"I chose Martin Luther King, Jr. because he told [us] that everyone has a dream and you can follow your dream." -Josette Amado, fifth grade, St. Columba School, Oxon Hill, Maryland
For this month's Junior Saints, many students chose to draw civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for Black History Month.
"I chose Martin Luther King Jr. because he is a role model to all. He changed the world with his peaceful protests to end segregation. He stood up for what was right, and he changed all African Americans' lives forever." -Gary Jones, eighth grade, St. Pius X Regional School, Bowie, Maryland"I admire Martin Luther King Jr. because of the courage and love he had for others. He even loved the people that treated him poorly." -Anthony Rettew, eighth grade, St. Bartholomew School, Bethesda, Maryland"I admire Martin Luther King Jr. I admire him because he fought for African Americans to have equal rights. He also didn't want people to be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character, which I think is totally right...I also admire him because he continued to fight for what he thought was right, even though he knew it was potentially dangerous for him." -Grace Deerin, fifth grade, Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C."I admire Martin Luther King Jr. because he told everyone not to lose hope and follow their dreams in life. Also, because he wanted to make change and stop segregation. That inspired me to make sure nobody gets bullied (because) of their age, race, color or religion. God made us equally and used Martin to lead us in the right way." -Elsie Anosike, fifth grade, The Academy of St. Matthias the Apostle, Lanham, Maryland"For this Black History Month I chose Martin Luther King Jr. He impacted history by changing how we live forever. He said, 'I had a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will be not judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character.' In the Bible it says God made us in his own image and likeness, so none of us are different or should be excluded in this world." -Chloe Barnett, sixth grade, St. Mary's School, Bryantown, Maryland"I admire Martin Luther King Jr. because he fought for equal rights for all people and inspired the entire country to do the same." -Rachel Styslinger, eighth grade, Holy Redeemer School, Kensington, Maryland
Check back next week for drawings of Ruby Bridges, the first black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans.
