Martin Luther King Jr., a black civil rights activist, once stated, “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” (Martin Luther). Martin Luther King Jr. led a nonviolent protest against racism in the United States. Martin Luther King Jr.’s efforts ended somewhat successful as many anti-discrimination laws were passed to “end” racism. Racism is defined as believing that a race is either inferior or superior based on characteristic subjecting to that specific race. Although the United States of America, on paper, is a country against segregation and racism; racism is still prevalent today. “Black Lives Matter” is an activist movement that crusades against police brutality and racial inequality. This movement was created three years ago, and is still active throughout the United States. Racism plays a prevailing role in society and understanding the different viewpoints, stories, and facts about racism may open one’s eyes and see racism in a different way. Even after the civil rights movement and many laws prohibiting racism, racism is still present today.

In the history of the United States, racism and segregation played a prominent part of the formation of this country in the 20th century. Martin Luther King Jr. played an important role in helping people of color to receive the same or similar rights to those not of color. The main law that was passed was The Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law prevented segregation in the United States through their public venues, schools, and voting. With Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X leading a successful civil rights movement, the average black citizen would be confident that over some time the United States would be a completely racial discrimination free place. So, where did the United States go wrong? The United States was on a path to a successful change; however, with many racial discrimination cases, police brutality cases, racism is a large issue today.

In 1966, an organization began called the Black Panthers, founded by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. This organization brought the black population that has been oppressed by the white population in America together. This group started with a famous quote from Stokely Carmichael, when he uttered, “You tell all those white folks in Mississippi that all the scared niggers are dead” (Elder 1). This brought attention at the time, because it meant that African American were tired of being segregated from the rest of society and not given equal rights, and they were bound to soon act. They were treated unfairly just because the color of their skin. This group had a different viewpoint and motivation similar, modern organizations. A writer for News Weeks said, “It was a group of utopian visionaries who sought to serve the oppressed and underserved communities not with guns (though they had those) but by demanding food, housing, education and so on” (Elder 1). The Black Panthers was a group fighting as they deserved the same general means of living and opportunities that were given to the white population. The Black Panthers posted a platform called the “The Ten Point Platform,” which suggested many ideas and requests that are still relevant today. Some examples of requests made by the Black Panthers included effects like an end to freedom, the rights to own land and get an education, to end police brutality, etc. The Black Panthers organization later ended, but many similar groups still exist today and are continuously fighting for similar changes. 

“Black Lives Matter” is an activist group against racism that began in late 2012 over the State of Florida vs. George Zimmerman case. The result deemed Zimmerman to be innocent after the prosecution on the charge of second-degree murder stemming from the shooting of Treyvon Martin. This brought the attention of the media and the black community, because most felt that the only reason that Zimmerman was not convicted of murder was racial profiling. After the cases final verdict of Zimmerman being innocent, Barack Obama, the first African American president, released a statement in which he said, “Trayvon Martin could have been me” (Martin 1). This excerpt indicates that it is not only men in poor neighborhoods that are getting targeted by police, but the whole African American population is being discriminated on. Obama later released another statement saying, “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon” (Martin 1). This statement caught the attention of my citizens and most importantly the black community in the United States. This brought together many people to start the social movement group of “Black Lives Matter.” Before reading articles and researching about racism in modern society, I did not know much about the movement besides what is televised through bias media. At first glance, “Black Lives Matter” seems like an organization that has violent protests and brings destruction to America. However, this organization is a very powerful and respectable one. One that brings together people with similar situations, experiences, and opinions on the unjust of America. This organization is one that will help to end the racial discrimination in the United States.

Additionally, racism is still present in modern everyday life as conveyed through the Baltimore Riots in 2015. This riot started from the death of Freddie Gray, a black United States citizen, through police brutality. Police brutality has become a very important issue in the United States, as most cases that make social media headlines involve white officers targeting people of color. Freddie Gray's death was completely unjust, as it brought together many citizens. Both people of color and not came together to protest and riot against the current ways of the United States of America. Although the protest became violent, the Baltimore Riots showed the frustration of people against racism. The overall goal of this protest was both legal prosecution of those responsible for Gray's death and the end to both racial discrimination and police brutality. Ultimately, the protest was both successful and unsuccessful to achieve these goals. The protest brought attention of many and put those involved with Gray’s death responsible and in custody. However, the protest did not bring about change against police brutality in the United States. People began to understand the fact that no matter the color of the skin on someone, everyone should be treated fairly and given the same opportunities. One example of this during the Baltimore riots, a reporter said, “Baltimore police officials uncovered a terrifying plot by the African American extremist group to unite members of the ‘Bloods’ and ‘Crips’ gangs” (Atlantic 1). ‘Bloods’ and ‘Crips’, the most violent, rival gangs across the country, joined with each other during the Baltimore Riots, which caught the attention of the entire country. This demonstrates how black citizens of all different groups did not care about their own fight against each other, but rather the fight against an unjust America.

Although segregation and racism are still important problems in modern-day America, the United States has made exponential progress since the times of the civil rights movement. During the civil rights movement, one piece of work that is still heavily talked about today is the “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” This letter was written by Martin Luther King Jr, leader of the nonviolent civil rights movement, while he was in jail. This letter was very eye opening to both people of color and not in the United States. This letter talked about Martin Luther’s King Jr’s position during the times, and wanted he wanted and hoped for in the future. Martin Luther King Jr. gained a lot of respect from white citizens of the United States because of his nonviolent, peaceful ways. In the Letter from Birmingham, Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom” (King 1). The black population, now and then, is fighting for the same thing. Fighting and protesting for equal privileges and rights. However, many groups are fighting for the same reasons that early on civil rights groups fought for, and that is equal rights for all. 

Martin Luther King Jr. organized many protests and delivered several speeches, but possibly his most important entity was “The Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested in 1963 regarding his protest activities in Birmingham. Birmingham, Alabama, at the time was completely segregated, meaning that African-Americans were not allowed at certain areas and it was accepted to refuse to give African-Americans service altogether. Martin Luther King Jr. was different from most civil activists as he used a nonviolent approach to bring peace and freedom to those of color. King Jr. wrote this letter in response to eight white male clergymen falsely accusing King Jr. for his actions and involvement in Birmingham. The overall message of “The Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written by Martin Luther King Jr., was to bring change for African-Americans, and equality for all.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s overall intention of traveling to Birmingham was to bring justice to an unjust town. This prestigious leader could have stayed in Atlanta, but he felt that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (King). King Jr. thoroughly believed that all Americans should be treated equally no matter of their skin color, and he believed that changed needed to happen immediately. King Jr., as well as the rest of the African American population, was sick and tired of being treated with such disrespect. People of color were growing increasingly more irritated day after day seeing no change in a country based on freedom. African Americans had to live their everyday life being called “Nigger Boy,” seeing distressing signs of “Whites” and “Colored,” and heartbrokenly having to explain to their children why white people are treated much different than those of color (King). In efforts to bring change, Martin Luther King Jr. writes, “There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over and men are no longer willing to be plunged into an abyss of injustice where they experience the bleakness of corroding despair” (King). This activist emphasized his reasoning for immediate change, and the United States of America should become a place with no segregation. Eventually, this influential leader explains his prospective on these issues as he affirmed, “Anyone who lives inside the US can never be considered an outsider anywhere in the country” (King). He fights for more than just eradicating segregation, but more for the basic rights of the United States to be given to those both of color and not. People of color should not have to wake up day in and day out and worry for their safety of their families, and should be provided the same rights as the rest of the citizens of the United States.

Martin Luther King Jr. viewed methods of non-violent ways of protest to be most successful; however, within the “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he develops a point based on the hypocrisy of laws within the United States of America favoring the white population. King Jr. makes a very relevant point within the letter regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in 1954. (9 years earlier) This decision was made to end segregation in public schools across the country, but clearly in 1963, this law failed to exist in Birmingham. King Jr. ponders this hypocritical idea within the letter as he says, “One may well ask, "How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?" (King). His answer is quite simple, there were two types of laws: Just and unjust laws. The definition of just-laws versus unjust-laws could be argued differently based on political background, real-life experiences, and racial background. King Jr., like all Americans, believed that unjust-laws were ones that degrade humans. The reasoning behind King Jr.’s imprisonment at the Birmingham jails was because of protesting without a permit. King Jr. understands the laws of the United States, and recognizes that his actions were illegal. However, King Jr. releases this proclamation within the letter, “Now, there is nothing wrong with an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade, but when the ordinance is used to preserve segregation and to deny citizens the First Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest, then it becomes unjust” (King). King Jr. believes that not all laws are legitimate for the fairness of the people in the United States. Martin Luther King Jr. was angered, not because of the segregation in the United States, but that his non-violent protests resulted in his arrest for him speaking his opinion on the situation.

 Martin Luther King Jr. was different from many other civil rights activist as his methods consisted of mostly all non-violent protests. Other leaders, like Malcom X, established their point of view and demonstrated their message of racism through violent actions. Nevertheless, Martin Luther King Jr. stood out for his responsibility and uniqueness. This powerful leader organized non-violent protests like sit-ins, parades, speeches, etc. to get the people’s attention. Thousands of people of color joined Martin Luther King Jr. in his protests; however, he also attracted the attention of the white population. Within the “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Dr. King addresses the white clergymen of Birmingham and wants to defend his point of view on the laws of the United States and the validity of non-violent protests to end racism and segregation. Towards the end of the letter, Martin Luther King Jr. states that he has “no fear” for the outcomes of the “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” He is confident that justice will prevail and that all African Americans will have equal rights and privileges in the future. Within the letter, Dr. King declares, “We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands” (King). Martin Luther King Jr.’s confidence to bring justice to those of color is what primarily brought the black population together to defeat segregation. As Martin Luther King Jr. brings together the black population, he even attracts the attention of other notable civil activists including Malcom X. He mellows Malcom X, and brings everyone together to strictly fight against segregation in the United States.

While segregation between the black population and white population has changed dramatically since the times of Martin Luther King Jr., racism is still alive today. Segregation then was viewed as certain places designated for different races, and with Martin Luther King Jr.’s ideas and the followers of the black population ended that type of segregation. Nevertheless, in modern society a different type of segregation is prevalent. A separation of black and whites form an early age, brain washing children to take an absent-minded approach on judging people and believing that people of color are “bad” for no apparent reason. As terrible as this sounds, it has some value of truth. People should not be treated and judged based on their color, but instead of their internal self. A change to the United States must come for this country to move in a path moving forward. There are several possibilities of how to end segregation in the United States, but one that the government has control to change is public education. John Oliver, a television host, suggests that people in poor and rich areas should have the opportunity to attend the same schools. This is a minuscule change, but it provides children of all races to interact with each other at earlier ages. The United States of America is a country that takes immense pride in freedom; additionally, the only path this country should take is the one that ends all segregation between the black and white populations. 
