Summary
Highlights
Martin Luther King Jr. was a minister and leading activist in the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement. Born Michael Luther King Jr. on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, he later changed his name to Martin. King grew up in a religious and activist environment, with his father being a revered figure at Ebenezer Baptist Church and a local NAACP leader. A talented student, he entered Morehouse College at age 15 after skipping two grades. Initially skeptical of Christianity, he later embraced his faith and entered the seminary, earning a doctorate at Boston University. There, he met Coretta Scott, whom he married in 1953, and they had four children.
King quickly established himself as a rising star in the civil rights movement. Following Rosa Parks' arrest in December 1955, King was chosen by the NAACP to lead the Montgomery bus boycotts. These protests ultimately led to a US Supreme Court decision outlawing segregation on public buses in Alabama. As civil rights demonstrations emerged nationwide, King helped organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to unite these efforts. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, King advocated for nonviolent protests such as boycotts and sit-ins.
King's most famous triumph was the 1963 March on Washington, which brought over 200,000 peaceful protesters to the nation's capital, where he delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. He consistently risked his life for his protests, notably during the 1965 march for voting rights in Selma, Alabama, which resulted in 'Bloody Sunday.' Despite violent opposition, King persisted, leading subsequent marches, eventually under federal protection. His activism compelled President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King was also awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.
As the Vietnam War escalated, King expanded his focus to address racism, poverty, and militarism. By 1968, aware of the dangers he faced, he shared his premonition in his "I Have Been to the Mountaintop" speech. The following day, April 4th, King was fatally shot by James Earl Ray on the balcony of a Tennessee motel. Despite his assassination, King's progress and legacy endured. His family and followers continue to advocate for equality, and the United States has honored him every January since 1986 with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.