Martin Luther King Jr Accomplishments

Martin Luther King Jr. was a very successful man, he accomplished a lot of different things in his lifetime. He lived a very influential life to many African Americans, but his life was cut short while he was pursuing his dreams. King accomplished many things and won many awards for his leadership to African Americans.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, his birth name was Michael Luther King Jr. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the middle child of Michael Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Michael Sr. and Jr. both had their names changed to Martin in honor of the German Protestant. Martin and his siblings, Willie Christine and Alfred Daniels Williams King were raised in a rural town in Georgia. The King siblings

traveled across the country lecturing on nonviolent protest and civil rights, as well as other things such as meeting with religious figures, activists and political leaders. In 1960 he joined his father as a co-pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church. At this church, they focused on nonviolence. Martin Luther King Jr. worked with many civil rights and religious groups to organize the March on Washington for jobs and freedom. 200,000 to 300,000 participated in this march to shed light on the injustices African Americans faced across the country. King’s march led to his “I Have A Dream” speech, both the speech and the march cemented his reputation at home and abroad. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech was delivered publicly on August 28, 1963. This speech was to stop discrimination in the United States. King’s dream was to have blacks and whites come together in peace. He was named Man of The Year by TIMES magazine and became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Martin Luther King Jr’s. elevated profile drew attention to the violence that erupted between white segregationists and peaceful demonstrators. August 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which guaranteed African Americans the right to vote. King accomplished many times in his lifetime including, Leader of African American Civil Rights Leader, Nobel Peace Prize (1964), Presidential Medal Of Freedom (1977), and Congressional Gold Medal