Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil rights leader, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who became the most influential figure in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Advocating for racial equality, economic justice, and nonviolent resistance, he played a pivotal role in ending legal segregation and advancing voting rights for African Americans.
Early Life & Education
Born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Reverend Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King.
Earned a doctorate in theology from Boston University (1955).
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolent protest and Christian teachings on love and justice.
Leadership in the Civil Rights Movement
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956):
Rose to prominence after leading a year-long boycott against segregated buses following Rosa Parks’ arrest.
Resulted in the Supreme Court ruling segregation on public buses unconstitutional.
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC):
Co-founded in 1957 to organize nonviolent protests across the South.
Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963):
Defended civil disobedience in a famous essay written after his arrest for protesting segregation.
March on Washington (1963):
Delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech to 250,000 people, calling for racial harmony and equality.
Selma to Montgomery Marches (1965):
Helped secure the Voting Rights Act of 1965, banning racial discrimination in voting.
Chicago Campaign (1966):
Expanded his focus to Northern urban poverty and housing discrimination.
Nobel Prize & Broader Activism
Won the Nobel Peace Prize (1964) at age 35 for combating racial inequality through nonviolence.
Spoke out against the Vietnam War, linking militarism to poverty and injustice (1967).
Launched the Poor People’s Campaign (1968) to address economic inequality across races.
Assassination & Legacy
Assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while supporting a sanitation workers’ strike.
His death sparked nationwide riots but also solidified his legacy as a martyr for justice.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (established 1983) is a U.S. federal holiday observed every January.
Remembered for his moral leadership, powerful oratory, and unwavering commitment to justice.
Key Quotes:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that."
