Question
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (1929-1968) was a Baptist minister and a leader of the African American Civil Rights Movement. In this text, Dr. Bernice King talks about how her father is remembered.
As you read, highlight details that show that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was “an ordinary person who was able to do extraordinary things.”
On April 3, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. arrived in Memphis, Tennessee. At the time, he was the leading voice of the civil rights movement. That was the long struggle to gain equal rights for African-Americans. King was in Memphis to support the city’s Black sanitation workers. They were fighting for safer working conditions and better pay.
Tragically, King was killed the next day. He was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.
People around the world mourned the loss of King — none more so than his family. Bernice King, the youngest of his four kids, was 5 years old at the time. Fifty years later, she remembers her father’s message of working peacefully to bring about change.
“He sacrificed his life for the betterment of the world,” Bernice says.
An “Ordinary” Kid
“He was really an ordinary person who was able to do extraordinary things,” she says.
Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, King was a lot like other kids. He pulled pranks with his siblings, didn’t like to do the dishes, and loved baseball.
King grew up in an unjust society. In Southern states, segregation was the law. African-Americans were forced to use separate bathrooms and attend different schools than white people. In addition, many states had other racist laws that limited Black people’s basic rights, including the right to vote in elections.
Fighting for Equality
King became a leader in the civil rights movement in December 1955. At the time, he was the pastor of a church in Montgomery, Alabama. The city was one of many in the South that didn’t allow Black people to sit in the same section as white people on city buses. King helped organize a boycott of the city’s buses. It lasted more than a year. It finally ended when the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed segregation on public buses.
The Montgomery bus boycott made King famous. It also marked the first of many times that he would use nonviolent methods, like peaceful marches, to protest unfair laws.
King’s efforts helped bring about many positive changes. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. It outlawed segregation in public places. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it illegal to prevent people from voting because of their race. Even after these victories, King continued to work to gain equal rights for people who were treated unfairly because of the color of their skin.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Sadly, many Americans did not share King’s dream of equality. He was viewed as a threat by many white Americans who didn’t think Black people deserved the same rights that they had. King and his family received numerous death threats, and their house was bombed. Bernice King says what made her father such a special leader was that he wasn’t afraid to die for what he believed in.
“I think [he] knew that he was not going to live a long life — that at any given moment he was going to be taken from us,” she says.
The night before he was killed, King gave one of his most famous speeches. He said he imagined a day when America would truly be a land of equality. But he knew that he might not live to see it.
“I’ve seen the Promised Land,” King told a huge audience in Memphis. “I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!”
Though his voice was silenced the next day, King’s message lived on. Other civil rights leaders stepped in to keep the movement going. Among them was King’s wife, Coretta Scott King.
Each January, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The holiday has become a national day of service. Millions of volunteers help others in their communities in King’s honor.
“I think his greatest legacy is teaching us a way to really, frankly get along in the world,” says Bernice King.
From Scholastic News Edition 4, January 8, 2018. Copyright © 2018 by Scholastic Inc. Reprinted by permission of Scholastic Inc.
Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under theCC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Notes
AllDefinitionsFootnotes
people hired to collect, transport, and dispose of garbage
Tragically (adverb) : in a way that is very sad
Mourn (verb) : to feel very sad because of a death or great loss
Extraordinary (adjective) : very special or good
the condition, fact, or state of being equal
a type of protest in which people refuse to use a service or buy a product
Method (noun) : a way of doing something
against the law
how someone is remembered
Read Aloud
Annotate
Translate
Assessment Questions
Show Less
1
2
3
4
5
How is the text organized?
A. It shows how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., learned about nonviolent ways to protest.
B. It compares Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s achievements with those of other civil rights leaders.
C. It describes how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life is best remembered by each of his five children.
D. It begins with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death and then describes his life and legacy as a civil rights leader.
Back
As you read, highlight details that show that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was “an ordinary person who was able to do extraordinary things.”
On April 3, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. arrived in Memphis, Tennessee. At the time, he was the leading voice of the civil rights movement. That was the long struggle to gain equal rights for African-Americans. King was in Memphis to support the city’s Black sanitation workers. They were fighting for safer working conditions and better pay.
Tragically, King was killed the next day. He was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.
People around the world mourned the loss of King — none more so than his family. Bernice King, the youngest of his four kids, was 5 years old at the time. Fifty years later, she remembers her father’s message of working peacefully to bring about change.
“He sacrificed his life for the betterment of the world,” Bernice says.
An “Ordinary” Kid
“He was really an ordinary person who was able to do extraordinary things,” she says.
Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, King was a lot like other kids. He pulled pranks with his siblings, didn’t like to do the dishes, and loved baseball.
King grew up in an unjust society. In Southern states, segregation was the law. African-Americans were forced to use separate bathrooms and attend different schools than white people. In addition, many states had other racist laws that limited Black people’s basic rights, including the right to vote in elections.
Fighting for Equality
King became a leader in the civil rights movement in December 1955. At the time, he was the pastor of a church in Montgomery, Alabama. The city was one of many in the South that didn’t allow Black people to sit in the same section as white people on city buses. King helped organize a boycott of the city’s buses. It lasted more than a year. It finally ended when the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed segregation on public buses.
The Montgomery bus boycott made King famous. It also marked the first of many times that he would use nonviolent methods, like peaceful marches, to protest unfair laws.
King’s efforts helped bring about many positive changes. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. It outlawed segregation in public places. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it illegal to prevent people from voting because of their race. Even after these victories, King continued to work to gain equal rights for people who were treated unfairly because of the color of their skin.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Sadly, many Americans did not share King’s dream of equality. He was viewed as a threat by many white Americans who didn’t think Black people deserved the same rights that they had. King and his family received numerous death threats, and their house was bombed. Bernice King says what made her father such a special leader was that he wasn’t afraid to die for what he believed in.
“I think [he] knew that he was not going to live a long life — that at any given moment he was going to be taken from us,” she says.
The night before he was killed, King gave one of his most famous speeches. He said he imagined a day when America would truly be a land of equality. But he knew that he might not live to see it.
“I’ve seen the Promised Land,” King told a huge audience in Memphis. “I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!”
Though his voice was silenced the next day, King’s message lived on. Other civil rights leaders stepped in to keep the movement going. Among them was King’s wife, Coretta Scott King.
Each January, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The holiday has become a national day of service. Millions of volunteers help others in their communities in King’s honor.
“I think his greatest legacy is teaching us a way to really, frankly get along in the world,” says Bernice King.
From Scholastic News Edition 4, January 8, 2018. Copyright © 2018 by Scholastic Inc. Reprinted by permission of Scholastic Inc.
Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under theCC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Notes
AllDefinitionsFootnotes
people hired to collect, transport, and dispose of garbage
Tragically (adverb) : in a way that is very sad
Mourn (verb) : to feel very sad because of a death or great loss
Extraordinary (adjective) : very special or good
the condition, fact, or state of being equal
a type of protest in which people refuse to use a service or buy a product
Method (noun) : a way of doing something
against the law
how someone is remembered
Read Aloud
Annotate
Translate
Assessment Questions
Show Less
1
2
3
4
5
How is the text organized?
A. It shows how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., learned about nonviolent ways to protest.
B. It compares Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s achievements with those of other civil rights leaders.
C. It describes how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life is best remembered by each of his five children.
D. It begins with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death and then describes his life and legacy as a civil rights leader.
Back
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In the text, several details highlight how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was “an ordinary person who was able to do extraordinary things.” Here are those details:
1. **Ordinary Upbringing**: Bernice King mentions that her father was “really an ordinary person.” This emphasizes his relatability and connection to common experiences. He did things that many children do, such as “pulled pranks with his siblings,” “didn’t like to do the dishes,” and “loved baseball.”
2. **Context of Injustice**: Although he had an ordinary childhood, he grew up in a society marked by segregation and injustices. This context foreshadows the extraordinary actions he would take in response to these inequalities.
3. **Emergence as a Leader**: King became a leader in the civil rights movement while being the pastor of a church in Montgomery, Alabama, which reflects how he rose from a typical job into a pivotal role in history. The organization of the Montgomery bus boycott demonstrates his ability to galvanize ordinary people to take extraordinary action against unjust laws.
4. **Utilization of Nonviolent Methods**: He made a significant impact by employing nonviolent methods, such as peaceful marches, to fight against segregation and inequality. This choice of method shows his extraordinary commitment to peace and justice, despite the challenging circumstances around him.
5. **Legacy of Courage**: Bernice King shares that her father was not afraid to die for what he believed in. His acceptance of the potential consequences of his advocacy illustrates extraordinary bravery. He acknowledged the possibility of dying young as he fought for equality, indicated by his statement, “I may not get there with you,” which reflects both humility and a greater vision for the future.
6. **Lasting Impact**: Even after his tragic death, King’s message and legacy continued through other leaders and initiatives, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which emphasizes the ongoing relevance of his extraordinary contributions to society.
These points collectively illustrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a figure who, despite being an ordinary person with everyday experiences, was capable of profound impact through his resolve and actions towards social justice.
1. **Ordinary Upbringing**: Bernice King mentions that her father was “really an ordinary person.” This emphasizes his relatability and connection to common experiences. He did things that many children do, such as “pulled pranks with his siblings,” “didn’t like to do the dishes,” and “loved baseball.”
2. **Context of Injustice**: Although he had an ordinary childhood, he grew up in a society marked by segregation and injustices. This context foreshadows the extraordinary actions he would take in response to these inequalities.
3. **Emergence as a Leader**: King became a leader in the civil rights movement while being the pastor of a church in Montgomery, Alabama, which reflects how he rose from a typical job into a pivotal role in history. The organization of the Montgomery bus boycott demonstrates his ability to galvanize ordinary people to take extraordinary action against unjust laws.
4. **Utilization of Nonviolent Methods**: He made a significant impact by employing nonviolent methods, such as peaceful marches, to fight against segregation and inequality. This choice of method shows his extraordinary commitment to peace and justice, despite the challenging circumstances around him.
5. **Legacy of Courage**: Bernice King shares that her father was not afraid to die for what he believed in. His acceptance of the potential consequences of his advocacy illustrates extraordinary bravery. He acknowledged the possibility of dying young as he fought for equality, indicated by his statement, “I may not get there with you,” which reflects both humility and a greater vision for the future.
6. **Lasting Impact**: Even after his tragic death, King’s message and legacy continued through other leaders and initiatives, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which emphasizes the ongoing relevance of his extraordinary contributions to society.
These points collectively illustrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a figure who, despite being an ordinary person with everyday experiences, was capable of profound impact through his resolve and actions towards social justice.