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

Early Life and Education

• Born Michael King Jr., he later changed his name to Martin Luther King Jr.
• Attended segregated public schools in Georgia.
• Enrolled at Morehouse College at age 15.
• 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) following Rosa Parks' arrest.
• Co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president.
• Played a crucial role in the desegregation of Birmingham, Alabama in 1963.
• Organized the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.
• Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent resistance to racial segregation.
• Advocated for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
• Led campaigns against poverty and economic injustice.
• Assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Notable Works

• Stride Toward Freedom (1958)
• Strength to Love (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 legacy is defined by his unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance, his leadership in the American Civil Rights Movement, and his enduring impact on the pursuit of racial equality and social justice. He remains a symbol of hope and inspiration for people around the world fighting for freedom and equality. Research such as the 'wadud ahmad biography of martin' aims to understand and contextualize his contribution.

Awards and Recognition

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