Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archive Grade Level: 6-12 Subject: Social Studies

King's Dream Revisited

"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 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."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered this speech in 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. He spoke to an audience of about 250,000 people who were protesting against discrimination. The speech was also broadcast to millions on television and radio, and printed in many newspapers. Since 1963, King's speech has become the most famous public address of 20th-century America. Read the full text of his famous speech at the Douglas Archives site.

Dr. King's speech helped shape American history. In this week's online lesson you will learn more about this noteworthy civil rights leader and his accomplishments.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

What are civil rights, and what was the American Civil Rights Movement all about? To appreciate the life and important work of Martin Luther King, you must first understand what the Civil Rights Movement was all about. A great place on the Web to begin is Western Michigan University's Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement. Click each of the links on the left in order, starting with Brown v. Board of Education. What is segregation? Why is the notion of "separate but equal" still very unfair? Why was military force needed to desegregate Little Rock Central High School? Was the 1963 March on Washington peaceful or violent?

Dr. King and the Beloved Community

Now that you know something of the Civil Rights Movement, turn to The King Center, "the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of America’s greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace." The King Center was established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King.

Listen to the Flash introduction, an excerpt from a speech by Dr. King entitled "The Birth of a New Nation". Why was it so important that the struggle for justice and peace be nonviolent?

Click Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the left, and then click Biography. Read this page, paying special attention to Birth and Family, Education, Career, and Death. How was Dr. King able to complete his education at such a young age? How many times was King arrested for his participation in civil rights activities? What leadership positions did he hold during his career? How did Dr. King's life tragically end?

Turn now to The Beloved Community by clicking the link on the left. Consider the following questions as you read. For Dr. King, was the Beloved Community an impossible dream or a realistic, achievable goal? How is conflict resolved in the Beloved Community? What great Indian leader influenced King's thinking regarding nonviolence and befriending one's adversaries? What are the three kinds of love Dr. King spoke of, and which is the core value in the Beloved Community?

LIFE Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

LIFE Magazine, a popular American photo journal, has run several features about Martin Luther King Jr. during the past four decades. Visit the LIFE Magazine Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. online. Start by looking at the magazine covers of Dr. King (click each one to see a larger view) and then look at Classic Images of MLK Jr. to see photos of his life. Click the blue dates on the left to change photos. In most pictures King is depicted as a great leader, but some show him as an average man. In which picture does he seem most like an ordinary friend, neighbor, or relative instead of a leader?

Quiz

Let's see how much you learned about Martin Luther King. Take this quiz from FamilyEducation.com. Read the question in the middle of the page, click an answer, and then click OK. If you get the answer wrong you can try again or go on to the next question. What was your score?

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