My dinner with Martin Luther King Jr. by Asha

My dinner with Martin Luther King Jr. by Asha - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

If I could have dinner with any historical figure, it would have to be Martin Luther King Jr. He seemed to be one of the most talked about black history legends when I was in elementary school so I quickly became interested to learn about his legacy. As a young girl, I would love for either Martin Luther King Jr. day or black history month would come so that I could listen to his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. I would sit in front of the television and imagine that I was there witnessing history. Also, every year when teachers asked who my hero was, I did not hesitate to say his name.
Martin Luther King Jr. is a historical figure because he is one of the most memorable leaders of the civil rights period. He is the pioneer of fighting for the rights of African Americans who were brutally mistreated during this time. He is most memorable for his attempts for equal rights simply because it was not suspected. He pursued peaceful protest where the people’s voice can be heard. He inspired others that peace and love was the only solution for change. He taught that violence was not the answer no matter what the situation was. Even though he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, his legacy still remains to live on and stand strong in the African American society.
King inspires me to take some of the crisis that today’s society is encountering to not consider violence. If we were to attend dinner together, I would first let us enjoy the meal that was prepared of course. Then I would ask him how it was like to grow up during those days and what everyday adversities that teenagers in those days had to face. I would share some of the situations that I have encountered and then ask him for his strategy of how to deal with the everyday trials of African American teenagers in this generation. I would also ask him how can I give these ideas to the rest of the people without suffering from rejection from him. He was not perfect, but I’m sure he would be an influential help during these times.