Civil Rights Movement/Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King was an American Baptist pastor und civil rights activist. His original name was Micheal, only later he took his father's one: Martin.
He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhis non-violent protest for Indian independence and wanted to use these methods for the Civil rights movement and their fight against discrimination.
He was often attacked, arrested over 30 times, survived three bombings.
- Watch the videos!
- Do the interactive exercises.
I have a dream
The highlight of his fight against discrimination is his most famous speech "I have a dream" of August 28, 1963 which was held during a big demonstration with 250.000 participants in Washington, D.C.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream" delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.
Peace Nobel Prize
1964 Martin Luther King was awarded the Peace Nobel Prize. He gave the complete prize money of 54.000$ to his movement. In the same year the news magazine "Time" declared him "Man of the year 1964".
After his last speech ("I've been to the Mountain Top") on April 3, 1968 in Memphis Dr King was shot on the balcony of the Lorraine Motels by James Earl Ray.
Interactive exercises
career
Make one sentence out of two. Use the simple past and the past perfect.
Kevin read a book on Martin Luther King. Then he gave a summary of it in class.
After Kevin had read () a book on Martin Luther King he gave() a summary of it in class.
The students learned a lot about the civil rights movement. They wrote a test about it.
After the students had learned() a lot about the civil rights movement they wrote() a test about it.
word families
Fill in words of the same word family!
| HISTORICAL | Martin Luther King is an important person of world history(). | |
| EQUALITY | All he wanted were equal() rights for black citizens. | |
| TRADITIONAL | But segregation had a long tradition() in the South. | |
| VIOLENCE | He warned his friends not to become violent(). | |
| TO ADVISE | I think this is a good piece of advice(): | |
| PEACE | "Stay always peaceful()!" |
| HISTORICAL | Martin Luther King is an important person of world history(). | |
| EQUALITY | All he wanted were equal() rights for black citizens. | |
| TRADITIONAL | But segregation had a long tradition() in the South. | |
| VIOLENCE | He warned his friends not to become violent(). | |
| TO ADVISE | I think this is a good piece of advice (): | |
| PEACE | "Stay always peaceful()!" |
Weblinks
- Biographien
- Martin Luther King - Ein amerikanischer Bürgerrechtler (Medienwerkstatt, Wissenskarten)
- Rede "I Have a Dream"
- The I Have a Dream Speech - auf Englisch
- gut zum Mitlesen, während man die Rede hört
- Video der historischen Rede
