January 16th is the day we all celebrate the life of a great leader who has influenced and impacted countless lives, including mine. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the foremost activists and prominent leaders during the peak of the civil rights movement, leading peaceful protests for racial justice and making many speeches opposing segregation. As a result of his dedication and contributions, the government passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which both bettered the lives of African Americans. Without Martin Luther King Jr., his intelligence, and his great wisdom, the world wouldn’t be as unified as it is today.
Martin Luther King Jr. has influenced many people and as one of them, I am very thankful for all he has done for my community. I have always appreciated his empowering speeches that anyone could tell were always written from the heart and always revealed the undeniable truth. When I was younger, I used to recite these speeches in front of people, feeling overjoyed and excited to spread his motivational, kind words to others. The inspirational Martin Luther King Jr. will forever be in our hearts, and he will always be one of the most influential leaders and role models of a movement that has brought peace to every African American in this country today. And although I never met him, I could tell we would’ve gotten along just fine.