Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who played a central role in the American Civil Rights Movement. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, King emerged as a prominent figure in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and subsequently became the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
King advocated for nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience as strategies to combat racial segregation and achieve civil rights for Black Americans. He delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, calling for an end to racial injustice and discrimination.
Throughout his life, King led numerous campaigns and protests, including the Birmingham campaign and the Selma to Montgomery marches, which were instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Tragically, King was assassinated in 1968, but his legacy as a champion of equality, justice, and peace continues to inspire movements for social change worldwide.
The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.