Martin Luther King Jr.
- Born:
- January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Died:
- April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Baptist Minister, Civil Rights Activist, Orator, Author
Early Life and Education
- Born Michael King Jr., later changed to Martin Luther King Jr.
- Graduated from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Sociology in 1948.
- Received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951.
- Earned a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955.
Career and Major Achievements
- 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 numerous nonviolent protests against racial segregation and discrimination, including the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom 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.
- Launched the Poor People's Campaign in 1968 to address economic inequality.
Notable Works
- Stride Toward Freedom (1958)
- Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)
- Why We Can't Wait (1964)
- The Trumpet of Conscience (1967)
- Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967)
Legacy and Impact
Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as one of the most influential leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement. His advocacy for nonviolent resistance and racial equality significantly impacted American society and continues to inspire movements for social justice around the world. The extensive body of work and lasting influence on the Civil Rights movement is explored in works like the katsuhisa furuta biography of martin luther king, which provides further insight into his life and impact.