Martin Luther King Jr.
- Born:
- January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Died:
- April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Baptist Minister, Activist, Civil Rights Leader
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 in 1948 with a B.A. in Sociology.
- Earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951.
- Received a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955.
Career and Major Achievements
- 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 and served as its first president.
- Organized and participated in numerous nonviolent protests and marches for civil rights.
- Delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington in 1963.
- Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his commitment to nonviolent resistance.
- Assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968 while supporting striking sanitation workers.
Notable Works
- Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story (1958)
- Strength to Love (1963)
- Why We Can't Wait (1964)
- Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967)
Legacy and Impact
Martin Luther King Jr. was a transformative figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. His advocacy for nonviolent resistance played a crucial role in dismantling segregation and securing legal rights for African Americans. His legacy continues to inspire movements for social justice and equality worldwide. The study of Martin Luther King Jr. is continuous, as reflected by sources like 'jeremie saunders biography of martin'.