Myths and heroes : What makes a person African-American a hero and a myth in the United States?

Myths and heroes:

First of all, I would like to give a definition of this notion. A myth can be defined as a story about gods or heroes, it can be a popular belief or a tradition or a false notion. A hero can be a mythological figure, a person who is admired for his or her achievements a superhero or maybe a role model or an icon. This year in class, we studied several documents about myths and heroes and in particular on segregation in the united states in the sixty’s. In order to illustrate this notion, I have chosen to answer the problem: What makes a person African-American a hero and a myth in the United States? I will first talk about Rosa Parks, then Martin Luther King and finally Malcolm X.

Rosa Parks is an African American woman who became an emblematic figure in the fights against segregation. She is nickname the mother of the Civil Rights Movement. This fight is confirmed by Obama's speech « Obama and Rosa Parks ». This document talks about the arrest of Rosa Parks on December one, nineteen fifty-five, because she refused to give way to a white passenger in the bus. She became the icon or freedom and heroin in the fight against racial discrimination. Subsequently, Rosa Parks to fight against racial segregation with Martin Luther King.

Martin Luther King is an African American Pastor who became a civil right leader. He was a non-violent activist against racial segregation and for peace.He delivered a famous speech on March three, nineteen sixty-eight, « Unfulfilled dreams ». Its purpose in this speech is to fight for equal rights between whites and non- whites. Martin Luther King insists on the fact that they must keep fighting to achieve their goals. All his exploits have made him a myth. He was murdered, but he became a hero because he died defending his values and leaving a free African-American community. Malcolm X is also civil right leader because they use different ways of fighting.

Malcolm little adopted the nickname of Malcolm X during his time in the movement Nation of Islam. Malcolm X is an African-American Muslim preacher and human rights activist. He delivered a speech where he talks To Africans about the struggle for equality. Where he refers to the immigration of pilgrims to America in 1620.

To conclude, I think the concept of myths and heroes has an important place in the society. We must not forget that the definition hero is subjective; it depends on us and society. Define someone as hero is acceding to its causes, goals, which can sometimes be good or just as bad.

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