Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Brief Biography and Contributions

On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born and called Michael Luther. He later changed his name to Martin. Martin Luther, both an activist and clergyman, is known to be one of the most prominent leaders in the African-American civil rights movement.

He grew up in the segregated southern States during the time when African-Americans were ostracized and discriminated. It was in Georgia that he attended and finished high school when he was fifteen.  In 1948, he received the Bachelor of arts degree in Sociology from Morehouse College, a distinguished African-American institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated.

He was enrolled in graduate school found in Boston when he met his wife, Coretta Scott, a prominent and influential woman in her time who understood Martin’s purpose in the African-American society. Shortly after they met, they decided to get married and had four wonderful children, two sons, and two daughters.

It was no surprise that Martin became a pastor as his father and grandfather were both pastors at Ebenezer Baptist church. He served his church as his father’s protégé until he died.  Aside from being considered as one of the civil rights icon, he was recognized as a martyr by two christian churches in America.

On August 28, 1963, the peaceful march in Washington took place. In the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C, Martin Luther King, Jr gave out his speech we now all know as “I Have a Dream” wherein more than 250,000 people got together to witness this unforgettable event. He was declared ‘Man of the year’ by Time Magazine later that year.

He was taken into custody countless times and the center of death threats. He was reciting his views and aspirations for a better America from Birmingham jail in one of those times when he was restrained where he wrote the famous Birmingham Letter. His many protests helped convince the U.S. Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Act protected African-Americans or other ethnic groups from being treated unjustly.

For his endless effort to abolish prejudice and unfair treatment to African-American and other ethnic cultures, Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1964. A protest was held in Memphis, Tennessee sometime in 1968 regarding the inequitable working conditions given to African American garbage workers. Sadly, he was murdered by James Earl Ray on the terrace of his motel room.

Martin Luther King, Jr. will always be remembered for his unselfish devotion to raise public consciousness in America and the peaceful means he used to make the changes. Martin Luther King, Jr Day is annually celebrated on the third Monday of January. This MLK Day, take a moment to remember how one life, devoted to the good of others, can make a huge impact on the world.

Something that may prove useful to you is the book Listen To My Dream by Debi Pearl. The author is an old white lady from rural Tennessee and her motivation for writing the book is very interesting.

National Equality March Rally: Urvashi Vaid speaks

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