Martin Luther King Jr.: The African-American Civil Rights Movement

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968), was born in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and was the second of three children. He was an activist and outstanding leader of the African-American civil right movement, who led nonviolent protests to fight for the rights of all people, including African Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. hoped that America would become a diverse society, where race should not impact a person’s civil rights. After delivering his “I have a dream” speech, he was considered one of the great public speakers of modern times. Today, he is still recognized as a human right icon. Martin Luther King Jr. had the idea of using nonviolent defiance to overcome injustice, and he never

and Alberta Williams King. Martin Luther King Jr, was originally named “Michael King, Jr.,” until his father decided to change his own name, as well as his son's name to Martin Luther. This was done to show respect towards the German Protestant leader Martin Luther. Martin Luther King Jr. had a sister known as, Willie Christine King, and a younger brother named Alfred Daniel Williams. While growing up in Atlanta, King attended Booker T. Washington High School, and attended Morehouse College at age fifteen. Martin Luther King Jr. graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1951, and began doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston University. This stepping stone in Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, changed the way of how he thought and reacted to world issues, and dealt with everyday problems. Martin Luther King Jr. married Coretta Scott Williams, on June 18, 1953, in her hometown of Heiberger, Alabama. King and Scott had four children; Yolanda King, Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King, and Bernice King. King had volunteered to be a Pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, at the age of

became the dominant leader in the Civil Right Movement, to end racial segregation and discrimination in America. Being considered as a well-known orator around the world, Martin Luther King Jr. used the idea of using nonviolent resistance within the social environment. His ‘determination and ambition’ for establishing equality within the different race, won him a ‘worldwide following.’ He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 because of his acceptance of races and equality. MLK Jr. was selected by Time Magazine as it’s ‘Man of the year.’ His “I have a dream” speech, which was considered to be one of the greatest speeches of American history, rose awareness towards civil rights, as well as diversity within the different raced communities. His speech was to prove the rights of all people, and moreover, for friendship and unity among all