Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.
He was called “Little Martin” at home.
His dad was a preacher, and his mom was a teacher.
Martin loved reading, singing, and playing outside.

But growing up wasn’t always easy.
There were unfair rules called segregation.
That meant Black children and white children couldn’t go to the same schools or play in the same parks.

One day, Martin’s white friend told him, “We can’t play together anymore.”
Martin was sad and confused.
He wondered, “Why does the color of my skin decide who can be my friend?”

Martin worked hard in school.
He was so smart, he skipped two grades!
At just 15 years old, he went to college.

Martin loved learning about 

people who made the world fairer. He studied a leader from India named Mahatma Gandhi, who taught that people could fight unfair laws with peace, 

not violence. Martin thought, 

“That’s the way! Love is stronger than hate.”

In 1955, something happened that changed everything.
A woman named Rosa Parks was told to give up her seat on a bus because she was Black. She said no.

Martin and others led the 

Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Black families walked instead 

of riding the buses for over a year!
Finally, the law changed. 

The buses could no longer be segregated.

Martin became a leader in the Civil Rights Movement.
He gave speeches, led marches, and told people to stand together peacefully.

On August 28, 1963, thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C.They stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial to hear Martin speak.

I have a dream, a dream that children will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

The crowd cheered. His words filled their hearts with hope