Martin Luther King Jr.

Born:

January 15, 1929, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Died:

April 4, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Baptist Minister, Civil Rights Activist, Author

Early Life and Education

• Born Michael King Jr., later changed to Martin Luther King Jr.
• Attended segregated public schools in Georgia.
• 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).
• 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 and participated in numerous nonviolent protests against racial segregation and discrimination.
• Led the Birmingham Campaign in 1963, which brought national attention to the struggle for civil rights.
• 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.
• Advocated for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
• Opposed the Vietnam War and advocated for economic justice.
• Assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was 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)
• The Trumpet of Conscience (1968)

Legacy and Impact

Martin Luther King Jr.'s work had a monumental impact on the advancement of civil rights in the United States and globally. His philosophy of nonviolent resistance influenced movements for social justice worldwide, solidifying his legacy as one of the most important figures in modern history. Many consider this biographical representation of 'martin luther king jr biography sketch' to be a fair overview of his life and impact.

Awards and Honors

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