In the Summer of 1934, then Michael Luther King Sr. took a life-changing ministry trip to Berlin, where the reformast story of Martin Luther spoke to him so much that the reverend decided to change his own name (and that of his son’s) to Martin. That son became the leader to one of the biggest civil right’s causes in America (very befitting of his namesake). Through this happenstance of chance, lie the differences and similarities between Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr (MLK).
The act of changing or reforming an institution or practice in order to improve it is the basic meaning of what we see as “reformation”. However, with that verb come connoted history and processes that came around the Sixteenth Century. While this concept is not new, we have seen that aforementioned era helped shape future leaders as we have seen or see them today.
Interestingly enough, both reformers mentioned above, MLK and Martin Luther were willing and able to share their stance with the world through each’s “new media” of the time. Martin Luther was born 43 years after the invention of the printing press, which as we know, served a role in Luther’s words being able to be spread to the people most needing it. The kairotic rhetoric for Luther gave at a time when there was much religious unrest, and the Reformation was underway. MLK came along about 34 years after the radio. Both used different mediums to share their messages--Luther the written word, and MLK relying on speeches and media. Luther chose to post at a church, MLK gave his famous speech at Lincoln memorial, each setting serving as a rhetorical device helping connect their audiences and connect and contrast their setting with their messages.
MLK in his last speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” explains the importance of pushing boundaries to step toward progression by saying, “If I were standing at the beginning of time, with the possibility of taking a kind of general and panoramic view of the whole of human history up to now . . . I would even go by the way that the man for whom I’m named had his habitat, and I would watch Martin Luther as he tacks his 95 theses on the door at the church of Wittenberg. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life; longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will . . . I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!”. This excerpt shows the dedication to the cause needed by reformers to bring about change. This same dedication is also seem with Martin Luther as shown in the following clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiSCnZ4wSMo&feature=youtu.be
Knowing the dedication and strife of these two men stresses and highlights the importance of reformation, the importance of improvement through drive for a positive change.
I love this graphic you guys made! It is so interesting to see how 2 influential people could be so different yet so similar in their beliefs and actions.
ReplyDeleteI need to read a biography about each of these great men! I wonder what they would want to change about today's world. What cause would they be undertaking if they were at BYU as students.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping someone would discuss this! I especially loved your discussion of "new media" in the post. I never thought about just how innovative MLK was on that front!
ReplyDeleteI think it is so interesting how Martin Luther King and Martin Luther shared the same name and a similar destiny. MLK was like our modern Martin Luther. It was as if the Reformation had repeated all over again.
ReplyDeleteThat’s so cool and I had no idea that there was such a connection. It makes you truly wonder what other “coincidences” like this have occurred throughout history. Also, on a mildly related note, here is one of my favorite monologues that it reminded me of: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/331139-people-break-down-into-two-groups-when-they-experience-something
ReplyDeleteI agree that coincidences in history are often inspired. I definitely think that these two men have a connection in their life missions, one thing to consider is that both men were persecuted for what they were trying to accomplish, but only Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated for it. Regardless, they both put their lives on the line for their cause.
ReplyDeleteI really love this comparison. I've found that reading texts from Luther's time (especially those that have been translated) it's hard to understand the subtext and implications of their message sometimes. In contrast to that because of Martin Luther King being in a much more modern period we have actual recordings, and it's so much more moving. I'd like to think that in a way we can learn something about all reformers from his emphatic speeches, the emotion in his voice, and his careful choice of words.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that MLK Jr's dad changed his name because of Martin Luther! That is so cool. It almost makes it better that MLK Jr decided to change the social injustice in America just like Martin Luther changed the religious injustice.
ReplyDeleteInteresting connection! The media change mentioned is very, very important. It is highly unlikely the Civil Rights movement would have been nearly as successful if radio and television didn't exist. It's very interesting how much change media changes and advances can affect.
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