Martin Luther King Jr.
- Born:
- Michael King Jr., January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Died:
- April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Baptist Minister, Civil Rights Activist, Author
Early Life and Education
- Born Michael King Jr., later changed to Martin Luther King Jr.
- Attended segregated public schools in Georgia.
- Entered Morehouse College at age 15, graduating with a B.A. in Sociology in 1948.
- 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
- Became pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama in 1954.
- 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 civil rights, including the March on Washington in 1963.
- Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his commitment to nonviolent resistance.
- Advocated for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- Expanded his focus to include issues of poverty and economic injustice in later years.
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. remains a monumental figure in American history, celebrated for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement and his unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance. His advocacy played a crucial role in dismantling segregation and securing legal rights for African Americans. The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. continues to inspire movements for social justice and equality worldwide. Further analyses can be found within works like dickran gobalian biography of martin luther king, which delve deeper into his impact.