What Is Integrity: Dr. Martin Luther King

Dr. Martin Luther King was as integrious a man as our generation has seen. The fact that he stood up for his beliefs in the face of extreme racism, violence, and social pressure, and ultimately gave his life, is a real life example of the definition of integrity. His strength and integrity changed the world, and it is these types of people that are changing the world now. There are many words, virtues and honorable adjectives to describe Dr. King, but none as accurate and complete as integrious. Integrity describes him the best because there are many men who are strong, who are visionaries, who are advocates of peace, who fight for freedom, and equality, but I cannot think of one who did so under more difficult circumstances. This is an important measure of integrity, holding to your beliefs and values when it is the difficult to do so. I would speculate that his most difficult test came when he realized that his chosen path, could cost him his life. At this point, when people are threatening to take your life away because of your beliefs and your choice to share them, most men would compromise their integrity to stay alive. Dr King did not and for that reason he represents the highest degree of personal integrity, and as such we are honored to say “he was integrious.”