VD Prejudice: Opinionless Judgement

Prejudice; Opinionless judgment

Veronica Dudzinski

March on Washington + "I have a Dream"

Birmingham Children's March

The Assasination of MLK

Birmingham Children's March

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In the summer of 1963; MLK stated that Birmingham, Alabama was the most segregated city, and wanted to prove that the police chief Bull Connor instigated police brutality. MLK was arrested, citing that he was ‘parading without a permit.’ In jail, MLK wrote a letter using a smuggled pen in the margins of a newspaper and on toilet paper. The children of the town gathered to protest on May 2nd, 1963, to which they were met with firefighters using hoses to stop these kids, causing cuts, torn clothes, as well as beating them with nightsticks. The people of America were mortified, and Birmingham desegregated with deliberate speed after JFK sent 3000 troops to deal with the issue, and they gained a poor reputation. The desegregation of Birmingham, including public spaces, educational services, and private businesses was one of the largest impats of the Civil Rights movement. This is important because in the Civil Rights movement, it took a lot of effort and people being hurt to get change as small as being able to ride buses without giving up your seat; in the case of Birmingham, being able to go anywhere without having to use 'colored' spaces.

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I Have a Dream / March on Washington

MLK gathered over 250,000 people of various races, ages and ethnicities at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28th, 1963 and began a famous speech (I Have a Dream) proclaiming that “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. I have a dream today.” This speech consisted of allusions, metaphors, and symbolism to illustrate the idea of civil rights for all, no matter their skin color or race.It led to and greatly influenced the public opinion on racism and segregation, leading to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 being signed. This was important because it swayed the public opinion enough for legislation regarding integration; ending segregation, however not preventing racism.

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MLK Assasination

On April 4th, 1968, at the Lorriane Motel in Memphis, Tennesse MLK was shot by James Earl Ray (an escaped fugitive from Missouri) on the balcony of his motel. The investigation of his death led to the FBI searching the boarding house next door, to which a bundle with a 30.06 Remington was discovered.Going in further, they found evidence of Ray getting a room with a view of the Motel (where MLK was), and an international manhunt for him began. On 19 July 1968 Ray was extradited to the United States from Britain to stand trial. He pleaded guilty to murder charges, leading to a 99 year sentence. Today, the MLK memorial stands in Memorial Park, Washington D.C.

All of this culminated in the national recognition of the Civil Rights movement's monumental figure, whose impact on America changed legislation, views, and minds about segregation; without MLK, America would be very different today.