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Martin Luther King Jr.: A Profile in Power

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Martin Luther King Jr. (Profiles In Power)

by John A. Kirk

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Language	:	English
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Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader and activist. He is best known for his nonviolent protests against racial segregation and discrimination. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was assassinated in 1968.

Early Life and Education

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. His father was a Baptist minister and his mother was a schoolteacher. King was a bright child and skipped two grades in school. He graduated from high school at the age of 15 and entered Morehouse College in Atlanta.

At Morehouse, King studied sociology and philosophy. He was also a member of the debate team and the student government. After graduating from Morehouse, King entered Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. He graduated from Crozer in 1951 and was ordained a Baptist minister.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

In 1954, King became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. In 1955, Rosa Parks, a black woman, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus. King led a boycott of the Montgomery bus system in protest of the arrest. The boycott lasted for 381 days and ended with the Supreme Court ruling that segregation on buses was unconstitutional.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

In 1957, King co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The SCLC was an organization of black ministers and churches that worked to promote civil rights. King served as the SCLC's president until his assassination in 1968.

March on Washington

In 1963, King led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The march was a massive demonstration of support for civil rights. King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the march.

Nobel Peace Prize

In 1964, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for civil rights. He was the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Assassination

On April 4, 1968, King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. He was shot by James Earl Ray, a white supremacist. King's assassination was a major blow to the civil rights movement.

Legacy

Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as one of the most important figures in the civil rights movement. His nonviolent protests helped to end segregation and discrimination in the United States. King's legacy continues to inspire people around the world to fight for justice and equality.