Martin Luther King Jr. left a profound effect on the United States of America and its citizens. His famous words and everlasting commitment to his fight for civil rights empowered people all over the country, and continue to inspire American youth even today. Many students at Apex Friendship High School have spent their entire lives hearing about King and his numerous accomplishments, not least of all his deliverance of the well-known “I Have a Dream” speech. YourDictionary specifies King’s contribution to many historical movements, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the March on Washington. Students at AFHS reflected on what King means to them, and which of his dreams they believe remain unfulfilled.
The name Martin Luther King Jr. resides in classrooms like AP US History, due to his sizable contributions to civil rights in the United States. Shannon Rybarczyk, an American History teacher at AFHS, pinpoints the reason why King’s movement succeeded when so many others failed, stating, “it was his emphasis on nonviolence.” Some students in her class discussed what King’s life meant to them, like Darla Jean Charles (11), who says, “for me, King is the reason that I learned that I need to make a change...He paved the way for my future indefinitely.” Another student, Patrick Alvarado (11), agrees and says, “King’s life kind of just represents the want and need for equality for everyone...We are still chasing his dreams and chasing his aspirations to this day, and I think that's why he has such a big legacy.”
Members of the Black Students Alliance (BSA) agree with many of the above sentiments, while adding a few of their own. Mandy Williams (11), President of the BSA, discusses its goal, saying “our club is about providing strong social interaction among individuals of all races.” Williams highlights the fact that in order to continue King’s efforts, teenagers should focus on “intellectual pursuit”, and encourages African American students to embrace their culture and learn about its history. Hannah Rano (11), Vice President of the club, continues explaining its mission statement, saying, “it's definitely just about making sure that everyone in the school feels like they have a place, that they are important, that their opinion matters.” Both leaders discuss the unfinished work of King, quoting modern economic discrepancies between races. Rano says, “economically, we are just at a place where it's not fair. It's so hard for someone to make it big, unless it's an African American in entertainment. There’s also science and math...they deserve to have choices.”
King undoubtedly changed the lives of so many during his time, and left behind a legacy that altered the destiny of a nation. His assassination pierced the hearts of many, and remains a cruel end to his full life. However, some argue that King’s death only added to the mystique of the man, due to the speculation surrounding the undiscovered motives of King’s killer. For students who wish to learn more about the seemingly spontaneous assassination, check out Chasing King’s Killer from the media center. The abrupt end to his life only amplified the results of his efforts, and proved to the American people the extensive change he sparked among the nation’s people. Martin Luther King Jr. rose as a leader the nation needed, and helped secure a promising future for generations to come.
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