Martin Luther King Jr.

Summary

Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist, played a pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement. He was an advocate for nonviolent civil disobedience. His efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King was assassinated in 1968, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the fight for social justice.

Facts

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist.

He was a prominent leader in the American Civil Rights Movement from 1954 until his assassination in 1968.

King advocated for civil rights through nonviolent civil disobedience, influenced by his Christian beliefs.

He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955.

King helped establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957 and served as its first president.

In 1963, he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington.

King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, becoming the youngest recipient at that time.

Despite facing opposition, King remained committed to his philosophy of nonviolence.

His assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, sparked nationwide mourning and riots in over 100 cities.

King remains a symbol of the fight for civil rights and social justice worldwide.