Ranch Reflections are articles written by LRHS students and staff who want to share their experiences, thoughts, and concerns. This is a great opportunity for Mustangs to branch out beyond traditional news stories.  This edition features one student’s ideas on the value of American diversity.

Jules Telfort – Mustangs Ahead

January 20 is Martin Luther King Day.

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Mustangs enjoyed a day off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but there is a deeper meaning to it.

It is a day of remembrance of how a great man was courageous enough to stand up for the civil rights of Black Americans.

When I was in elementary school, I remember learning about how Dr. King had a significant role on the achievement of equality between Black and White Americans.

One of the most famous speeches that he ever delivered, a speech that is still taught and praised in American classrooms today, was ‘I Have a Dream’.

In this message delivered on August 28, 1963, in Washington D.C., he talked about how all men are created equal and expressed his dream that America would “judge a man not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.”

Today, because of his efforts, America is a more diverse and inclusive country than before. People from all diverse backgrounds are taking up important positions in our society and are making their voices heard.

Without King, it may not have been possible to have Black chefs, engineers, and even our first Black president in America.

King’s words should encourage every Mustang to strive to become kinder and more compassionate to everyone.

As life goes on and we become distracted by daily things, we must never forget the sacrifices that King made for Black Americans.

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King grew up in Atlanta, GA, the second son of Pastor Martin Luther King and Alberta Williams King, a teacher.

Later in life, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and went on to become a pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

Brave acts like the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, and even an assassination attempt on his life only increased his belief in nonviolence towards others.

Before his tragic death, King faced many hardships, but he overcame them all with one goal in mind: equality and harmony between Black and White people.