Philosophy - MLK Life

Question 1

give some background about the struggle to civil rights

Answer 1

• From the 1500s British traders enslaved people from African countries and shipped to tobacco plantations in America
• Slavery abolished in 1865 but Southern states imposed ‘Jim Crow’ laws to ensure continuing segregation – supposedly, ‘separate but equal’
• Facilities used by black people were always poorer quality
• December 1955 – Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat

Question 2

when was MLK alive?

Answer 2

1929 – 1968, grew up in Atlanta,
Georgia

Question 3

who was MLK’s father

Answer 3

a baptist minister

Question 4

what did MLK have?

Answer 4

a doctorate in theology

Question 5

what happened on 5 December 1955

Answer 5

he was elected leader of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) to help direct the bus boycott after Rosa Parks’ stand

Question 6

what was the early policy of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA)

Answer 6

Early policy was non-violent direct action, came to believe law may need to be broken

Question 7

what happened on 28 August 1963

Answer 7

‘I have a dream’ speech

Question 8

what did MLK achieve in 1965?

Answer 8

1965 Voting Rights Act (black Americans same as white) – BUT
-Many black activists were injured and badly treated
-Still needed to change hearts and minds/ prejudices – and equality in housing, healthcare, education