Through studying the life and example of Martin Luther King, Jr., we learn that his moral values of integrity, love, truth, fairness, caring, non-violence, achievement and peace were what motivated him. King is not great because he is well known, he is great because he served as the cause of peace and justice for all humans. King is remembered for his humanity, leadership and his love of his fellow man regardless of skin color. This presence of strong moral values developed King's character which enabled him to become one of the most influential

MLK's identity was known all to well in North America and is attributed to his many books, speeches and writings. During the year following the March, MLK renown grew as he became Time magazines Man of the Year and then in 1964 was the recipient of the Nobel Peace prize. Despite all the fame and accolades MLK faced many challenges to his leadership. However MLK's effectiveness in achieving his objectives was not limited and after achieving his objectives in Albany, MLK recognized the need to organize his protests in order to better represent his people and to strengthen their organization. Much of his identity was formed by his father. At a very early age MLK resented religious emotionalism and often questioned literal interpretations of scripture, but he always greatly admired black social gospel proponents such as his father who always viewed the church as an instrument for improving the lives of African American. President of Morehouse College Benjamin Mays further shaped his identity by influencing him to become a minister and serve society. His continued skepticism led him towards theological studies at Crozer Theological Seminar in Chester Pennsyvania and at Boston University where he received his doctorate in systematic theology in 1955. All of which were commensurate to his identity that is most evident in his famous "I have a dream" oration. Even after his death MLK, his identity and his beliefs have remained a controversial symbol of the African American civil rights struggle, revered by many for his sacrifice on behalf of non violence and condemned by others for his militancy and revolutionary views.

King also believed that all people should be treated with equality and fairness and this became the basis for the Civil Rights Movement of which King was the leader of. This fairness is one value that allowed King's followers to have so much respect for him, for some, he was more than a man, "The young people just envisioned a new hope and a new day, and the old folks saw in him a black Jesus. They used to love to call him 'My Boy' or 'My Son'. They worshipped him". King's followers felt this way about him because they had never before been treated with such fairness, they had never had anything to equal this in their whole lifetime. He lifted them so high that they could not help but think that he was an act sent to them from God.

Ansbro, John J., Martin Luther King, Jr., The Making of a Mind, 1982, Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY.

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Approximate Word count = 5443
Approximate Pages = 22 (250 words per page double spaced)