What The World Gains From Optimism What is optimism? Optimism is hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something. To be an optimist you acquire positivity and hope for the best of things. Two people that I admire, and see as an optimist is Martin Luther King Jr and Winston Churchill. First and foremost, Martin Luther King Jr was a very inspirational man. For example, he was an optimist, he set goals, and fought for his rights. Dr. King was an African American social activist that fought for African American civil rights from the mid- 1950’s up until his assassination in 1968. Dr. King didn’t like what was happening so he made a change. Dr. King knew the percentage of gaining equality was extremely low,