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Black History Month Spotlight: A Selection of Quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BC chapter.

February is Black History Month and here at Her Campus Boston College we are celebrating by honoring some of the most influential African-American figures in U.S. history. Today we turn to Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister and activist who became one of the most visible and instrumental leaders in the Civil Rights Movement. In his famous “I Have a Dream” address, he urged Americans to “make real promises of democracy”. With this speech and his many others, he solidified his position as a moving speaker and leader and proved to be a vital character in the Civil Rights Movement.

 

 

 

Here are a few inspiring quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.:

 

  • Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

 

  • The time is always right to do what is right.

 

  • Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

 

  • Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

 

  • Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?

 

  • Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

 

  • Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.

 

  • We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

 

  • The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

 

  • Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.

 

 

We hope you enjoy this selection of MLK’s inspiring words. To learn more about his story and involvement in the Civil Rights Movement click here Be sure to check out the other Black History Month Spotlights on our site this week!

 

Sources:

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/i-have-dream-address-delivered-march-washington-jobs-and-freedom

 

https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/01/15/king-speech-306478e25e6e24acaefb2441bc27b0b7c6d5dea6-s800-c85.jpg

 

https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2013/08/29/08/4608656-low_res-martin-luther-king-and-the-march-on-washington.jpg?width=1368&height=912&fit=bounds&format=pjpg&auto=webp&quality=70

 

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/martin-luther-king-jr

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/martin-luther-king-jr-model-american-patriot/

Alana is a Senior at Boston College studying Math and Economics. She spent a semester studying in London and traveling throughout Europe. A movie, music, and milk chocolate enthusiast she spends her time quoting Leslie Knope, tagging her friends in puppy instagrams, and taking pictures of her food.