Martin Luther King Essay
FIRST PLACE (9TH & 10TH GRADES) West Bend West High School, 10th Grade
Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. Dr. King proclaimed these words in an effort to emphasize how important it is to continuously progress regardless of the circumstances. Specifically, from a racial standpoint. He made it clear that it is crucial that we do not give up on our mission to achieve equality and peace for the black man, the black woman, black child.
Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. As a black child, I hear this phrase echoing in my head everyday, reminding me not to give up on our fight for life. Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. I utter this phrase under my breath as I scroll through social media and see videos casually posted in which people of my complexion are being barbarically massacred. Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. I remember this importance as I turn on the TV and watch as people to my comparison are protesting all around the country in an effort to be heard, only to be teargassed and beaten by the people that are suppressors that are our so called protectors. Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. I contemplate the legitimacy of this phrase as I read in the news that the president of my country, the man that is supposed to fight for the liberties of all American peoples, has declared that people like me are murderous, lazy thieves. Keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward. This time I forget this phrase as I sit in my history class and listen to my white peers debate the validity of the black life. The validity of my life.
I know that we are supposed to keep moving forward, but it is easy to forget sometimes. We’ve been fighting for equality and pushing to move forward for so long. We’ve been suffering in this white society as we’ve been killed, persecuted, hunted, raped, ridiculed, and invalidated based upon the color of our skin from day one. But how long do we have to fight? How long do we have to constantly prove our humanity and keep pushing forward until we can rest? Until we can finally sit and take a breath without having to worry about being shot in the back for breathing?
At many times, it seems relieving to give up in this everlasting strife. But then I remember that it is not my fight to surrender. I remember to keep moving forward for all of those who came before me, and all of those to come after. We must keep pushing because we’ve come this far, and it would be unfair to not only ourselves, but to those who depend on us, to give up when we need to resist the most. The fight is not over, and we must keep moving forward, keep moving forward, keep moving forward so our children can see better days.