Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. A clergyman and social activist, he played a pivotal role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. King was a Baptist minister who drew inspiration from Christian teachings and the nonviolent methods of Mahatma Gandhi. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person, igniting widespread activism against racial segregation.
King co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, which became instrumental in organizing civil rights actions across the South. His leadership was characterized by powerful oratory and a firm commitment to nonviolence. Perhaps his most famous moment came on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where he delivered the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, envisioning a future where people would be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin.
King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his efforts to combat racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. His relentless pursuit of justice, equality, and human rights left an indelible mark on American history. Tragically, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, but his legacy endures as a cornerstone of the struggle for civil rights in America.