Are You Inspired by Martin Luther King?

January 19 2010, 9:29am

To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, The Washington Post asked their readers how Dr. King had inspired them. The newspaper invited users to submit a video response sharing which of the famous activist’s words they thought were most memorable, or explaining how Dr. King had affected their lives. Many citizens went to YouTube to reenacting Dr. King’s famous speeches. The videos are displayed on YouTube’s homepage as well as on washingtonpost.com. Participants could visit the YouTube blog or The Washington Post site to submit their video using YouTube Direct. Once the videos are posted, others have the opportunity to respond to the content and share their thoughts about the day. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a United States holiday that celebrates Dr. King’s birthday. It is observed on the third Monday of January which is close to Dr. King’s Jan. 15 birthday. Martin Luther King Jr. was an influential spokesman for nonviolent activism during the Civil Rights Movement. He protested racial discrimination in federal and state law before he was assassinated in 1968. One video displayed on The Washington Post site shows fourth graders from Watkins Elementary School passionately reciting Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I have a dream’ speech at the Lincoln Memorial.