A Brief Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jan 15
09:27

2010

Eric Davis

Eric Davis

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On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King was born and called Michael Luther. After some time, he chose to be called Martin . Martin is a well-known lobbyist and minister defending the rights of the African-American community .

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On January 15, A Brief Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Articles 1929, Martin Luther King was born and called Michael Luther. After some time, he chose to be called 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 was brought up in the Southern part of America when the African-American society was seen as nothing but slaves . He enrolled and graduated from public school in Georgia at fifteen . He took up Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and completed in 1948 from Morehouse College, an acknowledged African-American Institute where his grandfather and father also finished up their studies.

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 . They were married soon after and eventually had four 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 . Martin was co-pastor to his father in Ebenezer Church 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 . He gave his “I Have a Dream” speech to more than 250,000 people who gathered to hear the famous national speaker from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.. He was declared 'Man of the year' by Time Magazine later that year .

He was put behind bars numerous times and he also became the center of coercive and brutal intimidations. After one of his arrests, he wrote the famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail, narrating his beliefs and hopes for the future of America. Protests he personally led brought about change and made the US Congress come up with the Civil Rights Act of !964. African-Americans or other ethnic groups are protected by this Act from being treated immorally.

He received a Nobel Peace Prize at the young age of 35 for his outstanding contribution to eliminate racial discrimination. He was at the forefront of the 1968 protest in Tennessee against unfair treatment to African American garbage workers. While standing on the balcony of his motel room, he was assassinated by James Earl Ray, a convict who had escaped from jail.

The memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. will not be forlorn as long as his sacrifice to bring forth equal rights is present among us. Every year, Martin Luther King, Jr Day is celebrated on the third Monday in January. This MLK Day, use the celebration to remember the change you can make when you're life is focused on doing good to those around you.