Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and leader of the American civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He believed that black and white Americans should have equal rights and be able to live together harmoniously. King led many non-violent protests against racial segregation, including the Montgomery bus boycott. His efforts helped end segregation laws and advance racial equality, though he faced opposition from those who supported the racial status quo. King was assassinated in 1968, though his message of non-violent protest continued to inspire civil rights advocates.

1. Man with a dream
Read the text and find out the 7 PASSIVE FORMS. Underline the verbs which you think are
in the passive form.
Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted black and white Americans to live happily together. On the
third Monday in January, many Americans honour this hero.
Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. was a black pastor. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia on 15th
January, 1929. He was the leader of the Civil Rights movement demanding equality for
black people. Many Southern states in the U.S.A., like Georgia, were segregated in the
1950s: black children couldn't go to the same schools as whites; blacks and whites couldn't
sit in the same bus seats, theatres or use the same public toilets. King believed that was
wrong.
In December 1955, Rosa Parks, a black woman, was on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. A
white man demanded her seat and she refused. She was arrested. King, who was working in
Montgomery, led a black protest. For a year, black people refused to use the buses. Finally,
segregation on the buses was declared illegal. In fact all segregation in Alabama was
stopped!
Dr King was now famous and he continued with many other protests. He wanted black and
white people to have the same rights. Some white people supported him, but many opposed
him. His house was bombed. But King, like Gandhi, refused violence. In 1964, he received
the Nobel Peace Prize.
King was an excellent orator. His speeches were famous and convinced many people,
including President Kennedy, that he was right. But he continued to have enemies and on
April 4th, 1968, he was assassinated. Ironically, the death of this non-violent man provoked
riots all over America.
Salcedo S, Joel R. C.I. Nº V-12.078.058.
Curso: Ingles Instrumental.
Maestría en Ciencias Penales y Criminológicas - UNY.