April 4th marks the death of the great dreamer, Martin Luther King Jr. It's been 50 years since the legendary revolutional activist was assassinated. His life and death brings great significance to the whole world . Martin Luther King Jr was a civil rights activist who fought against racial segregation in America. He didn't just fight for African Americans , he fought for the color black.
As a young man, Martin Luther King Jr was not afraid of death. In fact he knew that sacrifices were inevitable if his dreams were to be achieved. It was this understanding that brought his dreams to realization. King understood that sometimes one has to break the rules to break new grounds. His courage was unbelievable. In the 39 years of his life, he did the work of a lifetime. According to a biographer, at death it was discovered that he had the heart of a 60 years old man. Martin Luther King started a revolution.
During an April 4, 1967, appearance at the New York City Riverside Church - exactly one year before his death - King delivered a speech titled "Beyond Vietnam : A Time to Break Silence ". He spoke strongly against the U.S's role in the war, arguing that the U.S was in Vietnam " to occupy it as an American colony " and calling the U. S government "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today ". He also connected the war with economic injustice, arguing that the country needed serious moral change.
As a young man, Martin Luther King Jr was not afraid of death. In fact he knew that sacrifices were inevitable if his dreams were to be achieved. It was this understanding that brought his dreams to realization. King understood that sometimes one has to break the rules to break new grounds. His courage was unbelievable. In the 39 years of his life, he did the work of a lifetime. According to a biographer, at death it was discovered that he had the heart of a 60 years old man. Martin Luther King started a revolution.
During an April 4, 1967, appearance at the New York City Riverside Church - exactly one year before his death - King delivered a speech titled "Beyond Vietnam : A Time to Break Silence ". He spoke strongly against the U.S's role in the war, arguing that the U.S was in Vietnam " to occupy it as an American colony " and calling the U. S government "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today ". He also connected the war with economic injustice, arguing that the country needed serious moral change.
"I Have a Dream" came to be regarded as one of the finest speeches in the history of American oratory :
"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it's creed... "
King led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and in 1957 became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). With the SCLC, he led an unsuccessful 1962 struggle against segregation in Albany Georgia and helped organize the nonviolent 1963 protests in Birmingham, Alabama. He also helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous " I Have a Dream " speech. On October 14 , 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance.
"Martin Luther King Jr was the conscience of his generation . He gazed upon the great wall of segregation and saw that the power of love could bring it down. From the pain and exhaustion of his fight to fulfill the promises of our founding fathers for our humblest citizens, he wrung his eloquent statement of his dream for America. He made our nation stronger because he made it better. His dream sustains us yet ", citation of Martin Luther King Jr at the presidential medal of freedom, in 1977.
All Nigeria needs today is a revolutionary man or woman who is ready to sacrifice a lot for this Nation. It is not enough to dream and have great visions for a better future. Even the good book says, Faith without works is dead. It is applaudable that people are beginning to rise up to certain situations. Nevertheless, there needs to be a revolution. People may die and properties may be lost along the journey but it is unavoidably the only means to complete restoration of the integrity and dignity of the giant of Africa. We can retrace our steps, all it takes is for one man to stand strong, fulfilling the visions and dreams of our great nation.
Jemima Okonkwo Chineye is a writer and law graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife