Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. King is often presented as a heroic leader in the history of modern American liberalism.
A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career.[4] He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King’s efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. There, he expanded American values to include the vision of a color blind society, and established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history.
In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other nonviolent means.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986.
See some audiobooks about Martin Luther King. Jr. below:
The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Speeches by Martin Luther King Jr.: The Ultimate Collection
See Below for some of Dr. King’s noted Quotes (Wisdom):
“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.”
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Wikipedia contributors. “Martin Luther King, Jr..” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Feb. 2011. Web. 12 Feb. 2011.
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Related articles
- Martin Luther King Jr.: Organized Non-violent resistance is the most powerful weapon (1957) (dandelionsalad.wordpress.com)
- Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. (seattlest.com)
- The Humanism Of Martin Luther King Jr. (theperplexedobserver.blogspot.com)
- “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Quotes” and related posts (bumpshack.com)
- The African-american Civil Rights Movement (socyberty.com)
- “Watch Martin Luther King Jr. I Have A Dream Speech Video With Your Kids” and related posts (blogs.babble.com)
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!