Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1954 until his assassination in 1968. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. His efforts led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was educated at Morehouse College, Crozer Theological Seminary, and Boston University, where he earned his Ph.D. in theology. He became a Baptist minister and began his civil rights activism in the 1950s, leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

King's speeches and writings, such as his "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, have become iconic symbols of the civil rights movement. He was a leader in the American civil rights movement, and advocated for the rights of African Americans and other minorities through non-violent civil disobedience. He was assassinated in 1968, but his legacy continues to inspire people around the world to work for justice and equality.