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Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Martin Luther King, Jr.: Facts & Related Content

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Martin Luther King, Jr. was a pivotal leader in the American civil rights movement, known for his advocacy of nonviolent protest. He organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott following Rosa Parks' arrest and played a key role in the Birmingham Campaign and the March on Washington, where he delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. King's efforts contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Facts

Also Known As MLK Jr. • Michael Luther King, Jr.
Born January 15, 1929 • Atlanta • Georgia
Died April 4, 1968 (aged 39) • Memphis • Tennessee
Awards And Honors Grammy Award (1970) • Nobel Prize (1964)
Notable Works “I Have A Dream”
Notable Family Members spouse Coretta Scott King
Role In 16th Street Baptist Church bombing • American civil rights movement • March on Washington • Montgomery bus boycott • Selma March • assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. • Fair Housing Act • “I Have A Dream” • Poor People’s Campaign

Top Questions

When was Martin Luther King, Jr. born?
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on Tuesday, January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.
What did Martin Luther King, Jr. study?
Martin Luther King, Jr. graduated from Morehouse College with a BA degree in Sociology and received his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University.
What significant speech did Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver in 1963?
Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.
What major legislation did Martin Luther King, Jr. help to pass in 1964?
Martin Luther King, Jr. helped to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
What philosophy influenced Martin Luther King, Jr.'s approach to civil rights?
Martin Luther King, Jr. was influenced by Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence.
What award did Martin Luther King, Jr. receive in 1964?
Martin Luther King, Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Did You Know?

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. entered Morehouse College at age 15, skipping two grades, and graduated with a B.A. in Sociology at 19.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech was partially improvised, with the iconic phrase omitted from the original draft.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth name was Michael King Jr., changed by his father in honor of Protestant reformer Martin Luther.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. was placed under FBI surveillance by J. Edgar Hoover, who suspected him of being a communist.

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Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., and Coretta Scott King
Martin Luther King, Jr., and Lyndon Johnson
Martin Luther King, Jr., delivering “I Have a Dream”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
March on Washington
White House meeting of civil rights leaders in 1963
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., at Montgomery
The life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Each section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, explained
Timeline: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the civil rights movement
View Yannis Simonides performing Socrates Now, a theatrical adaptation of Plato's Apology of Socrates, with remarks on Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela
Learn how the invention of dynamite led, in part, to the global recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr., as a civil rights leader
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