On the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Junior's assassination, I have opted to focus on the cause that he died for- Human Rights. MLK's life was taken far too soon, but his legacy and the things he fought for will live on.
The year 1929 was the birth of not only MLK but many other great people who tried to make the world a better place before they left. Today I am going to focus on several of the important figures that were born in the same year as Dr. King.
Audrey Hepburn
Born May 4, 1929
According to Famouspeople.com, Audrey Hepburn was a woman who devoted a large part of her life to UNICEF - The United Nations Children's Fund.
She began contributing in 1954 and was appointed the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. From 1988 to 1992 she worked in some of the poorest communities in Africa, Asia, and South America.
In 1988 she went to Ethiopia to get food to starving children. In August of the same year, she went to Turkey and vaccinated most of the country within ten days. She passed through Central America in 1989 and later to the Sudan and Bangladesh where she would hold children - even if they were covered in flies, or appeared sickly. In 1990 she went to Vietnam and in '92 just before she died, she visited Somalia.
Grace Kelly
Born November 12, 1929
Grace Kelly was an actress who became the Princess of Monaco at just 26.
After her marriage, she was unable to continue acting and pursued philanthropy.
She founded AMADE Mondiale, which is a non-profit organization that is now recognized by the UN as a non-governmental association. It is meant to "promote and protect the moral and physical integrity, as well as the spiritual well-being of children throughout the world, without distinction of race, nationality or religion and in a spirit of complete political independence."
She also formed the Princess Grace Foundation to help support local artisans.
It has now grown to a much larger scale today, and awards funds to artists in the United States as well.
Imelda Marcos
Born July 2, 1929
This woman was the 10th first lady of the Philippines. She put a lot of work and money towards improving her country during her husband's presidency.
She created the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), which was built to rekindle the pride and strength of the Philippines.
In May of 1966 she started a social welfare campaign, and from then until 1968 she built many welfare villages, including places specifically for children and for the elderly.
In 1967 she started a plan to create vegetable gardens in the idle lots around the country.
Other notable names
- Anne Frank - Noted Young Jewish Writer
- Chaim Potok - Jewish American Writer
- Frank Gehry - Noted Canadian architect
- Chet Baker - Famous trumpeter
- Arnold Palmer - Golfer
Final thoughts
Martin Luther King died advocating for the right to vote, and for equal treatment of all in America. So many good people live their lives fighting for what they believe is right, whether that be through social justice and political movement, or writing, or creating things that have not been created before. Today has been a good day to recognize and honor all of them.
