Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential leaders in American history. He is best known for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s, where he worked tirelessly to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. Through his commitment to nonviolent protest, powerful speeches, and moral leadership, King helped transform the United States and inspired movements for justice around the world.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in a deeply religious family; his father and grandfather were both Baptist ministers. From an early age, King experienced racial discrimination, which shaped his understanding of injustice. He excelled academically and eventually earned a doctorate in theology, becoming Dr. King. His education and faith strongly influenced his belief that social change could be achieved through peaceful means.
King rose to national prominence in 1955 during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama. After Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger, African Americans in Montgomery organized a boycott of the city’s buses. King, then a young pastor, was chosen to lead the movement. The boycott lasted over a year and ended with a Supreme Court ruling that declared bus segregation unconstitutional. This success demonstrated the power of organized, nonviolent resistance.
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