When I reflect on who Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was, three words come to mind: perseverance, boldness, and confidence. Like other activists, MLK wasn’t a person who let being an outsider define who he was. He might have felt like an outsider during his time because of the color of his skin, and because of the boldness and confidence in his views. He used that as motivation to work toward becoming an influential part of pushing the civil rights movement and being an uniter amongst all.

When I first joined the Delbarton Community, I felt like an outsider or that I didn’t belong, but then I thought about the perseverance that Dr. King displayed for all human rights and community, which helped my transition into the community. For me, Dr. King is more than a leader; he is a peacemaker who offered viable solutions such as talking about people’s differences and conflicts instead of using violence as a way to solve our issues. I believe that his notable I Have A Dream Speech was more than a piece of writing. Rather, he was able to say something that resonated with everyone regardless of the color of their skin, and in that speech, he pioneered the future of non-segregated schools and cities. Lastly, I would like to leave you all with a quotation by Dr. King: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”