外研新標準必修三Module5GreatpeopleandgreatInvention

Dr.MartinLutherKing

每年一月的第三個星期一是馬丁·路德·金日。在此為大家獻上這位美國黑人領袖的生平簡介。

ItwasDecember,1955,andMartinLutherKing,Jr.hadjustreceivedhisdoctoratedegreeintheology.HehadmovedtoMontgomery,AlabamatopreachataBaptistchurch.Hesawthere,asinmanyothersouthernstates,thatAfrican-Americanshadtorideinthebackofpublicbuses.Dr.KingknewthatthislawviolatedtherightsofeveryAfrican-American.HeorganizedandledaboycottofthepublicbusesinthecityofMontgomery.Anyperson,blackorwhite,whowasagainstsegregationrefusedtousepublictransportation.Thosepeoplewhoboycottedwerethreatenedorattackedbyotherpeople,orevenarrestedorjailedbythepolice.After382Daysofboycottingthebussystem,theSupremeCourtdeclaredthattheAlabamastatesegregationlawwasunconstitutional.

African-Americanswerenotonlysegregatedonbusesthroughoutthesouth.Equalhousingwasdeniedtothem,andseatinginmanyhotelsandrestaurantswasrefused.

In1957,Dr.KingfoundedtheSouthernChristianLeadershipConferenceandmovedbacktohishometownofAtlanta,Georgia.ThiswasthebeginningoftheCivilRightsMovement.Intheyearsfollowing,hecontinuedtoorganizenon-violentprotestsagainstunequaltreatmentofAfrican-Americanpeople.Hisphilosophyremainedpeaceful,andheconstantlyremindedhisfollowersthattheirfightwouldbevictoriousiftheydidnotresorttobloodshed.Nonetheless,heandhisdemonstratorswereoftenthreatenedandattacked.Demonstrationswhichbeganpeacefullyoftenendedupinviolence,andheandmanyotherswereoftenarrested.

OnAugust23,1963,acrowdofmorethan250,000peoplegatheredinWashington,.andmarchedtotheCapitolBuildingtosupportthepassingoflawsthatguaranteedeveryAmericanequalcivilrights.Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.wasatthefrontofthe"MarchonWashington."OnthestepsoftheLincolnMemorialthatday,Dr.Kingdeliveredaspeechthatwaslaterentitled"IHaveaDream."TheMarchwasoneofthelargestgatheringsofblackandwhitepeoplethatthenation'scapitalhadeverseen...andnoviolenceoccurred.

Oneyearlater,theCivilRightsActof1964waspassed.ItwasnotthefirstlawofcivilrightsforAmericans,butitwasthemostthoroughandeffective.Theactguaranteedequalrightsinhousing,publicfacilities,votingandpublicschools.Everyonewouldhaveimpartialhearingsandjurytrials.Acivilrightscommissionwouldensurethattheselawswereenforced.Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.andthousandsofothersnowknewthattheyhadnotstruggledinvain.InthesameyearDr.KingwontheNobelPeacePrizeforleadingnon-violentdemonstrations.

In1968,Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.wasassassinatedwhilehewasleadingaworkers'strikeinMemphis,Tennessee.Whitepeopleandblackpeoplewhohadworkedsohardforpeaceandcivilrightswereshockedandangry.Theworldgrievedthelossofthismanofpeace.

Thefollowingisanexcerptfromthespeechentitled"IHaveaDream,"deliveredbyDr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.onthestepsoftheLincolnMemorialonAugust23,1963.

TheMakingofaHoliday

Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.'sdeathdidnotslowtheCivilRightsMovement.Blackandwhitepeoplecontinuedtofightforfreedomandequality.CorettaScottKingisthewidowofthecivilrightsleader.In1970,sheestablishedtheMartinLutherKinginAtlanta,Georgia.This"livingmemorial"consistsofhisboyhoodhomeandtheEbenezerBaptistChurch,whereKingisburied.

OnMonday,January20,1986,incitiesandtownsacrossthecountrypeoplecelebratedthefirstofficialMartinLutherKingDay,theonlyfederalholidaycommemoratinganAfrican-American.AceremonywhichtookplaceatanoldrailroaddepotinAtlantaGeorgiawasespeciallyemotional.Hundredshadgatheredtosingandtomarch.Manywerethesamepeoplewho,in1965,hadmarchedforfiftymilesbetweentwocitiesinthestateofAlabamatoprotestsegregationanddiscriminationofblackAmericans.

Allthroughthe1980's,controversysurroundedtheideaofaMartinLutherKingDay.CongressmenandcitizenshadpetitionedthePresidenttomakeJanuary15,Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.'sbirthday,afederalholiday.Otherswantedtomaketheholidayonthedayhedied,whilesomepeopledidnotwanttohaveanyholidayatall.

January15hadbeenobservedasapublicholidayformanyyearsin27statesandWashington,.Finally,in1986,PresidentRonaldReagandeclaredthethirdMondayinJanuaryafederallegalholidaycommemoratingDr.MartinLutherKing'sbirthday.

Schools,officesandfederalagenciesareclosedfortheholiday.OnMondaytherearequietmemorialservicesaswellaselaborateceremoniesinhonorofDr.King.OntheprecedingSunday,ministersofallreligionsgivespecialsermonsremindi