Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.

1. Key information about his life

   • Born: January 15, 1929 Died: April 4, 1968
     • He was assassinated while standing on his balcony in a motel room the day before he was meant to lead a peaceful protest march
   • He was a member of the executive committee of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
   • Arrested more than twenty times, was awarded five honorary degrees, and was named Man of the Year (1963) by Time magazine
   • Was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964
     • Gave the money prize to help the Civil Rights Movement
   • Worked as a pastor between 1960 and his death
   • Well educated
     • Received the Bachelor Arts degree in 1948 from Morehouse College
     • Did three years of theological studies at Crozer Theological Seminary
       • Awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree
     • Completed and recieved a degree in graduate studies at Boston University
   • Was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

2. Role as a Civil Rights activist

   • Helped to lead the Montgomery Bus Buoycott (1955)
   • Delivered his famous speech ('I Have A Dream' speech) in 1963
   • Advocated nonviolent protest in the Memphis Sanitaction Worker Strike (1968)
   • Helped to establish the SCLC (1957)
     • SCLC -- Southern Christian Leadership Conference
       • A civil rights organization which supports the nonviolent approach to progress
   • King's encouragement and involvement in nonviolent protests and civil disobedience helped to force the governments hand to improve the rights of African-Americans, passing many new laws
     • Some notable laws passed while King was active :
       • Civil Rights Act, 1964
         • 'This banned discrimination in employment and public accommodations based on "race, color, religion, or national origin." '
       • Voting Rights Act, 1965
         • ' This act restored and protected the right to vote. '
       • Immigration and Nationality Services Act , 1965
         • ' This allows immigration from groups other than those from the traditional European countries. '
       • Fair Housing Act, 1968
         • 'This banned housing discrimination in both sales or rentals. '

3. References

   • https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/king/biographical/
   • https://www.keepinspiring.me/martin-luther-king-jr-quotes/
   • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARvrvJV4th4
   • https://biography.yourdictionary.com/articles/martin-luther-king-progress-civil-rights-movement.html#
   • https://www.youthforhumanrights.org/voices-for-human-rights/champions/martin-luther-king-jr.html

4. (Some) Quotes

   • 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. '
   • 'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.'
   • 'We are not makers of history. We are made by history.'
   • 'If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.'
   • 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.'
   • 'We cannot walk alone.'
   • 'I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.'

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