Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision was for a society without racial inequality where people were judged by their character rather than their skin color. Through non-violent protests like the Montgomery bus boycott, King raised awareness of civil rights issues and helped pass legislation like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. While full equality has not been achieved, King's vision has made the world more just and given minorities a greater voice. His message of non-violence also inspired civil rights movements internationally.

1. How Did Martin Luther King's Vision Change the World?
Martin Luther King Jr's vision changed the world in a major way. In fact, anyone
who’s been through elementary school in America has likely heard the name
Martin Luther King. As we progress into high school and beyond, we’re taught
about his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, and we gain a greater understanding
of his impact on civil rights in America as a whole.
Martin Luther King's Vision
Martin Luther King had a vision of a society in which race was not an issue in how
people were treated or in how they were allowed to live their lives. It’s a sad fact of
today’s society that King’s vision is not a reality in America, or anywhere else in the
world; but it is possible to say that his vision affected us.
While nothing is perfect or complete in the battle for civil rights, the efforts of King
and those like him have, in fact, changed the country and the world, for the better,
in noticeable ways. His vision has made the world a more equal place, if not an
equal one, and it has helped to ensure that minorities have a voice.
Martin Luther King and Civil Rights
Martin Luther King had a major impact on civil rights. King played a part in many
well-known civil rights movements in the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1955, he became heavily involved in the Montgomery, Alabama boycott of the
city buses, which was spurred by the bus company’s insistence that African
Americans only ride in the back seats. King’s support drew much attention to the
cause and rallied many supporters even outside of the Montgomery area, which
put pressure on bus companies all over the South to examine their own rules, and
eventually, to change them.
King’s prominence in the civil rights movement gained the respect of many political
leaders, and gave him the potential power to enact major change.

2. Vision of Non-Violent Protest
The bus boycott was just one example of many situations where, under King’s
influence, the civil rights movement gained attention and respect.
A key part of King’s vision, aside from a quest for racial equality, was the idea of
non-violence; he refused to use violent actions in any of his protests, and taught
his followers to do the same. Based on the principles of Gandhi, this factor of
King’s beliefs and behavior was a major influence on society at the time. Police
forces didn’t hesitate to use violence against demonstrators and protesters, but in
the face of their quiet civil resistance, the overblown physical techniques of force
and brutality lost their power.
Martin Luther King was greatly responsible for the passing of the Civil Rights
Act and the Voting Rights Act for African Americans, both in the mid 1960s. Both of
these acts literally changed American law so that African Americans could not be
treated separately from whites. His victories in these two areas had a major impact
on the United States and the world.
Martin Luther King did not make overt efforts to fight international civil rights
inequalities; however, his U.S. civil rights victories and speeches were inspiration
for those who were involved in international racial injustice. By 1964 the United
Nations' membership had doubled from its 1945 levels. Almost 75% of these new
members were from developing countries who were committed to combating racial
injustice based on the struggles of Martin Luther King in the U.S. and the racial
persecution in South Africa.
King's Death
King was assassinated in 1968. With his death, the country lost not only a great
leader, but a prominent person who had carried the power to change society for
the better. The loss of King was a loss for people of all races.
For a time perspective of the details of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, check out
the Martin Luther King Jr. Timeline on YourDictionary.