Martin Luther King Jr.

[linnie]

I'm sure most of the people know about Martin Luther King, the great activist for anti-segregation. During this period, like 1960s, we all know there was severe segregation between whites and blacks. Along Martin Luther King, there was Malcom X as well. Like them, many other people worked hard for equality ( Now I am sick of equality problems... Harrison Bergeron Affect). Because of them , most of the racism in society disappeared, and I really thank them.

Do you know about those figures who worked hard for equality in race? I think this will really help you write essays because you can use Martin Luther King as an example for any topics you get! That's actually what I did, anyway I believe there are more famous figures I think.

[|Ruchira|]

Ghandi was another great leader. He was also a peace maker like King. To fight against the British, Ghandi used non-violent protesting and had a great philosophy towards violence. For example he said that if your enemy slaps you, don't fight back instead, turn your other towards them to slap you again. Eventually your enemy will come to his or her senses and realize that what he or she is doing is wrong and stop.

[ExtremelyExtremeExtremist]

You guys may not know this nonviolent protestor who was a singer.
His name is John Lennon, and during 1970s, when Americans opposed Vietnam War, Lennon sat in the bed with his wife and played musics which disagree Vietnam War (while majority used violent protest).

One more thing I want to add is that racism in today's society is similar to 60s and 70s. Only the segregation and extreme anger were gone due to activists, but the rest is still going on.

One time, black people attacked Koreatown during 90's because Koreans hated blacks who were lazy. I also heard it from Chinese American man (about 24 years old) who once said * words to blacks and made racism jokes to them with his friends (he deeply regrets this).

So, racism is still going on in our society in small scale.

[woojongpark]

Although I don't know about individuals well, I know a group that tried to alleviate the weight of segregation. It's called National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (NACW), and was active between 1892 and 1897. The leader of the club, Mary McLeod Bethune tried to desegregate schools and reform prison conditions. She also tried to convince white women to join and support the NACW.
She left a quote before retiring: "If I touch you with one finger, you will scarcely notice it. If I tap you with two fingers, you will feel a light pressure. But if I pull all my fingers together into a fist, you will feel a mighty blow."
The former leader, Mary Church Terrell made kindergartens and nurseries for black children all over United States.

I think there are more people who worked for equality in society. But I don't know. There are still racial segregation, discrimination, and anti-specific race communities in the world, although they are less active than the past. Racial equality is sort of a difficult homework that everyone should solve.

[sergeyfen]

Gloria steinem was a spokesmen for women's liberation movement and also she spoke of anti-racism. She participated in both liberation and anti racism. She believes there shouldnt be any borders between different races.

[gb1708]

If you ask who worked hard for equality that i think almost black people worked very very hard to get equality because of all injustice that they had to suffer.
In every story as i know, the people who work hard for equality that is Handicap General and the government in "Harrison Bergeron"

[munisa]

Personally, I don't really know many people that tried to achieve equality of race, I guess its probably because its like going against the society and so not many people bothered doing anything about it, even though it is hurtful . All I know is this, there are/were lots of people who wanted/tried to achieve equality of race, but they are/were famous.

[sazad100]

Nelson Mandela was a person who opposed racism peacefully in South Africa and won a Nobel peace prize. And he also created a new democratic South Africa.

[irin]

I don't know many people who try to achive the equality but many people work hard to get equailty specially black people want to have equality.

[yeajinchoi]

I researched a bit to answer this question. I found these group of kids that we call The little rock nine. They were nine kids who were the first to attend an all white high school and actually survive and win the battle. At the time, segregation in schools were outlawed but no African American were brave enough to win all the threats and actually attend a white school. But these group of kids were successful at attending and even graduating a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were the ones to make school segregation history.

[brandonina]

JFK (John F. Kennedy) and RFK (Robert F. Kennedy) are great, important figures who had some impact on the civil rights movement. Though I'm not well-informed about their lives, I know that they had been anti-racists (not entirely though) since they gave inspirational speeches towards the blacks and carried some actions. IN fact, JFK passed civil right acts while he was president and most importantly, he's white himself.

I agree that there are many leaders who worked to end racism. But I think it's not true that most of the racism is gone because even though it's not a huge issue nowadays. Racism is still going on. It's just not as well-noticed by the world as long time ago. I wanted to add this point to this discussion.

[james]

I don't know a person who fought for equality of race, but I know a woman who fought for women's right to vote. Susan B. Anthony. She was the 19th century women's movement's most powerful organizer. Also, she was very involved in the fight against slavery and the temperance campaign to limit the use of alcohol. What I think is that it takes a looooott of courage to do such thing like that. Trying to change people's mind basically. Also Persuading people is really hard... especially by the time when Martin Luther King was alive is when the racism was in the highest peak. I really respect them and think they're really brave.

[woori]

I learned about Martin Luther King Jr. in Japan.
Martin Luther King Jr. is very famous all over the world.

[akari]

hello