Martin Luther King Collection

Martin Luther King Jr.'s impact on civil rights.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a leading figure in the civil rights movement in the United States, known for his advocacy of nonviolent resistance and for his powerful speeches and writings. His legacy continues to inspire and influence social justice movements around the world.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. His father is a Baptist minister and his mother a teacher. He attended segregated schools in Georgia and graduated from high school at age 15. He continued his studies at Morehouse College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in sociology. He later earned a theology degree from Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania and a doctorate in theology from Boston University.

One of the most notable contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. to the civil rights movement was his participation in the Montgomery bus boycott. In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The arrest sparked a boycott of the city's buses by African Americans, who made up the majority of passengers. King was chosen to lead the boycott, which lasted more than a year and ultimately resulted in the desegregation of Montgomery's buses. This event marked a turning point in the civil rights movement and solidified King's role as a leader in the fight for equality.

March on Washington and “I Have a Dream” speech.

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 was another important moment in Martin Luther King Jr.'s influence on civil rights. This demonstration brought together more than 200 people who defended the civil and economic rights of African Americans. It was during this march that King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which called for an end to racism and segregation in the United States. This speech is considered one of the most iconic and powerful in United States history and helped galvanize support for the civil rights movement.

Voting Rights Act and Selma March.

In 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders organized a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, to protest the denial of voting rights to African Americans. The march was met with violent opposition from state troops and local law enforcement, but ultimately resulted in passage of the Voting Rights Act. later in the year. This law, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting, was a major victory for the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King's leadership and advocacy played a crucial role in the passage of this historic law.