Martin Luther King, Jr. (or MLK for short) was born on Jan. 15, 1959, in the American city of Atlanta, Georgia. The second of three children, MLK grew up in an America that had been racist and intolerant to black people. King would have to deal with unfair laws known as the ‘Jim Crow’ laws, which forced a separation of black and white people. It made it illegal for black people to be friends with white people, and made black people live harder lives. King fought against these laws, and after years of organizing large non-violent protests, he managed to end them. His famous speech, “I Have a Dream…” opened the eyes of many Americans to what was going on, and in 1964, he was given the Nobel Peace Prize. Unfortunately, MLK’s enemies did not want black people to be equal, and one of them killed MLK in 1968. Today Americans celebrate Jan. 15 as Martin Luther King Day, and remember the great sacrifices he made.
Jay Oh Copy Editor (ttt@timescore.co.kr)
1. Where was MLK born?
2. How many siblings did MLK have?
3. What were the 'Jim Crow' laws?
1. How did MLK fight against the 'Jim Crow' laws?
2. Is racism okay? Why? Why not?
3. Does racism also exist in your country? How?
Martin Luther King, Jr. (or MLK for short) was born on Jan. 15, 1959, in the American city of Atlanta, Georgia. The second of three children, MLK grew up in an America that had been racist and intolerant to black people. King would have to deal with unfair laws known as the ‘Jim Crow’ laws, which forced a separation of black and white people. It made it illegal for black people to be friends with white people, and made black people live harder lives. King fought against these laws, and after years of organizing large non-violent protests, he managed to end them. His famous speech, “I Have a Dream…” opened the eyes of many Americans to what was going on, and in 1964, he was given the Nobel Peace Prize. Unfortunately, MLK’s enemies did not want black people to be equal, and one of them killed MLK in 1968. Today Americans celebrate Jan. 15 as Martin Luther King Day, and remember the great sacrifices he made.
