M
"I
have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the
content of their character."
Martin Luther King worked for racial equality and civil rights in the United States of America. He was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. Both his father and grandfather were ministers. Young Martin was an excellent student in school he skipped grades in both elementary school and high school. Martin entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was only 15 years old. He experienced racism early in life and decided to dedicate his life to racial equality in the U.S.A. After graduating from college and getting married, Dr. King became a minister and moved to Alabama. During the 1950's, Dr. King became active in the movement for civil rights and racial equality. He participated in the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott and many other peaceful demonstrations that protested against the unfair treatment of African-Americans. In 1963 he gave his famous 'I have a dream' speech (see above) at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. A small time thief, James earl Jones, was arrested for the murder but many believe that King was the victim of a conspiracy.
Comprehension Questions
1. Put the following events into the correct order. What year did each event happen in?
a. ______ King gave his "I have a dream" speech at a rally in Washington D.C.
b. ______ King became active in the struggle for black civil rights.
c. ______ King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
d. ______ King was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
e. ______ King won the Nobel peace prize.
2. Now ask your partner who read the text about Sam Sharpe if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F).
a. Sam Sharpe was an American Slave.
b. Sam Sharpe died when he was 31 years old.
c. Sam Sharpe led the Christmas Rebellion of 1831.
d. The Christmas Rebellion was followed by emancipation in 1838.
e. The British pardoned Sam Sharpe for his part in the Rebellion.