Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr                                         Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks to marchers at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Aug. 28, 1963 In the Spirit

On January 18, the nation will pause to remember one of its most important civil rights leaders with a national holiday. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential and respected civil rights leaders in the 1960’s. Dr. King helped bring about laws that make sure America is fair and equal for all citizens. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not believe in violence. He wanted to bring equality to our country peacefully. But, his own life ended violently when he was shot on April 4, 1968 by someone who did not believe as he did.

Long after the civil war was over, Black Americans still did not have the same rights as other free American citizens. They were no longer slaves. Many people in this country believed in segregation. Segregation is the practice of separating people of different races. Black Americans could not attend the same schools as White Americans. They could not eat in the same restaurants. On public buses, they had to give up their seats to white passengers. It was not fair! Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. knew he had to fight for the rights of all Americans. He worked all of his life to make life better for everyone. We celebrate his birthday to remind us about freedom for all.

                              

This is the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The story was put together in the form of a timeline by the second grade class of Mrs. Taverna. Her website will be at the end of this power point.

The information I used is from TIME FOR KIDS and THE SEATTLE TIMES NEWS SOURCE. The Kids Pix Program is from the 2nd grade classroom of Mrs. Taverna’ In Picantico Hills Elementary School. Here is the website. http://www2.lhric.org/pocantica/tavern/98/king.htm

Here is a little quiz about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. !!!!!!!!! Where was Martin Luther King Jr. born?_________________ Where did Martin go to college?_______________________ Who did Martin marry?______________________________ What kind of job did Martin have?______________________ Where was his church?_______________________________ What kind of event did Martin lead in Montgomery, Alabama? _______ What was the name of his most famous speech?__________________ How did Martin die?_________________________________

Let’s look at some words that will help us understand more about civil rights.

Match the words with the definition! 1 When all people are treated the same 2 A person who influences others 3 When people of different races are separated 4 To imagine something 5 To stop doing business with a group to change something 6 Condition in which people are not oppressed 7 To treat people differently because of their race 8 To murder a very important person 9 To hold in very high esteem 10 To perform an action in order to show that you object to something Leader Dream Freedom Equality Racism Segregation Boycott Protest Assassinate Honor From Enchanted Learning

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Speech “I Have a Dream” When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

A modern day Civil Rights leader, 1956 Rosa Parks protested the unfair treatment of Black Americans in Montgomery, Alabama. She refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man. Rosa was arrested and given a fine for breaking the law.

What happened next? Black men and women in Montgomery boycotted the buses. That means they refused to take the bus. Guess who led the boycott? Because they did not use the bus system, it almost went out of business.

Books about Freedom Fighters Follow the Drinking Gourd, by Jeanette Winter Words by Heart, Quida Sebestyen Rosa Parks: My Story, by Rosa Parks Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, by D. Hopkinson Through My Eyes, by Ruby Bridges