Martin Luther King Jr.'s impact on our country was everlasting. Inspiring millions with his courage in the Civil Rights Movement, his fierce passion for justice leaves a legacy of perseverance, compassion, and a historic mark worthy of being explored!

In 1929, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was born in Georgia where segregation was common and integrated into the law. 

 Discrimination and prejudice based on race was a normal experience for MLK Jr. from his childhood and adulthood, and ultimately inspired him to become an advocate for equality and justice for everyone.

 He accomplished this through a style of protesting that was peaceful, encouraging demonstrations like marches, campaigns, speeches, and more to bring people across the country together for what became known as the Civil Rights Movement. 

Even with the peaceful nature, MLK Jr. was arrested multiple times, the most notable being a sit-in with other Black college students at a segregated restaurant, as seen in the below archival photo.

 The soon-to-be-president at the time in 1960, John F. Kennedy, collaborated with others to have him released from jail. 

The motive of equality and justice for all caught on quickly in the 1960s, where his most notable speech "I Have A Dream" makes him one of the greatest speakers in American History. This archival photograph shows him in Washington D.C. delivering the famous speech.

Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4th, 1968.

Major King Events Chronology: 1929-1968

1929 15 January

Michael King, later known as Martin Luther King, Jr., is born at 501 Auburn Ave. in Atlanta, Georgia.

1955 5 June

King is awarded his doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University.

1955 5 December

At a mass meeting at Holt Street Baptist Church, the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) is formed. King becomes its president.

1956 27 January

According to King’s later account in Stride Toward Freedom, he receives a threatening phone call late in the evening, prompting a spiritual revelation that fills him with the strength to carry on in spite of persecution.

1958 23 June

King and other civil rights leaders meet with President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington.

1959 3 February

King embarks on a month-long visit to India, where he meets with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and many of Gandhi’s followers.

1962 27 July-10 August

King is arrested at an Albany, Georgia prayer vigil and jailed. After spending two weeks in jail, King is released.

1963 28 August

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom attracts more than two hundred thousand demonstrators to the Lincoln Memorial. Organized by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, the march is supported by all major civil rights organizations as well as by many labor and religious groups. King delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech. After the march, King and other civil rights leaders meet with President John F. Kennedy and Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson in the White House.

1964 3 January

King is named “Man of the Year” by Time Magazine.

1968 4 April

King is shot and killed while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

https://www.docsteach.org/documents?filter_searchterm=+i+have+a+dream&searchType=all&filterEras=&filterDocTypes=&sortby=relevance&filter_order=&filter_order_Dir=&rt=u5fJsweeBp6z 

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/martin-luther-king-jr

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-resources/major-king-events-chronology-1929-1968