Racism in the United States grew during the time of slavery. According to Human Rights Careers Online, “For thousands of years, people didn’t categorize humans by race. They were aware of differences and didn’t see everyone as equal, but the concept of race didn’t truly develop until the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the 16th century.”
During the 1950s in America, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others worked to end racism against Black people and other people of color. They used peaceful protests to stand up for equal rights.
At Patrick M. Villano School, many students say they accept people from different cultures. Some students connect this idea to the example set by King.
“Martin Luther King, to me, is a leader who showed respect to all cultures,” said William Espinoza, a sixth grade student.
Americans celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third Monday of January. The day honors his role in the Civil Rights Movement. According to Britannica Online, King led sit-ins and protests using nonviolent resistance to fight racial segregation. He was assassinated in 1968. Today, the holiday is observed across the country, and many schools, including Villano, are closed.
Joshua Choe, another sixth grade student, shared his thoughts about the holiday. “Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day about someone who tried to stop racism and tried to make it so everyone is equal,” Choe said. “It reminds us that he tried to do something that seemed impossible without giving up.”
Dr. King is widely known for his “I Have a Dream” speech, which he delivered in 1963. In this speech, he spoke about his hope for equality and freedom for all people. He was also involved in the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, a 381-day protest in Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott began after Rosa Parks, an African American woman, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus.
Many people were affected by segregation because they were treated unfairly under the law. King and others worked to change those laws and bring attention to injustice. Today, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed as a time to remember his life and his work.
