On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr., was born in Atlanta, Georgia. King became the most important and influential civil rights leader in the United States.
Grades
5 - 11
Subjects
Social Studies, Civics, U.S. History
Contents
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Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a Baptist minister, obtained a PhD in systemic theology from Boston University, and won the Nobel Peace Prize. He was also a freelance civil rights leader.
Photograph by James P. Blair, National Geographic
On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He was initially named Michael, after his father. Five years later, the elder King, a Baptist minister, attended an international conference in Germany. After his trip, King Sr. changed his own name and his first son’s name to honor the Protestant reformer, Martin Luther.
As a young pastor, King Jr. helped lead a successful boycott of the segregated bus system in Montgomery, Alabama. He then co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which organized to desegregate cities across the South. Through nonviolent action campaigns and his stirring oratory, King became one of the best-known leaders of the civil rights movement in the U.S.
King also advocated on behalf of other oppressed groups, such as Black South Africans living under apartheid. After receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, King said, “The great masses of people are determined to end the exploitation of their races and land.”
feeling of respect and approval.
(1948-1993) South African government's policy of separating different races of people.
member of a Protestant denomination that emphasizes the importance of baptism as a testament to the Christian faith.
prejudice or intolerance.
to stop using or buying a product, or to stop using or buying products at a specific location, usually to make a social or political statement.
peaceful refusal to obey certain laws, used as a form of protest and in order to achieve political goals.
(~1954-1968) process to establish equal rights for all people in the United States, focusing on the rights of African Americans.
meeting for discussion.
to reach the highest point or most important part of something.
organized public display of support or criticism for a policy or event.
having to do with money.
time period.
system or order of a nation, state, or other political unit.
basic freedoms belonging to every individual, including the rights to social and political expression, spirituality, and opportunity.
difference in size, amount, or quality between two or more things.
force that effects the actions, behavior, or policies of others.
act or behavior that is unfair or discriminates against a group of people.
administration of law.
(March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom) demonstration supporting economic and civil rights for all Americans, held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963, and concluding with Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
pastor, or person authorized by a church to conduct worship.
throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, a common word for people of African ancestry.
award recognizing the contributions of a person or organization to "work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace."
to unjustly discriminate against, torment, or persecute.
(1968) part of a campaign for civil and economic rights for poor people in the United States, including a "tent city" erected on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
demonstration against a policy or action.
Christian who is not a follower of Catholic or Orthodox faiths.
governmental or social systems based on the belief that one race or ethnic group is superior to others.
community or government policy of denying certain rights to people based on their ancestry, usually signified by skin color.
change or improvement of a policy or process.
(March 21, 1965-March 25, 1965) protest to support voting rights for African Americans, taking the form of a 87-kilometer (54-mile) walk between the Alabama town of Selma and the capital, Montgomery.
demonstration where protesters occupy a space and refuse to leave it.
requiring immediate action.
strong, destructive force.
issues surrounding the legal right and ability to campaign and cast a vote in political elections.
Celebrate the achievements of African Americans past and present during Black History Month. This collection of resources includes features of prominent figures such as President Barack Obama and war heroine Mary Seacole. Read about part of Indiana's leg of the underground railroad, which many enslaved people used to run to freedom. Explore hands-on activities, maps, and more that will give students of all backgrounds new perspectives on this important part of American culture.
On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington, a large gathering of civil rights protesters in Washington, D.C., United States.
Explore streets named after civil rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and Baptist minister Martin Luther King, Jr.
King Tutankhamen was largely erased from history until his tomb was discovered in the 1900s. His tomb and mummy are still being studied using high-tech tools.
Celebrate the achievements of African Americans past and present during Black History Month. This collection of resources includes features of prominent figures such as President Barack Obama and war heroine Mary Seacole. Read about part of Indiana's leg of the underground railroad, which many enslaved people used to run to freedom. Explore hands-on activities, maps, and more that will give students of all backgrounds new perspectives on this important part of American culture.
On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington, a large gathering of civil rights protesters in Washington, D.C., United States.
Explore streets named after civil rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and Baptist minister Martin Luther King, Jr.
King Tutankhamen was largely erased from history until his tomb was discovered in the 1900s. His tomb and mummy are still being studied using high-tech tools.