Martin Luther King Jr. news Luther King Jr., born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, was a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the American civil rights movement. King is best known for his role in advancing civil rights through nonviolent protest and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

King rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s as a key figure in the struggle for racial equality in the United States. He played a central role in organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, which successfully ended racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery, Alabama. King's leadership and eloquence as a speaker helped to mobilize millions of Americans in the fight against racial discrimination and injustice.

King's most famous speech, "I Have a Dream," delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, is widely regarded as one of the greatest speeches in American history. In it, he articulated his vision of a future where people would be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

King's activism and advocacy were not without risks, and he faced threats to his life and imprisonment for his beliefs. Tragically, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, but his legacy continues to inspire generations of people around the world in the ongoing struggle for equality and justice