Facts about Martin Luther King Jr.

What were MLK Jr.'s goals?

MLK Jr. advocated for the end of segregation, racism, and racial discrimination in America.

Was MLK Jr. violent or peaceful?

MLK Jr. advocated for the rights of African Americans through many different forms of peaceful protests. He was inspired by people like Ghandi, who also advocated for change through nonviolence.

What types of protests did MLK Jr. lead?

He organized peaceful sit ins, boycotts, marches, and more. These protests were often faced with heavy police resistance and brutality.

Did MLK Jr. go to college?

MLK Jr. attended Morehouse College (A historically black college) at the age of 15 and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in sociology.

Who was MLK Jr.'s family?

MLK Jr. grew up in one of Atlanta Georgia's wealthiest black neighborhoods. He lived with his parents, two siblings, and grandparents. He would later marry Coretta Scott King, a female civil rights activist and author.

How did MLK Jr. die?

MLK Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, TN at the Lorraine Hotel by a man named James Earl Ray.

What was the name of the famous speech given be MLK Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial in DC?

MLK Jr.'s famous "I have a Dream" speech.

What did MLK Jr. accomplish?

MLK Jr.'s successful organization of numerous peaceful civil rights protests helped put pressure on politicians for action, which eventually lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Who was MLK Jr.?

Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK Jr.) was a social rights activists and baptist minister who played a large role in America's civil rights movement during the mid 1900s.

What was an example of a protest led by MLK Jr.?

One of MLK Jr.'s most successful protests was the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted from 1955-1956. After arresting a black woman named Rosa Parks for refusing to sit in the back of the bus, MLK proposed a boycott of public transportation until seating was not segregated. Because black people made up the bulk of paying customers for public transportation, the boycott proved to be extremely effective and lead to the US Supreme Court ruling making segregated seating in public transportation illegal.

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do?

It ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.