Martin Luther King Jr.
- Born:
- January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Died:
- April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Baptist Minister, Civil Rights Activist
Early Life and Education
- Born Michael King Jr., later changed to Martin Luther King Jr.
- Attended segregated public schools in Georgia.
- Graduated from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Sociology in 1948.
- Earned a B.D. from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951.
- Received a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama (1954-1960).
- Led the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956), a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement.
- Co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president.
- Organized and participated in numerous nonviolent protests and marches for racial equality and voting rights.
- Delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963).
- Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
- Played a key role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- Initiated the Poor People's Campaign in 1968.
Notable Works
- Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story (1958)
- Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)
- Why We Can't Wait (1964)
- Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967)
- The Trumpet of Conscience (1968)
Legacy and Impact
Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a leading figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. His advocacy for nonviolent resistance and his commitment to racial equality profoundly impacted American society and inspired movements for social justice worldwide. His birthday is celebrated as a national holiday in the United States.
Awards and Recognition
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Nobel Peace Prize | 1964 |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumous) | 1977 |
| Congressional Gold Medal (posthumous) | 2004 |
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