INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

BBA-2A
ASSIGNMENT #2
FASEEH-U-RAHMAN
BBA221029

Ans1: Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent civil rights leader and
activist who advocated for racial equality and justice for African
Americans using non-violent methods. He led the Montgomery Bus
Boycott in 1955 and helped to organize the March on Washington for
Jobs and Freedom in 1963. King was also instrumental in the passage of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He was
assassinated in 1968, but his legacy continues to inspire and influence
movements for social justice around the world.

Ans2: Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta,
Georgia. He was the second child and the first son of his parents,
Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Both of his parents
were highly educated, and they instilled in their children the value of
education from a very young age.
King was a gifted student from a young age, and he attended
segregated schools throughout his childhood. He graduated from
Booker T. Washington High School in 1944 at the age of fifteen. He
went on to attend Morehouse College, where he studied sociology and
graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948.
After graduating from Morehouse, King attended Crozer Theological
Seminary in Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity
degree. It was during his time at Crozer that King began to deepen his
understanding of the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, and he was
inspired by Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance.
In 1951, King began doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston
University. It was during this time that he also met and married Coretta
Scott, a fellow student at the university. They would go on to have four
children together.
Throughout his education, King was deeply influenced by his religious
beliefs and his commitment to social justice. He was inspired by the
teachings of Jesus Christ and the example of Gandhi, and he believed
that nonviolent resistance was the most effective way to bring about
social change.
King's early years and education instilled in him a strong sense of
purpose and a deep commitment to fighting for justice and equality for
all people, regardless of their race or background. These values and
principles would guide him throughout his life, and he would become
one of the most important civil rights leaders and activists in American
history.

Ans3: Martin Luther King Jr. had a profound influence on the Civil
Rights Movement in the United States, as well as on the global struggle
for social justice and equality. He helped to shift the country's
consciousness about the injustice of racial segregation and
discrimination, and his leadership and advocacy inspired millions of
people around the world.
King's vision of a society based on equality and nonviolence resonated
with people of all races, creeds, and backgrounds. He helped to
mobilize and galvanize a movement of black Americans who were
fighting for their rights and dignity, and he also inspired many white
Americans to join in the struggle for racial justice.
King also had an impact on political leaders and policymakers. Through
his speeches and activism, he pushed for legislative changes that would
protect the rights of African Americans, and he was instrumental in the
passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of
1965. These laws helped to dismantle many of the legal barriers to
equality that had long held back black Americans.
King's message of nonviolence and civil disobedience also had an
impact on other social justice movements around the world. In India,
the Dalai Lama cited King's teachings as a source of inspiration for his
own commitment to nonviolence. In South Africa, Nelson Mandela was
influenced by King's philosophy of nonviolent resistance, and he
credited King with laying the groundwork for the anti-apartheid
movement.
Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. served as a powerful catalyst for change
and progress, and his legacy lives on as a symbol of hope and
inspiration for many people around the world.

Ans4: Martin Luther King Jr.'s family life was central to his personal and
professional life, and he drew strength and support from his family
throughout his years of activism and advocacy.
King married Coretta Scott in 1953, while he was still a graduate
student at Boston University. Together, they had four children: Yolanda
Denise, Martin Luther III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice Albertine. King was
a devoted husband and father, and he cherished his time with his
family.
However, King's family life was also marked by the challenges and
sacrifices of his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement. He frequently
traveled around the country to speak out against racial injustice,
leaving his wife and young children behind for long periods of time. He
faced death threats and violence from opponents of his movement, and
he was often away from home for extended periods of time.
Despite these challenges, King remained committed to his family, and
he worked hard to balance his responsibilities as a father and husband
with his work as a civil rights leader. He was dedicated to his children's
education and upbringing, and he encouraged them to pursue their
own passions and interests.
Tragically, King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39. His
death was a devastating blow to his family, and it left Coretta to raise
their four children alone. However, his family continued to honor his
legacy and carry on his work for social justice and equality in the years
following his death.

Ans5: The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a pivotal event in U.S. history
that ignited the modern Civil Rights Movement and helped to end
segregation in public transportation. The incident was sparked by the
arrest of a black woman named Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955, who
refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus to a white
passenger.
At the time, Montgomery operated a segregated bus system, with black
passengers required to sit in the back of the bus and give up their seat
if a white person needed it. Parks' arrest became a catalyst for a major
protest against segregation on public transportation. Black residents of
Montgomery, led by Martin Luther King Jr., organized a widespread
boycott of the bus system, urging black residents to stop using it until
they were treated as equals.
The boycott lasted for more than a year, with black residents walking,
biking, and carpooling to work and other destinations instead of using
the bus. The boycott put enormous pressure on Montgomery's
economy, as the bus company lost a significant amount of revenue. The
protest also garnered national and international attention, making
people aware of the injustices that African Americans faced.
Finally, on November 13, 1956, the United States Supreme Court
declared that Alabama's state and local laws requiring segregation on
buses were unconstitutional, marking a significant victory for the Civil
Rights Movement. The Montgomery Bus Boycott served as an
important early victory in the fight against segregation and helped to
catapult Martin Luther King Jr. into national prominence as a civil rights
leader and advocate. It remains a powerful symbol of the struggle for
racial justice and equality in the United States.

THE END