Martin Luther King
"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal."
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
"Progress is not automatic. Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, struggle and dedicated individuals."
"Why can't we?"
"What are you doing for others?"
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"
"Progress is not automatic. Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, struggle and dedicated individuals."
"Why can't we?"
"What are you doing for others?"
Biography
Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College. After 3 years of religious study in Pennsylvania, where he was elected president of a mostly white senior class, he was awarded his degree. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a clever and artist young woman. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.
Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of 'the National Association for the Advancement of black people', the leading organization of its kind in the nation. During kings days of boycotts and peaceful protests, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a true leader.
In 1957 he was elected president of 'the Southern Christian Leadership Conference'. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called 'a coalition of conscience'. he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream". he was arrested over twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would give the prize money of $54,123 to the civil rights movement.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated. a tragic end to a brave and courageous life.
Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of 'the National Association for the Advancement of black people', the leading organization of its kind in the nation. During kings days of boycotts and peaceful protests, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a true leader.
In 1957 he was elected president of 'the Southern Christian Leadership Conference'. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called 'a coalition of conscience'. he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, "l Have a Dream". he was arrested over twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would give the prize money of $54,123 to the civil rights movement.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated. a tragic end to a brave and courageous life.