Martin Luther King Junior left a rich legacy of activism that continues reverberating around the world to this day. Luther’s leadership, visibility, and influence make him one of the most outstanding civil activists of the 20th Century. Actually, some commentators and historians consider him one of humanity’s most important activists of all time. Such was his impact that the world remembers him almost 50 years after his death from a gunshot.

When writing a school research paper on activism, you should ensure that it captures the most important points. As you will see from Martin Luther King Junior’s case study, activism is quite intense. What is more, it has a beginning. Activists can often point the exact moment when the fires of activism started burning deep within their souls. Additionally, the research paper must focus on the impact the activism had.

Martin Luther’s Entrance into Activism

To highlight this point, one has to delve into Martin Luther’s philosophy. What motivated him to go into activism? However, it’s important to mention that King Jr.’s philosophy kept evolving. Nevertheless, what emerges clearly from his life was his core belief in fighting for human rights and seeking justice for all. It is little wonder that many authors describe him as the champion of justice. Probably, that arose out of the fact that he grew up in church and was a preacher.

Long before the world knew Martin Luther as an activist, he worked as a preacher. Evidently, his faith played a crucial role in how he approached activism. His theological anthropology formed the core of all his beliefs as a social activist. Based on this upbringing, he believed that what affected one person directly also affected everyone else indirectly. That explains why he so eloquently stated that injustice in one place threatens justice everywhere else.

What was Martin Luther King Jr.’s Activism all about?

In writing the school research paper regarding activism, one also needs to look at the activist’s focus. Where King Jr. is concerned, it’s clear that racial segregation was his primary focus. He went through school and college in different settings. His high school education was mostly from segregated schools in Georgia. For college, he got a B.A. from a predominantly black college in Atlanta. He also attended several other mainly white colleges.

Therefore, Dr. Martin Luther got the first-hand experience in racial segregation. While working as a pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, he also registered with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. While here, he was able to start stoking the fire of activism that would come to define the rest of his life on earth. In 1955, he would lead the calls for boycotting Montgomery’s infamously segregated public bus service.

The boycott lasted 382 days. At the time, African-Americans using Montgomery’s public bus system had to move to the back while allowing whites to sit in front. What is more, blacks (or Negroes, as they were called at the time), had to forego their seats in case any white person wanted to sit. This was the most blatant case of the segregation that was practiced in public. Martin Luther joined hands with fellow blacks to protest this clear case of racial discrimination.

Impact of His Activism

How much impact did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have on the American society, especially regarding how it treats black Americans? The fight against racism continues to date. In his last sermon, “I’ve been to the mountaintop,” King Jr. clearly shows the hope he harbors in his hear for humanity. That sermon touched the minds and hearts of almost everyone who listened to it. In death, he continues receiving more recognition for his work.

Nevertheless, Martin Luther King Jr. came, saw, and conquered the world of activism. He was eloquent and consistent in his message throughout his career as a social activist. His crusade against racial segregation struck a chord with Americans and the rest of the world. It proved how much activist could achieve with soft skills and untamed dedication to whatever cause they fight for and believe in.