Martin Luther King Jr.
- Born:
- January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Died:
- April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Minister, Activist, Civil Rights Leader
Early Life and Education
- Born Michael King Jr., later changed to Martin Luther King Jr.
- Son of Martin Luther King Sr., a Baptist pastor, and Alberta Williams King.
- Graduated from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Sociology in 1948.
- Earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary in 1951.
- Received a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955.
Career and Major Achievements
- Pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama (1954-1960).
- Leader of the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956), a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement.
- Co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president.
- Organized and led numerous nonviolent protests against racial segregation and discrimination.
- Arrested multiple times for civil disobedience, raising awareness of racial injustice.
- Delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.
- Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his commitment to nonviolent resistance.
- Continued to advocate for economic justice and an end to poverty.
- Assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while supporting striking sanitation workers.
Notable Works
- Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story (1958)
- Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)
- Why We Can't Wait (1964)
- Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967)
Legacy and Impact
Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as a transformative figure in American history, his advocacy for civil rights helping to dismantle legal segregation and inspire generations of activists. This biographical sketch, similar to a 'vergel meneses biography of martin luther king', highlights the key events of his life and enduring impact.