He would become notorious for his speech that was titled "I Have a Dream" but it wouldn’t just be the speech that would place Martin Luther King Jr. in the history books. It was the man.
Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Martin Junior was the son of Reverend Martin Luther King Senior. His early debut for being in the limelight began when he sang in the choir at the 1939 Atlanta premier of Gone with the Wind.
He received his B.A. in sociology before going on to earn his Bachelor of Divinity in 1951. He then began his career pursuits while taking his beliefs and ambitions to a whole new level.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who didn’t seem to mind the controversy and he was definitely able to cause it. He was an American Civil Rights Movement leader, a Baptist Minister with a powerful message, and he was instrumental as a founding participant in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Martin Luther King Jr. led the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Soon after, his efforts inspired the 1963 March on Washington where the speech "I Have a Dream" would be told for the first time. Later, his recorded voice would be played over again and again throughout history.
Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest person ever to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. He went on to accept more recognition and even more awards. In 1965, the American Jewish Committee presented him with the American Liberties Medallion for his "exceptional advancement of the principles of human liberty."
Never-ending controversy grew and followed King and his demise was eminent because of the upheaval that he stirred. On April 4, 1968; Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
Martin Luther King Jr. has been able to live on through his family as well as through other inspired religious leaders. His work will never be forgotten and provided an initial platform for others to build on the dream that he began.
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