also had to pay a $500 fine. However, King didn't give
up fighting for equal rights, and segregation on Montgomery transportation systems ceased. The
boycott was planned in Martin Luther King Jr.’s church.
4 Additionaly, he was also a leader in the Birmingham
Campaign. The Birmingham Campaign was a group of protests
based in Birmingham, Alabama against segregation in the
United States. Birmingham was very segregated back then. The
schools, restaurants, drinking places, and places they could call
“home” were very segregated. There were laws called the Jim
Crow Laws that have the purpose to separate people by race.
The trains, bathrooms, were all segregated. MLK and other
leaders planned the protest and codenamed it Project C. Civil
Rights for Kids: Birmingham Campaign (n.d) stated “The
protests would be non-violent and included boycotting
downtown stores, sit-ins, and marches. The organizers thought
that if enough people protested, the local government would be
forced to "confront" them and this would make national news
gaining them support from the federal government and the rest
of the country.”. They protested in a safe way, not hurting
people and causing casualties. Mahatma Ghandi did this kind of
practice. Gandhi was an Indian lawyer who led his country to
freedom from British rule in 1947. King did the same, but
against segregation.
5 The “I Have a Dream” speech is part of the March on
Washington. The March on Washington was intended to have a
say that people should not be segregated and that all men are
created equal. The March was planned to take place on August 28, 1963. 1963 was the 100 year
anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the enslaved during the Civil War.
(Civil Rights for Kids: March on Washington, n.d). Around 200,000 to 300,000 people marched
that day and cities and businesses offered employees a day off. Hundreds of buses from all over
the country traveled to Washington DC. They gathered at the Lincoln Memorial and leaders
gave their speeches through a sound system. That is where Martin Luther King Jr. gave the
famous speech “I Have a Dream”. The speech gave the message that all men are created equal,
and people should not be biased based on their race and sexuality. The march was a success, and
after all the leaders gave their speeches, they met with President Kennedy to discuss the
problems and the civil rights legislation. The march marked a huge step in Civil Rights and
changed the lives of millions of people today.
6 To add on, he was also a leader in the Selma March. The Selma March was a Cicil Rights
event that led to voting rights. In 1965 King led a drive to register Black voters in Selma,
Alabama. King organized an initial march from Selma to the state capitol building in
Montgomery but did not lead it himself. The marchers were violently turned back by state
troopers who used nightsticks and tear gas. More than 50 marchers, including civil rights leader
John Lewis, were hospitalized. This incident, which took place on Sunday, March 7, became
known as “Bloody Sunday.” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020). The last march consisted of
25,000 people marching more than 50 miles from Selma to Montgomery, the capital of Alabama.
It led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Television Crews arrived at the scene and the march
broadcasted all over the country. On March 15, President Johnson introduced voting rights
legislation to Congress. On March 21 Ling led the marchers out of Selma, over the bridge, and
on to Montgomery (Selma March, n.d).
7 Given the numerous reasons why MLK is the greatest leader of civil rights, this
remarkable human led countless marches and events to fight for the end of segregation in the
United States. He gave the “I Have a Dream Speech”, led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, was a
leader in the Birmingham Campaign, led the March on Washington, and led the Selma March.
Martin Luther King Jr. was an exceptional leader in Civil Rights who devoted himself to the
peaceful fighting for the end of segregation. He is the reason why all citizens can vote today, and
there is no segregation in public schools, bathrooms, buses, etc. This remarkable leader led the
United States’ African Americans to equal rights with other people and fought for all men and
women the right to vote.

References
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2020, October 21). Martin Luther King, Jr.’s
Achievements. Encyclopedia Britannica. [Link]
King-Jr-s-Achievements
Civil Rights for Kids: March on Washington (n.d.).
[Link]

Civil Rights for Kids: Birmingham campaign. (n.d.).

[Link]

Kid’s Biography: Martin Luther King, Jr. (n.d.).

[Link]

Selma March. (n.d.-b). Britannica Kids. [Link]