About Martin Luther King
Michael King Jr., often known as Martin Luther King Jr., was an African American Baptist clergyman and activist who lived from January 15, 1929, until April 4, 1968. His estimated net worth is $150,000. The commitment to civil rights by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has forever changed the course of history. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born on January 15, 1929, presided over the American Civil Rights Movement from the mid-1950s until his death in 1968. King inspired the movement and brought the issue to the attention of a national audience through his invaluable strategic and spiritual leadership as well as his dedication to non-violent protest.
King was raised in a spiritual home as the Baptist minister’s son. King continued his education by obtaining a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University after completing his studies at Crozer Theological Seminary. In 1954, after finishing his education, King was appointed pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He would become a prominent figure in the Montgomery Bus Boycott the following year. The Supreme Court’s decision opposing racial segregation on public transportation marked the end of the 382-day boycott.
Rise to Leadership in the Civil Rights Movement of King
Following the Montgomery Bus Boycott’s success, King worked to establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a group that assisted in organizing regional civil rights nonviolent demonstrations. King, who drew inspiration from Henry David Thoreau and Mahatma Gandhi, promoted civil disobedience through nonviolent demonstrations, such as the 1963 “sit-ins” in segregated restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama.
Even though King and his followers advocated for nonviolence, they frequently faced violent reprisals, such as the 1956 bombing of King’s home. Even though no one was hurt in that specific explosion, King received frequent death threats. King continued to advance, nonetheless, because of his fervent devotion in the cause.
On August 28, 1963, King, who was renowned for being an inspirational and eloquent speaker, delivered one of his most well-known lectures. King gave his “I Have a Dream” address to 250,000 protesters while seated on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the March on Washington. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 in recognition of his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, and the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination
King landed in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 3rd, 1968, to get ready for a nonviolent march in support of striking sanitation workers. He gave his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” address that evening, in which he discussed his own mortality. Martin Luther King, Jr. was slain the following evening, April 4, 1968, right in front of his second-floor hotel room at the Lorraine Motel. Age-wise, he was 39.
James Earl Ray was apprehended and subsequently found guilty of the crime two months after King was assassinated. Martin Luther King Jr. devoted his life to uphold ideas that would benefit our nation. His unwavering efforts on behalf of the Civil Rights Movement and dedication to peaceful protests have permanently altered the course of American history.
