Martin Luther King Jr. Questions and Answers
Martin Luther King Jr.
What does Martin Luther King Jr. mean by "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter"?
Martin Luther King Jr. is often attributed as the originator of the quote "our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." In 1965, he actually said the following during a...
Martin Luther King Jr.
When did Martin Luther King Jr. say his quote about the "ultimate measure of a man"?
This quotation was likely first made in August 1958 in a pair of sermons. The sermons were published in a short book in 1959 and then again in 1963. He is alluding to the fact that a person's true...
Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Challenges and Overcoming Them During the Civil Rights Movement
Martin Luther King Jr. faced significant challenges during the Civil Rights Movement, including systemic racism, segregation laws, violent opposition from groups like the Ku Klux Klan, and personal...
Martin Luther King Jr.
The Ultimate Measure Of A Man
The quote means that a person's true character is revealed during difficult and challenging times, rather than in moments of ease. In "Young Goodman Brown," Goodman Brown's encounter with evil...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What key issues did Martin Luther King Jr. focus on during the civil rights movement?
The key issues that Martin Luther King Jr. focused on during the civil rights movement were the right to vote and an end to racial segregation. At that time in the South, African Americans were...
Martin Luther King Jr.
How did Martin Luther King Jr. capture the audience's attention?
Martin Luther King Jr. captured the audience's attention through his use of rhetorical devices, strong body language, and the power of repetition. In his "I Have a Dream" speech, he used allusions to...
Martin Luther King Jr.
Describe King's three methods of meeting oppression and why he favors nonviolent resistance.
Martin Luther King Jr. identifies three methods of meeting oppression: acquiescence, physical violence, and nonviolent resistance. He favors nonviolent resistance because it combines the need to...
Martin Luther King Jr.
Why does Martin Luther King Jr. welcome the label of an "extremist"?
Martin Luther King Jr. welcomes the label of "extremist" in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" by highlighting how figures like Jesus, Martin Luther, Lincoln, and Jefferson were also considered...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What does Martin Luther King Jr. mean by "let us not wallow in the valley of despair"?
In "I Have a Dream," Martin Luther King Jr. means by "let us not wallow in the valley of despair" that people should not succumb to sadness and helplessness despite ongoing injustices. He encourages...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What is the significance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote, "Lukewarm acceptance is more bewildering than outright...
Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote, "Lukewarm acceptance is more bewildering than outright rejection," highlights the confusion and frustration caused by those who claim to support civil rights but fail...
Martin Luther King Jr.
Why did Martin Luther King Jr's Chicago Campaign fail?
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Chicago Campaign failed primarily due to the insidious nature of Northern racism, which was more institutional and economic compared to the overt racism of the South. This...
Martin Luther King Jr.
If You Can't Fly Then Run
Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote means that regardless of your limitations, you must continue striving for progress. He emphasizes persistence in the fight for justice, urging people to do whatever...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s views on Marxism?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rejected Marxism due to its materialist view of history, ethical relativism, and totalitarian tendencies. He opposed the Marxist focus on class struggle and material...
Martin Luther King Jr.
Why does King explain his reasons for opposing the Vietnam War at the beginning of his speech?
King explains his opposition to the Vietnam War at the start of his speech to address why he had not spoken out earlier. He acknowledges the conflict between his civil rights goals and the growing...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What does "winds" mean in MLK's phrase "staggered by the winds of police brutality?"
In Martin Luther King Jr.'s phrase "staggered by the winds of police brutality," "winds" metaphorically represents the powerful, destabilizing forces of police brutality experienced by African...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What are the allusions to the Declaration of Independence and the Bible in King's speech?
Martin Luther King Jr. alludes to the Declaration of Independence in his "I Have a Dream" speech, highlighting the unfulfilled promise of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" for...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What is the central idea of Martin Luther King's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech?
The central idea of Martin Luther King’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech is that it validates his belief in the use of non-violent protest to achieve equality for African Americans.
Martin Luther King Jr.
What did Martin Luther King Jr. mean by the "drum major instinct"? How can it impact leadership positively and...
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "drum major instinct" refers to the innate desire for recognition and importance. If unchecked, it can lead to egotism and oppressive leadership, where leaders seek personal...
Martin Luther King Jr.
Why was Martin Luther King Jr. a controversial figure in the 1950s and '60s?
Martin Luther King Jr. was controversial in the 1950s and '60s due to his advocacy for nonviolent yet unlawful resistance against racial oppression. He faced criticism from those who believed civil...
Martin Luther King Jr.
Why was Martin Luther King, Jr. a powerful figure in American history?
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pivotal figure in American history due to his leadership in the civil rights movement, advocating for racial equality and justice through non-violent protest. His...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What was Dr. King's style in "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and "I Have A Dream"?
Dr. King's style in both "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and "I Have a Dream" is marked by his rhetorical skill in framing the Civil Rights struggle as a universal quest for human rights and dignity....
Martin Luther King Jr.
Can you paraphrase this Martin Luther King Jr. quote: "Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in...
Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote suggests that violence is self-defeating as it fosters resentment in those who suffer and cruelty in those who perpetrate it. His advocacy for nonviolence stems from...
Martin Luther King Jr.
How does Martin Luther King's personal authority empower his words?
Martin Luther King's personal authority empowers his words through his significant educational background, leadership roles, and unwavering commitment to civil rights. His actions, such as...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What are the three dimensions of a complete life according to Martin Luther King Jr.?
According to Martin Luther King Jr., the three dimensions of complete life are length, breadth, and height. He outlined these dimensions in a sermon he delivered in the 1950s and 1960s, and the...
Martin Luther King Jr.
How does Martin Luther King Jr. argue that America's Vietnam war involvement is unfair?
King uses the concepts of pragmatism, morality and Christianity to make a case against the war in Vietnam.
Martin Luther King Jr.
How do "The Three Evils of Society" by MLK and "The Ballot or the Bullet" by Malcolm X critique American capitalism...
In "The Three Evils of Society" and "The Ballot or the Bullet," King and Malcolm X understand Black people as a colonized group within the US, because they are exploited and the wealth they create is...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What literary technique, like repetition, in Martin Luther King Jr.'s Nobel acceptance speech develops the idea of...
In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, the literary technique that stands out the most is repetition, which is used to develop the central idea of nonviolence. There are...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What were the aims of MLK's "I Have a Dream" and Obama's "Yes We Can" speeches? Did they achieve their intended goals?
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" and Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" speeches aimed to inspire unity and action. King's speech focused on ending racial segregation and resonated with universal...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What qualities made King an effective Civil Rights Movement leader?
Martin Luther King Jr.'s effectiveness as a Civil Rights leader stemmed from his background as a Christian minister, which gave him credibility in both black and white communities. His middle-class...
Martin Luther King Jr.
How effective is Dr. King's speech, "Loving Your Enemies"?
The rhetorical strategies King uses are: -Repetition of the phrase, "loving your enemies" -Repetition of the word, "hate" in the phrase, "hatred is too great a burden to bear" -Metaphor in the...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What did Martin Luther King Jr. request in his famous speech?
In his "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King Jr. called for the fulfillment of America's promise of freedom and justice for black people, as guaranteed by the Emancipation Proclamation and the...
Martin Luther King Jr.
What kind of equal rights struggle does Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envision?
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned a struggle for equal rights rooted in nonviolent civil disobedience, aiming to transform the Civil Rights Movement from a political issue into a moral...
Martin Luther King Jr.
How did Martin Luther King, Jr. propose to end injustice?
Dr. King believed that nonviolent civil disobedience would end injustice because it would awaken the conscience to the inhumanity of injustice and cause change. He felt that people have a moral duty...
Martin Luther King Jr.
Were the issues Martin Luther King Jr. fought for important?
Martin Luther King Jr. fought for crucial issues centered on equality and justice, challenging the United States to fulfill its founding promise that all people are equal under law. His advocacy...
Martin Luther King Jr.
How do I use the Cornell System for taking notes on Martin Luther King's speech?
The Cornell System for note-taking involves dividing your paper into three sections: a narrow left column for key terms or questions, a wide right column for detailed notes, and a bottom section for...
Martin Luther King Jr.
A comparison of the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X
Martin Luther King Jr. believed in nonviolent protest and integration, advocating for civil rights through peaceful means and cooperation among races. In contrast, Malcolm X initially promoted black...