Daring to Dream: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A presentation for grades K through 2 by the

1. Daring to Dream: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A presentation for grades K through 2 by the Rice University Black Student Association and Office of Public Affairs.

2. This is a picture of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We also know him by his initials, “MLK.” Dr. King was a very famous and important man in the history of our country. To understand why, it helps to understand that our country has a history of slavery. MLK

3. Slavery A person who is forced to work without pay is called a “slave.” For more than two hundred years, thousands of women, men, and children were taken from their homes in Africa and forced to work here as slaves. Slaves on an American plantation

4. Freedom Then, more than a hundred years ago, when Abraham Lincoln was the president of our country, he signed a law that outlawed slavery forever.

5. Segregation But even though they were no longer slaves, most African Americans still were not treated fairly. All around the country, black people were separated from white people, and not allowed to go to the same schools or restaurants or shop in the same stores. This is called “segregation.” Students in an all-black segregated school

6. During this time of segregation, Martin Luther King, Jr. (“MLK”) was born in Georgia, on January 15, 1929. He went to segregated schools when he was growing up. Education was very important to the young MLK. After graduating from high school, he went to college to become a church minister. In college, he earned a “doctorate,” which is the highest college degree you can get. That is why we now know him as “Dr. King,” even though he wasn’t the kind of doctor you go to when you are sick. The Young MLK

7. Dr. King got married and he and his wife had four children. After he was married, he became a church minister, just like his father and grandfather. He was pastor of a church in the town of Montgomery, Alabama, when something happened that changed Dr. King’s life forever… The Life of MLK The church where Dr. King worked

8. …a woman named Rosa Parks was riding a Montgomery, Alabama city bus when the driver told her to give up her seat for a white passenger. She didn’t think that was fair and she said no, so the bus driver called the police, who put her in jail. Dr. King didn’t think it was fair either, and he organized a bus boycott. The word “boycott” means “refuse to use,” and Dr. King convinced all the black people in the city to refuse to use the segregated buses. Becoming a Leader

9. For more than a year, black people in Montgomery, Alabama refused to use the bus. Finally the United States Supreme Court said that segregation on public buses was against the law. Dr. King had stood up for what he thought was right, and he had won. It made him famous and he became a leader of a national movement to win equal rights (also known as “civil rights”) for all Americans. Becoming a Leader

10. Leading the Nation Dr. King traveled throughout the United States for many more years, speaking more than 25,000 times about how important it was for everyone to have the same civil rights. Many Americans agreed with Dr. King, but others did not. He was arrested and put in jail more than once, he was threatened, and his home was even bombed.

11. Leading the Nation Dr. King often led large crowds of people in civil rights marches. A march was a peaceful way for many people to show their support for the idea of equal rights for all Americans. In 1963, more than 250,000 people came to the March on Washington, and heard Dr. King deliver his “I Have a Dream” speech. Click picture to watch speech on CBS News

12. Leading the Nation Shortly after the March on Washington, the United States Congress outlawed segregation and guaranteed equal rights for all American citizens. For his work as a peaceful civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

13. Leading the Nation Dr. King continued to work for civil rights until he was shot and killed by an assassin in 1968. Since his death, others have worked to continued his legacy.

14. Dr. King’s Legacy Today, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remains a hero to millions across our nation and throughout the world. His example continues to inspire those who seeking freedom and equality for all people.

15. Dr. King’s Legacy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dared to dream that he could make the world a better place. Then he set out to get the education he needed to make that happen. What do you dream of doing in your life? What kind of education will you need to do that? At Rice, we believe that you can make our world a better place, and we want to help. To know more, please visit www.rice.edu/mlk.

16. “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. www.rice.edu/mlk

17. References Texts cited: • http://wikipedia.org • http://www.thekingcenter.org/DrMLKingJr/ • http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html • http://www.lib.lsu.edu/hum/mlk/srs218.html Image sources: • http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/ • http://www.freeclipartnow.com/ • http://wikipedia.org • http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/images/slavery3.jpg • http://publicdomainclip-art.blogspot.com/2006/12/martin-luther-kings-birthday-2.html • http://www.clker.com/clipart-2363.html • http://webclipart.about.com/library/hvarious/blmlk10aa.htm • http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/education.shtml • http://namalt.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/rosa-parks.jpg • http://www.elcivics.com/martin_luther_king_jr.jpg • http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu/ViewingAmerica/roundtables/roundtable7/section3_files/marchonwash.jpg • http://riverdaughter.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/nobelpeaceprize1.jpg • http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2386195475_9bb8a0da0f_o.jpg • http://www.chicagostagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/martinlutherkingjr.jpg • http://publicdomainclip-art.blogspot.com/2006/12/martin-luther-kings-birthday-2.html