Biography

Martin Luther King Jr.: Civil Rights Icon (1929-1968)

Early Life and Education

• Born January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia
• Graduated Morehouse College at age 19 (1948)
• Earned PhD in Systematic Theology from Boston University (1955)
• Ordained Baptist minister at age 25 (1954)

Civil Rights Leadership

• Led Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956) after Rosa Parks’ arrest
• Founded Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957
• Organized nonviolent protests including:
  • Birmingham Campaign (1963)
  • March on Washington (1963)
  • Selma Voting Rights March (1965)

Major Achievements

• Delivered “I Have a Dream” speech to 250,000 at Lincoln Memorial (1963)
• Youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient at age 35 (1964)
• Key figure in passing:
  • Civil Rights Act (1964)
  • Voting Rights Act (1965)
• Published 5 books including “Letter from Birmingham Jail”

Philosophy and Influence

• Advocated nonviolent resistance inspired by Gandhi
• Expanded focus to economic justice (Poor People’s Campaign)
• Spoke against Vietnam War (1967)
• Influenced global human rights movements

Assassination and Legacy

• Shot April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee
• Over 100,000 attended Atlanta funeral
• Posthumously awarded:
  • Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977)
  • Congressional Gold Medal (2004)
• National holiday established (1986)

Key Statistics

Achievement	Year/Data
Nobel Prize	1964 (age 35)
March on Washington	250,000 attendees

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” - MLK