Thursday, January 12, 2012

What if Martin Luther King Jr. were never born?



We have watched several videos and read about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. over the past few days. He is an American hero who overcame countless injustices. He used non-violent protests to spread the message of equality for all people regardless of race. On Monday, we will be honoring his legacy with a national holiday.

Think about the impact of Dr. King and write a short paragraph answering the question:

What if Martin Luther King Jr. were never born?

Ideas: You might want to include how he has affected your life and the life of all Americans.
You might also include ideas about how the world would be different without him.

26 comments:

skyler said...

if Dr.martin Luther king,Jr. was never born black people would not be able to go to school with white people.or black people would still have to go to different parks or different restaurants than the white people.If Dr. martin Luther king Jr never came along all of our lives would be a lot different.

Lexi H. said...

Martin Luther King Jr. changed many of peoples lives. If Martin Luther King Jr. did not make his I had a dream speech our lives would be different. My life would never be the same. I am not black but still things would not be the same. I am proud to be an American but I feel bad for the African-American people we never should of treated them that way. It is not fair that whites could eat in a certain restaurant and they could not. It would be different if Martin Luther King Jr. never did the I had a dream speech than life would be different.

Shaelyn E. said...

Martin Luther King Jr. was an amazing leader.If he were never born we people would never have freedom at all.So that is why I am glad that he was born and to stand up and America have freedom at last.I am also so glad that Martin made speeches to make America free.Thank you, Martin.

Anonymous said...

“What if Martin Luther King was never born?” This question must ring like a bell in the mind of many African-Americans. But that sentence is not accompanied with a response. Nobody knows what would happen, so here are a couple of reasonable hypotheses on the subject.

“Only whites allowed!” “No African-Americans!” Without King, these signs would be all over the place. Someone else brave, with powers of speech, would have to notice these notices sooner or later. They could easily say uh-uh, that’s dangerous- I could get killed. But if they were truly brave, the would stand up and state that skin color doesn’t matter, but character does. Then, King wouldn’t be there, but someone else would.

Now what if it was that the role simply was not made to happen? I don’t want to think about it- all my African-American friends, I would never have met. If I was African-American, I wouldn’t have met my white friends. Yes, our lives are better with King.

Nathan said...

If Martin Luther king Jr. was not born the world would be a total different place. Blacks and Whites would still be separated and the laws would not have changed like blacks could not go into restraunts or stores and they would have to sit in the backs of buses or stand up. If Martin never came along Barack Obama would not be President. Blacks would not get that good of education as the whites. That is most likely what the world would be like If Martin Luther King Jr. had not come along

Grace said...

If Martin Luther King JR. was never alive there would never be a law that said that blacks could do the same thing as whites.Like go to the same school or even play withe white kids.The world would be falling apart if Martin was not here to put back together again.

Jillian said...

Without Martin Luther King Jr. and without his speech that changed the world.Our country's black people would still be suffering by the white peoples wealth and not going to do things they love to do Such as not going to certain restaurants or places or not playing with with their white friends.Also our recent President Barrack Obama would not be the President because he is black.

Andres p said...

If M L K wasn't ever born then No black people will not go in a lot of places. Like restaurants. And black people will not be able to ride the bus in the front. They will not have right to do any thing. And can not go to school with white kids. And know one will be able to play with white. Thats what I thick will happen if M L K was not born

Aurora said...

If Martin Luther King Jr was never born then I would never even know one of best friends. If he was never born then Mr.Watanabe would not even be my teacher and one of my best friends is African American and I would not even know her and she would go to a different school maybe even a different state.

Sophia S. said...

If Martin Luther King Jr. was not born almost everything would be different in some peoples lives. He gave freedom to everybody. Call it courage? Yes. But I think it is more of bravery and independence. He made sure he was doing everything in his power to make black people have the same rights as white. If he was not born African-American people would be treated very badly. They would keep judging people for color instead of character. I think it would be terrible Dr. King was not born because the world is a place where everybody should have freedom and now because of Dr. King almost everybody does.And that's what the world is made for.

Isabelle c. said...

If Martin Luther King Jr was not born then the world would still have very unfair laws.Another thing that would have changed the world is white people will still think they are better than any African American they have seen.If Martin Luther King Jr was not born African Americans would still be in slavery and still not have freedom. Martin changed African Americans lives because now they can go to the schools they want, now they can go and eat in restaurants that they want and finally they can do whatever they want. So if Martin Luther King Jr was not born are lives would be changed forever.

Connor said...

If Martian Luther King Jr. was never alive nobody like my neighbour would be a policeman. Nobody would have schools,jobs, properties, and lives in America. I would not know all these nice people in my life. I would never have had the opportunity to do all this stuff.

Breianna KM said...

If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wasn't born we wouldn't white people wouldn’t be going to school with African-American people. If he wasn't born also we rely be free or we or we would not make friends that are African-American and people cant do sterns thing as other people do. kids my age couldn't play with each other and Americans would be snotty and I serenely don’t want to be like. If Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. wasn't born every thing would be wrong and the world will be in a fighting with its self.

Alyssa B said...

Martin Luther King is a big part of our countries nation. If he never would have gave that speech we would not get to do as much as we do now. Like for example if he never gave that speech we would not get to go to school with the people we go to school with now. Some people would be limited to go to certain places. Like African Americans would not get to go to the same restaurant as us or the same bathrooms as us. And I met some really awesome African Americans that are my best friends. So if Dr. King did not give that speech I would never get to meet them. So those are some reasons why if Martin Luther King Jr. were never born and never gave the I have a dream speech that is what would happen to us and the rest of the country.

Anna said...

If Martin Luther King Jr. was not here we wouldn't have freedom, African American and whites would still be at war, a lot of the laws would be unfair like differences, for example having different color skin, the ability to go places when your different color skin, or different beliefs. Also Rosa Parks would of still been in jail. Our lives would be in danger. This country would not of be like it is right now. The world wouldn’t be fair without Martin Luther King Jr.

ScottR said...

With out Dr.Martin king Luther all white kids would that only they would go to school and African American kids would go to a different school and in my class every body is white but there is still black in my school some aether schools probably have people but with out him that also would be different and if you had African American friends you can”t play with them.that”s all I have to say about martin king Luther.the end

Claire said...

If Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t born I think it would be the most worst thing that ever happened to me and other people too.If I had a friend that was an African American I probably wouldn't see he or she ever.Like Martin Luther King Jr. I would think that doing that to people is a bad idea. People who are black or white are the same because we both run and we both learn and if we have the same similarities then we shouldn't do that to each other.

Brianab. said...

If Martin Luther king Jr. wasn’t here I would be horrified of myself! I would feel very selfish and greedy. I would be able to do all the things African American wouldn’t. That would certainly make me feel bad for them. African Americans have to sit outside restaurants while white people eat inside. Also black people have to sit in the back of the bus hoping that a white person wont kick them off. Who would create such a horrible law! If Martin Luther wasn't here I wouldn't be able to connect with African Americans. I say there is no difference between black and white and that is why I am thankful for him. If he wasn't here our lives would be changed forever.

Matthew E said...

If Martin Luther King was never alive then white and African American people would still be separated. Then I would start to cry because when other people cry I cry. African American people can not go to a certain place that would make them sad so that wold make me sad. I would make a speech when I grow up to change that law. Then are lives could be the same and we all can be friends

George W said...

If Martin Luther king Jr was never born the USA would be vary segreated in 1/1/2012. That wood be bad for African Americans. People who look like me do not deserve that treat.

Carley/Caroline Y. said...

What If Marten Luther Kin -g Jr. was never born?
By:Caroline

If that happen the world would still be in the same problem that we where there.Like if Marten was never born it would mean to me that right now that my friend would not be in my class and I would think different about African Americans then I do now!I feel like they are nice and I can get a long with them very easy.

AbbyA. said...

If martin Luther King Jr. wasn't born,African-American people would be slaves.They wouldn't be able to go to certain restaurants and couldn't go to the same school as Americans kids. There wouldn't be peace.There wouldn't be African-American kids or teachers.

Isabella R. said...

Martin Luther king changed my life forever because now there is more peace in the world. I think that without Dr. King, many African Americans would still have to fight for freedom and rights.

Will M said...

If Martin Luther King Jr. was not around we would not be living the life we are today. African American people would not be using the same bathrooms and they would not be eating in the same restaurants as any other people. The whole world would still have rules that are not fair to everyone. If I was alive and Martian Luther King was not, I would think that the rules are not fair so I would do what Martin Luther King did if he wasn't alive.

BryanH said...

If Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t born African American people could not vote or ride on buses. one African American lady was tired and she sat on the bus but this white man said he wanted to sit where she was sitting. She was tired and she would not get up and she got arrested. alot of African American people would be arrested because if they go to vote they will be arrested. if they didn't get a set on a bus they will get arrested. that is Why I like Martin Luther King Jr.

Sklyer N. said...

Joe kittinger-How long have you been working for the red bull stratus?
How high did you jump from in 1960?
What was it like when you jumped out of the capsule without some of the technology we have today?
Will you be sad if Felix breaks your record?

Felix bumgartner-How heavy is the suit that you are going to be wearing when you jump out of the capsule?
When did you start jumping from high places?