Dr. King was a Baptist minister who was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His grandfather and father were both Baptist ministers. His father changed both of their names to Martin to honor the Catholic Protestant. Dr. King graduated from Morehouse College and earned his Ph.D. He was ordained a minister at his father's church and went to abolish discrimination against African-Americans.

Dr. King left a great impact on the world that I am grateful for as an African-American kid. He had a dream that someday "little black boys and little black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls." Because of Martin Luther King, I can speak to my friends of any race or color. He inspired a generation of whites to look beyond the color line, and to judge a man by the content of his character, not the color of his skin. Had it not been for Dr. King, I would be sitting in a dank, flea-ridden school with one classroom and a water fountain that probably wouldn't function, but because of Dr. King I can get a good education in a clean classroom and have equal opportunities.

The values that Dr. King believed in live on in my life. He taught tolerance, unity, equality for all, and the right of everyman as a human being.

I keep Dr. King's legacy alive by:

- Respecting everyone, regardless of their culture or race.

- Being tolerant of others.

- Advocating equality and justice to all.

- Thinking of my neighbor as my sister, brother, or fellow human being.

- Not taking my freedom for granted.

- Not taking my right to a free education for granted.

- Always remembering he gave his life for my freedom.

Happy Birthday, Dr. King.