5 Important Lessons Young People Should Learn
From Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. a man who was originally
called Michael King Jr. was born on January
15, 1929, in Georgia, US.
He was an American social activist who played
an important role in righting a lot of wrongs
in society such as seeking equality and rights
for disadvantaged African Americans through
peaceful protests among other notable things.
So how did Martin Luther King Jr become so
successful and what can young people learn
from him?
In this video, we’ll share with you; 5 important
lessons young people should learn from Martin
Luther King Jr.
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Lesson 1
Take the Good from the Bad
King was born in a relatively secure and comfortable
household as the second of three children.
However, he was not immune to the harsh realities
of the world around him.
In his early teenage years, King became a
victim of racial prejudices which were common
in those days.
At the age of 12, the death of his dearest
maternal grandmother drove King into depression
and because he blamed himself for her death
he tried to commit suicide by jumping out
of a two-story window which he miraculously
survived.
Despite these things, King’s father did
not go easy on him.
Up until he turned 15, his father would whip
him regularly much to the alarm of their neighbors.
His father was once quoted telling his son
that "he would make something of him even
if he had to beat him to death."
The Lesson for young people
Growing up with a father who fiercely wanted
him to be successful despite the segregation
they faced and who proudly and fearlessly
protested against said segregation, these
circumstances molded King into the man we
know him to be today.
As a young person, you may have found yourself
in a similarly difficult environment but that
does not mean you will not become someone
of consequence in life.
Life can be tough and you will face challenges
but it is overcoming those challenges that
make you a successful person.
Lesson 2
Discover Your Talents
In 1942 when King was just 13 years, he volunteered
to work delivering newspapers for the Atlanta
Journal and his hard work earned him a position
as the youngest assistant manager in the newspaper
delivery station.
During his years in Booker T Washington High
School, he discovered his gift as a public
speaker and he joined the school’s debate
team where in his junior year he won first
prize in an oratorical contest.
King’s outstanding performance in school
led to his skipping the ninth and twelfth
grades in high school.
The Lesson for young people
It is very easy to be oblivious to the things
that you are good at.
But it might surprise you to know that, the
thing that you think you are bad at might
actually be your talent.
In order to discover the talents that can
make you successful, you need to open your
mind to the fact that talents come in all
forms.
For example, did you know that having the
ability to accurately read emotions is a valuable
talent for a successful person?
Take the time to reflect on your basic skills,
you never know which one can turn into a wealth
bringing talent.
Lesson 3
Embrace new experiences
In 1944, when King was 15 he made the decision
to spend his summer on a tobacco farm in Connecticut.
It was here that he shockingly discovered
the peaceful relations between different races.
In a letter to his parents, he wrote, “Negroes
and whites go [to] the same church…
I never [thought] that a person of my race
could eat anywhere.”
That same year, a well-respected school, Morehouse
College announced its intentions to accept
any student that could pass its entrance exam.
During that period when most of his mates
had discarded education in favor of drafting
in World War II, King chose to participate
in the admissions and passed the entrance
exam.
It was his exposure to the ministry during
his time there that he made the decision to
become a minister.
This choice would guide his path later in
life.
The Lesson for young people
Did you know that trying new experiences actually
improves your communication skills which in
turn improve your chances of financial success?
Having the flexibility and courage to embrace
new experiences has its perks.
For example, embracing new experiences grows
your comfort zone, inspires you and actually
connects you to people who would have a great
impact on your success.
Lesson 4
Don’t let opposition change you
In March 1955, King had the privilege to be
part of the committee that handled the case
of a 15-year-old black girl, Claudette Colvin
in Montgomery who refused to give up her bus
seat to a white man.
This incident raised a lot of outrage in a
community where racial segregation was being
enforced however King’s influence along
with E.D Nixon and Clifford Durr caused the
case to be dropped.
When a similar incident occurred 9 months
later it led to a non-violent campaign and
bus boycott to sensitize the community to
the injustice of racism which lasted for 385
days.
King’s participation in this campaign resulted
in his arrest however it had already made
him a national figure and spokesman for the
civil rights movement.
The Lesson for young people
You may find yourself in a position where
your methods are opposed by those around you,
either out of jealousy, fear of the change
you are trying to bring about or their inability
to comprehend your ideals but you should stand
by it.
Say for example you were moved to the corner
office because you had become so indispensable
to the boss and your older colleague couldn’t
stand for it and connived to have you moved,
it doesn’t mean that you stop being passionate
about your job or stop being excellent at
what you do.
Every opposition you face on your path to
success is only proof that you are actually
doing something right so keep at it.
After all, no matter how deep the darkness,
bright light always shines through.
Lesson 5
Be Bold and Ambitious
By the late 1950s, King had seen how successful
the organized protests could be.
But it was not enough.
The advent of media coverage gave him an idea.
In order to truly make a difference, King
needed the input of a larger community.
And so in the early 1960s King strategically
organized campaigns to advocate for the basic
civil rights of the blacks while ensuring
widespread television footage of the harassment
and violence that the segregation was causing
to Southern blacks.
The journalistic accounts of these events
eventually produced a wave of sympathy from
the general public which convinced a large
number of Americans to support the civil rights
movement.
By 1964, the Civil Rights Act was enacted.
The Lesson for young people
While there may be people telling you to start
small which isn’t necessarily a bad thing
in order to be successful, when you see the
opportunity to fuel your ambitions do not
hesitate to think big.
If you are a young person and you want to
be successful in life:
No matter how bad your environment is, there’s
good to be made from it.
Take the time to discover your strengths,
they will make you wealthy.
Open yourself to new encounters and broaden
your horizon.
NhatHanh once said, “If we believe tomorrow
will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”
And lastly be ambitious in your vision.
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