Martin Luter King Junior, an American Baptist Minister and his Inspire on me

Martin Luther King Junior was not a name taken lightly in schools growing up. From kindergarten we are taught that he had a big voice and just wanted everyone to get along. What I didn't learn until my freshman year of college was that he was a minister before he was an activist, which is a pretty big key that tends to be left out. God led him on a journey that only he could walk upon.

We see this man as a social activist who put his heart into fighting discrimination against not only African Americans, but people from all over who have been marginalized and mistreated in society. He inspires me in more ways than one. His faith in God and his drive in what was right. His faults show me that even the imperfect can achieve the unimaginable.

Nobody is perfect, and I think we tend to forget that when we are putting these great historical figures on a pedestal. I didn't know until recently that he had a life with many ups and downs just like everyone else. You know the stigma everyone has about smokers? Automatically looking at the Walmart worker lighting a cigarette in the back, good things don't usually come up as a first reaction. For myself, when I go up into the dog park behind the campus for a smoke break between classes, I am astonished by the way people look at me. Some people avoid eye contact and scold their curious dogs when they approach me. I learned that King was secretly regular smoker as well, and I don't feel like he is any lesser of a person because of it... and neither am I.

When he was twelve, Martin tried to commit suicide after the death of his grandmother. His heart felt so much grief and pain that he felt like it was no longer worth it to see the day of tomorrow. When he is put so high on his famous pedestal, bringing him down to a humanely relatable level. A moment of weakness, a mind full of demons, and the devil himself telling you to give up, we have to ask, how in the world do I stay sane? And then something amazing happens, the work of god shines through your eyes and you see the stars in every direction. With his mouth, he spoke god's words for the world to hear him as God didn't make him a fearless man, but a courageous one. His faith in God gave him the strength and will power to fight for his people, for all people he felt needed a voice.

I learned about his March on Washington. When he first arrived in the morning, he was afraid that no one was going to show up, and later learns that the high ways were too jammed with busses on their way to the march. Young people, old people, people of all colors and backgrounds showed up with the same dreams in their hearts. This was the work of God, always ready to surprise us with his next miracle.

Martin Luther King Junior touched the lives of many all over the world, and quite obviously mine. He encouraged everyone to take a stand for what was right: equality. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." As a young activist, he has reassured me that I what I am doing, what I am putting my heart and time into is for something I believe deserves my attention. He reassures me that as long as I follow my heart and God, the lord will bless me with the promise of tomorrow until he decides otherwise. God will not put anything in your path that you can't handle.

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