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Living his dream? America remembers Reverend King

"To hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope." This was Reverend King's aim when he made the famous I Have a Dream speech on August 28 1963. Now, not far from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington where he delivered that speech, just such a stone exists: a granite statue of King himself was erected on the National Mall last October. That monument will be the centrepiece of the celebrations in the capital today. Martin Luther King Jr., a pastor from Montgomery, Alabama, was largely responsible for the giant forward strides made in civil liberties in America in the 1950s and 60s. Organising mass-marches and public service boycottsTo withdraw relations from an organisation as a punishment or protest. The word comes from the surname of a Victorian Irish landlord who was subject to a boycott from poor farmers who demanded rent reduction., he led the protest that ended segregationA racist policy separating White and Black Americans. It was used in the southern United States from 1877 to 1968. on Alabama buses in 1955 following the infamous Rosa ParksA civil rights activist who is most famous for her role in the Montgomery bus boycotts in Alabama. Rosa Parks was a middle-aged Black woman who one day refused to give up her seat on a bus to a White person. This symbolic move sparked a massive boycott of the bus company. incident. He soon became a world-renowned public oratorA skilled public speaker. and the passionate speeches he delivered to those who gathered at civil rightsRights that protect people's personal freedoms. rallies inspired millions to join his non-violent protest. In 1965 he successfully ran a campaign to grant suffrageThe right to vote in political elections. to all Black Americans. Martin Luther King might have made racial segregation and discrimination at the polling booths a thing of the past, but how much better off are ethnic minorities in America today? The average wealth of a White household is still roughly twenty times that of the average Black or HispanicRefers to peoples, countries or cultures linked to Spain. Often used to talk about people from or descended from Latin American countries. household. A disproportionate number of Black people also end up in prison: though they make up only 14% of the total population, they account for a massive 40% of prisoners. It took Coretta King, Reverend King's widow, 15 years of constant struggle to get official approval for a government-sanctioned holiday in his honour. Politics, conspiracy and enduring racism proved serious obstacles along the way. The memorial statue took a further 28 years. The struggle for true racial equality in America may take longer still. End of inequality? Many will treat Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a chance to celebrate the end of civil inequality in the USA. There are those who believe that racial discrimination is no longer a serious problem in Western society. It is true that America has come a long way, largely thanks to King's tireless work and inspirational leadership. But many of King's former friends and followers disagree with this stance. Quiet discrimination still has a profound effect on ethnic minorities in the West and, if justice is to prevail, they believe this day must serve as an inspiration to continue the fight. Q & A How is Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrated in the US? Many towns celebrate the national holiday with parades and Washington lays on a full schedule of entertainment and religious services. In 1994, CongressThe legislative branch of the American government, where elected representatives vote on which laws should be passed. Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate, which contains two members from each of the 50 states, and the House of Representatives, which has representatives from 435 smaller districts. also made the day a national day of community service, encouraging everyone to take up a charitable project to help in their community. Is it celebrated in other countries? The day itself is not celebrated outside the US, but the man certainly is. King's messages of equality, of generosity of spirit and of perseverance apply to individuals and communities worldwide. Just as he was influenced by the Indian rights campaigner Mohandas GandhiGandhi was an Indian lawyer who used nonviolent resistance to lead the campaign for India's independence from British rule. , so everyone fighting for equality today can be inspired by King's words and by his achievements.KeywordsBoycotts - To withdraw relations from an organisation as a punishment or protest. The word comes from the surname of a Victorian Irish landlord who was subject to a boycott from poor farmers who demanded rent reduction.

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