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Martin Luther King's Eulogy For The Martyred Children Analysis

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On the 18th of September, Martin Luther King Jr. preached “Eulogy for the Martyred Children” at the service for three of the girls involved in the tragedy. For many people in the African-American community, the catastrophe of four innocent children dying was the last straw. No longer were they going to let oppression dictate their lives. By portraying the children as heroes, Martin Luther King Jr. took a terrible catastrophe and turned it into a glimpse of hope for his brother and sisters. Therefore, he portrayed the martyred children as heroes to unify African-Americans through a riverine tone.
Dr. King portrayed the four children as sacrificial tributes for the black community. "[The four girls] did not die in vain…The innocent blood of these little girls may well serve as a redemptive force that will bring new light to this dark city” (mlkonline.net). The sermon made a biblical connection, as he shared the four children shedding their blood to better the lives of the African-American community. This was an allusion to Jesus Christ sacrificing his life for the forgiveness of sin. In this case, dying with a purpose means saving the life of someone else. The children reassured the African-American society by bringing light to a very dark time in history.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s approach was consistent with his non-violent philosophy. The Civil Rights leader insisted the congregation not to retaliate with physical violence. Instead, he urged the congregation to love their

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