MLK Day

January 15. Do you know what day that is? Other than the fact that school is out that day. That is Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Most people know about him and his, “I have a dream speech.” But how many people really think about the importance of that day. Let’s be honest, to many high schoolers MLK day is just another regular day. Even though, teenagers may not celebrate it, everyone knows the importance of MLK.

“I think it’s important that we continue to remember his historical movement, and not forget how far we’ve come as a nation because of his speech,“ sophomore Sheylyn Pokorny stated.  

Martin Luther King Jr. was an civil rights activist in 1954. Through peaceful protests, King sought equality and justice for everyone, especially African Americans. He was the force behind the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the watershed events. He was rewarded with the Nobel Peace Prize.

“‘I have a dream speech,” is famous  for changing the way the world looked on people of color and making it so open and public so they couldn’t ignore it anymore,” Melany Martinez Mier stated. “That’s important because he showed that everyone was equal no matter their religion, culture, gender, or skin color.”

MLK was also once put in jail for his involvement of the civil rights movement. He was soon released and he continued with his defence. Long after all of his major contributions, his time had come to an end. Unfortunately, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 by James Earl Ray. Although, Martin Luther King Jr. passed away, the impact he made with his words still linger on. His words have shaped the world for the future population.

“MLK day is important it’s a reminder of what MLK did for all the people that weren’t white and had different skin. We need to remember this day of how it ended in the past, with MLK dying because he was assassinated, we don’t want to repeat history. Sure help still think that white people are better but MLK showed that all people are equal,” Sheylyn Pokorny stated.