This is our country's national monument to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This site was unveiled recently and today is the first time it has been open to the public on Dr. King's National Holiday. This man was, as you well know, one of the nation's leaders in equal civil rights for African Americans during the 1960s. He was assasinated in Memphis, TN in 1968 on the balcony of his hotel room. His nonviolent movement to gain equal political and civil liberties for his people cost him his life but improved the lives of millions. He was not perfect, but he was courageous.I wonder, though, what his life would have been like if he'd been born in the late 18th Century? What would his cause have been? Could he have been as successful? Certainly not every black person in America back then was a slave (of course most were). It is possible King could have been a free and educated black in the North. If so, would he have had the following he obtained in the mid 20th Century?
Shed A Little Light
Let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women
Living on the earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world become
A place in which our children
Can grow free and strong
We are bound together
By the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound and we are bound
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps the heart will never rest
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women
Living on the earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world become
A place in which our children
Can grow free and strong
We are bound together
By the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound and we are bound
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps the heart will never rest
(chorus)
Shed a little light, oh lord
So that we can see
Just a little light, oh lord
Wanna stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh lord
Wanna walk it on down
Shed a little light, oh lord
Can't get no light from the dollar bill
Don't give me no light from a tv screen
When I open my eyes
I wanna drink my fill
From the well on the hill
(do you know what I mean? )
- chorus -
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps the heart will never rest
Oh, let us turn our thoughts today
To martin luther king
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women
Living on the earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
Shed a little light, oh lord
So that we can see
Just a little light, oh lord
Wanna stand it on up
Stand it on up, oh lord
Wanna walk it on down
Shed a little light, oh lord
Can't get no light from the dollar bill
Don't give me no light from a tv screen
When I open my eyes
I wanna drink my fill
From the well on the hill
(do you know what I mean? )
- chorus -
There is a feeling like the clenching of a fist
There is a hunger in the center of the chest
There is a passage through the darkness and the mist
And though the body sleeps the heart will never rest
Oh, let us turn our thoughts today
To martin luther king
And recognize that there are ties between us
All men and women
Living on the earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood
-James Taylor
Reflect on the monument. Watch the video and read the lyrics. Does this man's life speak to you at all? Does what he and those around him accomplished mean anything to us today? How do you think our country would have been different if Dr. King had lived in the 18th Century instead of the 20th?
If Marin Luther King JR. was born in the late 18th century he probably would not be as successful. Even if he wasn’t a slave he probably wouldn’t have been able to do the things he did in the 20th century. There is a big possibility that he not be well educated. He probably wouldn’t have a done such influential things for this country. Let alone have a national holiday just for him. I don’t doubt at all that he wouldn’t have followed his heart and tried to stop segregation and slavery but he probably couldn’t have made such an impact on the country. (104) Tori :) :) :) :)
ReplyDeleteWithout Martin Luther King JR., I think the country would be completely different. There is the possibility of still have segregated bathrooms, buses, churches, schools, parks, and a lot more. He had a big impact on our American society. I think if he had been born in the 18th century a lot of things might still be the same or different, but no one really knows. He could have been born in the North or South. He could have also been brought straight from Africa to America. If he was born in the North, I think he would have been well educated and had a slightly easier life. He could have spoken out against slavery from the North, where as in the South he would have been severely punished. In the South he probably would have been forced to work on a plantation.
ReplyDeleteIn the 18th century, if he had spoken out, I don’t think lots of things would have changed. People, in the South, just might have heard him and thought as him just being “another black person” speaking out. The north would have heard him but I don’t know if they would have done anything. His impact on slavery most likely wouldn’t have been that large.
It’s a good thing he was born in the 20th century, or else I might not have ever gotten to be friends with some of the people that I am friends with today. (241)
I think that if Martin Luther King Jr. was born in the 18th century he would not have had an impact on America at all. For one, there were no TV's no radios, nothing. He would give on speech and honestly would probably get hanged and the white people would not be afraid to do it because no one was watching. Also, if he had given his speech and lived, the whites would have probably told everyone how bad he was. They wouldn't be happy with what he said. The only reason he would be famous would be because he was a rebel.
ReplyDeleteGod knew exactly when he wanted Martin Luther King Jr. to be in this world, and when he was in it was the perfect time. It was long enough after they were set free, and there was good enough technology. Thank God he did what he did. Basketball wouldn't be the same without him ;) (161)
Martin Luther King Jr. was an amazing person, but if God didn't have it all planned out, nothing would have worked out like it did. If God hadn't allowed Martin Luther King Jr. be born in the period he was born, he would have not had any impact. Slavery had ended within 80 years, and it was still very tough for African Americans. TVs were becoming much, much more common for family homes, which made it easier for his message to be spread to more people. And people were open to new ideas, like no slavery. If all of this hadn't happened at the perfect time, it would have all been pointless. 112
ReplyDeleteMartin Luther King Jr.’s life speaks to me a lot. He is a man who stood up for what he knew was right peacefully. That is something that takes a lot of courage, doing it showily or with violence isn’t as hard and attracts a lot more attention than when doing it peacefully. That was a choice that shows character. If everyone did what he did when addressing a problem, things would be a whole lot smoother than using your anger in a violent way which many people do when something is not going their way. If he had lived in the 18th Century, things would have been a lot different. If he had been a free and educated African American in the North, then I don’t think he would have had the drive he had to do what he thought was right because everything was fine for him. (149 words) Converse ;)
ReplyDeleteI think that Martin Luther King Jr. was a great man. He heavily impacted our nation in the right direction. Things definitely would not be the same if he was born in the 18thcentury instead of the 20th; I personally don’t believe that he would have made such a big difference if he was born in that century, because sadly at that time not many people even cared about what blacks had to say. I have thought many times about why God put me in this time period and how I could not even imagine living in a different period of time. And I think that this statement applies to him as well. God knew what kindof leadership we needed in our country at that time. His life definatly show us that if we see a problem we need to let it be known, then help fix it. I love that on this holiday unlike any of the other holidays. Most people actually go help the community or some one in need on their day off. (176):)
ReplyDeleteIf Martin Luther King Jr. had lived in the 18th century in stead of the 20th, I think he still could have made a difference. He could have spoken out against slavery if he was a northern, well-educated, free black. The difference between him living in the 20th century or the 18th is that in earlier times it would have been harder to get peoples’ attention because they didn’t have technology like t.v. and radio. I do think, however, that with lots of work he still would have had a notable impact no matter what time in American history he lived in. (102)
ReplyDeleteI think that if he was in the 18th century then i think he wouldn't make a difference what so ever. Because back then people didn't care what black people thought.He would just be a slave then. Nobody would think that he was any good at all. Just another slave wanting to be free. Everyone now would think he is the greatest black man ever. And that is really true. He is the greatest black man ever.In the 20th century everyone would listen. He wasn't a slave so they could listen or not listen. That is what i think about this subject. He is the best black man ever.(107)
ReplyDeleteIf Martin Luther King Jr. was born in the 18th century in the southern section of America, his life would be different. From what I’ve learned, whites had no respect for blacks and couldn’t care less what they said. If King was a slave on a plantation, then I don’t think he would have been able to speak out on racism. If he was a free black, I believe that he might have been able to speak out, but since so many people were racist, I don’t think it would have had the same effect. King had an amazing and country changing life. If he hadn’t have been born in the time and place he was born we still might be separated from blacks today. He was indeed one amazing and influential man.
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Martin Luther King Jr. was a very important man and still affects the people of the world today. If Martin Luther King Jr. was not born we would not have a day off to recognize him. I think people take that day as an advantage of not going to school or work for some. If Martin Luther King Jr. was born in the 18th century his message would not have been heard the same way. I don’t think the things he said would have made an impact on people like it did and still does today if he was born in the 18th century. 104
ReplyDeleteMartin Luther King Jr. was a very important man. I think that if he was born in the 18th century he would not have had nearly as big of an impact as he did in the 20th century. Martin Luther impacts a lot of peoples lives. If he was born in the 18th century barely any people would have gotten to hear his speeches. Since it was the 20th century they had radios and TVs. He was very brave for speeking out for black people's rights. Because of what he did he now has a naitional holiday named after him. If he hadn't spoken up America would be very different than it is today. (114)
ReplyDeleteHis life does speak to me and what he accomplished then does mean a lot to others today. If Martin Luther King was born in the 18th century instead of the 20th century I think that our country would have been better in the 20th century and by better I mean not a lot of racism and discrimination. If he was a slave in the 18th century I don’t know if he would have even had a chance to do what he did in the 20th century. If he was a free educated African American who lived in the North in the 18th century I think he would have had a harder time doing what he did in the 20th century because what he did in the 20th century was a little easier because blacks weren’t enslaved anymore but in the 18th century they were so people would have been more vigilant if he would have tried to do what he did in the 20th century. (166)
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ReplyDeleteOne of Martin Luther King Jr.'s most famous quotes is, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged on the color of their skin but by the content of their character." This one saying had a huge impact. His life does speak to me and the things he accomplished changed the way our country treated people. Had he not been brave enough to stand up and say what he believed, America might have still been the way it was. And that would be terrible. Had he been alive in the 18th century, I doubt he would have been able to accomplish these things. It would have been great if he could. Life would have been better and there wouldn't have been as much racism and discrimination, but I don't think he could have done it. Being African American in the 18th century meant being treated terribly and being a slave. (Except for a few free ones) So I don't think people would have listened to him. God knew exactly where King needed to be and when. (190)
ReplyDeleteIf Martin Luther King Jr. had lived in 18th century instead of the 20th century the result of it would have defiantly been different. In the 18th century white men could get in trouble if they spoke out let alone a black person. Plus it would be hard to get his message spread around. Sure they had a newspaper but they did not have the things we had in the 20th century. We had all sorts of ways to communicate stuff TV, radio and so much more. When God put him in the 20th century it was for a reason. His message would be heard and communicated better. Even though he didn’t have a big voice in the 20th century it was a lot more than he would have had in the 18th century. He has made a big impact on our country and has helped us to grow a lot. He helped get African Americans the rights and opportunities they deserve. Some of the greatest people in our American history were African Americans and they most likely would not have gotten to do what they did without him. For example our president is an African American if our country was still like the way it was before Martin Luther King Jr. did what he did it would not have been a possibility for him to be president. And our country thanks him for what he did we have a holiday just for him, a monument, songs and a lot more to celebrate the great thing he did for us and the wonderful impact he mad on our country. (269)
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