Martin Luther King Jr

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American civil rights leader. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929. He fought for equal rights for African Americans using peaceful methods. His famous I Have a Dream speech inspired millions of people.

Early Life

King grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. His father and grandfather were pastors. He was a very good student and skipped two grades in high school. He became a pastor himself and joined the fight for civil rights.

A photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964.
A photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964. (Nobel Foundation / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

King led the Montgomery Bus Boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested. He gave his famous I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington in 1963. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He helped pass the Civil Rights Act, which made discrimination illegal.

Fun Facts

  • King skipped ninth and twelfth grades and entered college at age 15.
  • His birth name was Michael, but his father changed both their names to Martin Luther.
  • He received his Nobel Peace Prize at age 35, one of the youngest winners ever.

Did You Know?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January each year. It is a national holiday in the United States. People honor his memory by doing community service.