Looking at the historical perspective when reading a piece of literature can completely change the readers point of view. It also makes what the author is saying much more clear. The content of the writing is not only easier to understand with background knowledge but it also makes what is being read more interesting. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "The World House" is about many things that were going on in the world at that time in history. MLK mentions technology, peace, equality, and other factors that were shaping the world during an era of technological advances, and struggles for these factors including the issue of poverty as well. Once the reader takes a look at the big picture of everything that was happening during the time of "The World House" what Martin Luther King Jr. is referring to in "The World House" is better understood and interpreted. 

Martin Luther King Jr. refers to many different technological advances in "The world House". He mentions the invention of the light bulb, the airplane, Einstein's scientific discoveries, radios, telephones, motion pictures, and so on. He says "The world of today is vastly different from the world of just one hundred years ago" referring to all of these inventions and accommodations that have been made over the last hundred years (King 284). During the civil rights movement which Martin Luther King Jr. was speaking in support of at this time, the space race was taking place which is a time in history when the United States and many other countries were making drastic discoveries as far as science and technology. The space race was a competition between the United States and the Soviet Union that took place from 1957 to 1975. The Soviet Union made four attempts at landing on the moon but never succeeded. The United States made it to the moon successfully ultimately winning the space race. During this era of discovery, the world was changed forever. Martin Luther King Jr. also mentions the "terrifying" weapons being developed.  Both the invention of weapons and rockets that could enter space and eventually land on the moon were huge examples of technological improvements being made during the time of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "The world House".

Peace related to racism was a big issue during the time of civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr. believed in getting change only by peaceful actions while other groups of people believed the opposite. He says "Among the moral imperatives of our time, we are challenged to work all over the world with unshakable determination to wipe out the last vestiges of racism." (King 287). During the civil rights movement groups such as the KKK and the Black Panther Party for example, disturbed the peace throughout all of America. The KKK was a white supremacy group that terrorized African American people. During the civil rights movement, the Ku Klux Klan would bomb black schools and churches as an act of terrorism against African Americans. They used violence against both black and white activists as well. The KKK did whatever they could to preserve segregation and prevent the civil rights movement. The Black Panther party also created trouble during the civil rights movement. The party wanted to accomplish the same things as Martin Luther King Jr. but they believed his non-violence campaign was not getting anything done for the civil rights of African Americans. Basically the Black Panther Party stood for violence throughout the civil rights movement. The FBI did whatever they could to stop the Black Panther Party's plans before they took action.

Equality was the base of any issue in the United States at this time given that the civil rights movement was in place. African Americans had been given their rights and segregation was made illegal but they were still not being treated equal among white Americans. Schools, bathrooms, water fountains, and so on were still segregated even though it was against the law. White store and restaurant owners would not like African Americans to come into their stores or restaurants and there was nothing they could do about it. They were treated unfairly and felt something needed to be done. This is where the civil rights movement starts up. There were riots and marches all over America to get the point across. Speakers such as Martin Luther King Jr. gave speeches that would attract thousands and thousands of listeners.  Martin Luther King Jr. believed in fighting for equality in a peaceful manner while some activists believed violence was the answer and it was the only way African American people would receive the equality they deserved. 

Poverty always has been and always will be an issue not only in America but all over the world. MLK said "There is nothing new about poverty. What is new, however, is that we now have the resources to get rid of it." (King 290). He goes on to question why poverty is even an issue now that man has the resources to change the way poverty effects our world. He says "Why should there be hunger and privation in any land, in any city, at any table, when man has the resources and the scientific know-how to provide all mankind with the basic necessities of life?" (King 290).  King suggests that the richer countries use their wealth to develop the poor countries and provide them with schools and basic necessities that are often taken for granted.  He describes this suggestion as an "all-out world war against poverty" (King 290).  This idea refers to King's peaceful mindset and his beliefs that we should all stick together in this "World House" of ours. The fact that he is stating that there should be no poverty when man has the solutions to this issue goes to truly prove King's point in it's entirety. This idea goes hand in hand with the title "The World House" because King is referring to the whole world as a household, and we as the entire population of the world are the family within this world house and we should all look after each other as if we are a true family. 

During the time that "The World House" there were many event taking place around the world, but especially in America. Of course there was the civil rights movement which is usually mainly associated the Martin Luther King Jr. but to understand the point that he is trying to make the reader must look into the background. It must be understood all of the battles that were being fought during this time in history for the reader to see what Martin Luther King Jr. was referring in the "The World House". He spoke on all of the advances and issues in the world so that his audience could understand why everyone should be working together to better the world we all live in. Everyone should be treated fairly, and we should all be taking care of each other instead of egging on issues such as racism.  Martin Luther King Jr. wanted his audience to see that we are all on this earth together and nothing can be done to change that, therefore we should do the best we can to make it a better place for everyone. Issues of poverty, racism, should not exist in our world house because we are all one population, on one planet, and we are one family. Martin Luther King Jr. refers to our planet as a "World House" because like a household of family members we will always be together whether we like it or not and the petty issues that go on in this world should not be issues because man is too smart and capable of much better things. 

